The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley holds a geographic distinction shared by no other ski area in the United States: it is the southernmost ski destination in the continental US, sitting at 9,157 feet in the Santa Catalina Mountains of the Coronado National Forest at roughly the same latitude as Dallas, Texas and approximately 80 miles from the Mexican border. The ski area covers 200 acres across 22 runs with a 950-foot vertical drop from the summit to the 8,200-foot base, with terrain breaking down as 29% beginner, 47% intermediate and 24% advanced — a profile weighted toward accessible, varied skiing rather than extreme challenge.
Three lifts serve the mountain: two double chairlifts and one surface lift with a combined uphill capacity of around 2,000 skiers per hour. Mount Lemmon does not groom its slopes — the terrain runs on natural snow only, which gives the ski area a distinct character compared to resort-managed mountains and rewards visits in the days immediately following a winter storm when the powder is fresh and undisturbed.
The ski area has operated since the late 1940s and sits within a landscape that has no real equivalent in American skiing: the drive up the Catalina Highway from Tucson climbs through multiple biotic zones in under an hour — Sonoran Desert scrub at the city's edge giving way to oak woodland, then pine and fir forest at the ski area — a transition in ecosystem equivalent to driving from Mexico to Canada in elevation terms.
On a clear day from the summit chairlift, the view extends across the full Tucson basin and the San Pedro Valley to the east, with the mountains near Globe and Phoenix visible on the horizon. The Iron Door Restaurant at the base area and the nearby mountain village of Summerhaven at 7,600 feet provide the primary on-mountain services and overnight accommodation options.
748ft
Vertical
22
Runs
200 acres
Skiable
14ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
22 runs across 200 acres skiable
Mount Lemmon spreads 22 runs across 200 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 47%, with 6 beginner runs to find your feet and 5 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
22
runs
22 runs across 4 grades
Beginner6 runs · 29%
Intermediate10 runs · 47%
Advanced5 runs · 24%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon operates from mid-December through to late February or early March, with the 2025/26 season running 14 December to 27 February — a shorter window than most US ski areas reflecting both the mountain's southerly latitude and its reliance on natural snowfall without the backing of snowmaking infrastructure.
The summit receives an average of approximately 180 inches of snowfall annually, delivered primarily through winter storm systems that push moisture north from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific, producing heavy, often wet snow at the lower elevations of the Santa Catalinas and drier, lighter powder higher on the mountain. The most reliable period for quality snow conditions is typically January and early February, when temperatures at 9,000 feet remain consistently cold and storm frequency is at its peak for the region.
The seasonal rhythm at Mount Lemmon is unlike that of any other ski area in the country. On days when the mountain is open and conditions are good, Tucson residents can leave the desert floor at 70°F and be on snow within an hour. The same afternoon, it is physically possible to ski in the morning and play golf or swim in the Tucson valley in the afternoon — a combination the resort has traded on for decades and that remains one of the more unusual day-trip propositions in American skiing.
Because the mountain does not groom, the best skiing follows storm cycles directly, and conditions can vary significantly within a single week. Checking the webcam feeds from the summit and the base area before making the drive is a practical necessity that the resort's local following understands well.
Season 2025 - 2026
14 Dec 2025
Opens
27 Feb 2026
Closes
75
Days open
14 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mount Lemmon, and where to stay
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley sits in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest, approximately 41 miles northeast of downtown Tucson via the Catalina Highway — also known as the Sky Island Parkway — a paved, scenic mountain road that climbs 6,000 feet from the desert floor to the ski area turnoff in around 30 miles.
The drive takes roughly one hour under normal conditions, though the road can close temporarily following heavy snowfall requiring chains or 4WD for safe passage, and road conditions are monitored via the Pima County Sheriff's 24-hour hotline during the ski season. Tucson International Airport is the nearest gateway for visitors flying in, with connections from major US hubs, placing the ski area within 90 minutes of most Tucson accommodation options.
The broader Mount Lemmon massif is a designated Sky Island — one of a series of isolated mountain ranges rising sharply from the surrounding desert that support distinct ecological communities found nowhere else at these latitudes in the United States.
The nearby village of Summerhaven at 7,600 feet provides limited overnight accommodation and dining immediately adjacent to the ski area for visitors looking to avoid the Tucson round-trip. The Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory, operated by the University of Arizona higher on the mountain, offers public stargazing programmes that can extend a ski visit into an evening, with the summit's altitude and distance from city light pollution making for exceptional night sky visibility.
