Aspen Vista (AZ)Aspen Vista offers travelers a fantastic view of the San Pedro Valley and distant sky islands to the north and east. One interpretive sign draws the visitor's attention to copper mining evident in the valley below. Another encourages visitors to ponder changes in vegetation seasonally, altitudinally, and over geologic time. Aspen Vista offers the best view of recent large wildfires and recovering plant communities. Babad Do'ag Vista (AZ)This Vista provides a first look at the Tucson Basin and surrounding mountain ranges, or "sky islands." Amenities include paved parking, a concrete walkway, and interpretive signs. Babad Do'ag is a centuries-old Tohono O'odham name meaning "Frog Mountain." As visitors leave this site and continue up the mountain, desert vegetation transitions tograsslands, chaparral, and oak woodland. Coronado National Forest - Arizona (AZ) This Forest ranges from 3000 feet to 10,720 feet in twelve widely scattered "sky islands" that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting biologically diverse plant communities. Cypress, Middle Bear, and Chihuahua Pine Picnic Areas (AZ)Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site (AZ)The site was built in 1937 as a Federal prison camp; these prisoners built the highway. During WWII, some prisoners were conscientious objectors; some were Japanese Americans protesting the relocation. Gordon Hirabayashi refused a Relocation order and served his sentence here after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction. Visitors learn about this civil rights story here. Facilities include picnic and campsites, horse corrals, Arizona Trail access, and an interpretive trail. The southernmost downhill ski area in the continental US, Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley offers four-season recreational opportunities. In winter, lifts take skiers to the top of the slopes. Other times, the lift is a sky ride offering spectacular views through aspen and fir to the San Pedro Valley to the north, and provides easy access to high-elevation hiking trailsconnecting to the mountains' extensive trail system. DirectionsTurn right on Ski Run Road and drive 1.4 miles to Ski Valley. Rose Canyon Campground, among the pines at 7,200 ft., is the largest campground along the Byway. Adjacent to the end of the campground is a fishing lake that provides visitors with angling opportunities, an uncommon activity in Southern Arizona. A perimeter trail encircles the lake. Interpretive campfire programs in the summertime entertain and inform visitors. Village of Summerhaven (AZ)Summerhaven is a quaint village of shops and restaurants rebounding from the ashes of the 2003 Aspen Wildfire. Discovered by Tucsonans in the early 1900s as an escape from the desert heat, Summerhaven is still enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Visitors can shop for a variety of souvenirs and necessities. They can have a snack or a meal, or walkalong Upper Sabino Creek to the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead. Windy Point Vista (AZ)At 6,600 ft. elevation, Windy Point offers dramatic views of the Santa Catalina Mountains and its deep canyons, the Tucson basin below, and the other sky islands surrounding Tucson. One gets a feel for the ruggedness of the sky islands and their abrupt rise from the surrounding desert. A variety of vegetation types and rock formations are visible fromhere. Several interpretive panels inform the visitor about the natural world. Sunsets are spectacular from Windy Point. |