For visitors combining the ski area with broader southern Arizona travel, the Mexican border crossing at Nogales is around two hours south of Tucson, and the Saguaro National Park West and East districts bracket the city within 30 minutes.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mount Lemmon, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Aspen Snowmass Marks 80th Anniversary With $3.75 Throwback Lift Tickets
Aspen Snowmass turns 80 this December, and it's marking the milestone with $3.75 lift tickets on the anniversary itself - the original 1946 price. A discounted long weekend, $19.46 dining specials, lodging deals up to 46 percent off, and a season of anniversary programming round out the celebration across all four mountains.
17 Sept 2026
Doppelmayr Group Posts 9.1% Revenue Growth in 2025/26, Passing 1.3 Billion Euros
Doppelmayr closed its 2025/26 business year with revenue up 9.1 percent to 1.3 billion euros, driven by projects including the Big Sky Explorer Gondola, Deer Valley's Mayflower East Village Gondola, and the first TRI-Line installation at Hoch-Ybrig. Headcount grew too, with the ropeway manufacturer now employing almost 4,000 people worldwide.
16 Sept 2026
Hintertux Glacier Replaces 40-Year-Old Gondola to Tuxer Fernerhaus
Hintertux Glacier is retiring its 40-year-old gondola to the Tuxer Fernerhaus. The replacement carries 10 people per cabin instead of four, with seat heating and nearly 40 percent more hourly capacity. Doppelmayr's new line opens at the end of October 2026, right as the glacier's high-altitude terrain becomes accessible again for the new season.
16 Sept 2026
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Mount Lemmon Webcams
3 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Mount Lemmon's live webcams
Check live conditions across Mount Lemmon with 3 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Summit-Radio Ridge9,157ft
- Mt lemmon webcam at the Summit-Radio Ridge at 2791 meters — the highest camera point on the mountain and the most useful pre-visit reference for the ski area's local following, who know that checking conditions before the one-hour drive up the Catalina Highway from Tucson is a practical necessity at a mountain that runs entirely on natural snow with no grooming or snowmaking. This Mt Lemmon ski valley webcam delivers panoramic views across the Santa Catalinas, the full Tucson basin and the Sonoran Desert floor below — the same view that stretches to Wheeler Peak on clear days and makes this one of the most visually dramatic webcam perspectives at any ski area in the American Southwest. Updated every 10 minutes, this live snow cam is the essential upper-mountain conditions check before any session at the southernmost ski area in the continental US.
- General Store7,999ft
- Mt lemmon webcam at the General Store community hub at 2438 meters, where the heart of the Summerhaven village provides a real-time read on base-level conditions, weather and the day's atmosphere at this genuinely community-run mountain ski area. This Mt Lemmon az webcam monitors the informal gathering point where Tucson locals and first-timers alike take stock of the day before heading up to the slopes — a small-town scene that has no real equivalent at any other ski area in Arizona. A practical mt lemmon cam for Tucson residents checking base conditions and village activity before committing to the Sky Island Parkway drive that climbs 6,000 feet from the desert floor to the ski area.
- Community Center7,999ft
- Mt lemmon webcams at the Community Center at 2438 meters, providing a complementary base-area view of conditions and real-time visibility at the lower mountain hub that serves skiers, Summerhaven residents and day visitors from Tucson's desert floor. This mt lemmon webcam monitors the pine-forest environment surrounding the base facilities — the same forest that marks the upper end of a drive through five distinct ecological zones from the Sonoran Desert scrub at the city's edge, a transition equivalent in ecological terms to driving from Mexico to Canada. An essential mt lemmon ski valley webcam for timing your visit to this 9,000-foot sky island, where the best skiing follows storm cycles directly and conditions can shift significantly within a single week.
Mount Lemmon snow cams FAQ
How often do Mount Lemmon snow cams update?
All Mount Lemmon snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Mount Lemmon.
Which Mount Lemmon webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Summit-Radio Ridge webcam at 2,791m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Mount Lemmon webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Mount Lemmon lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Mount Lemmon snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Mount Lemmon snow cams?
Check Mount Lemmon webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Mount Lemmon lift tickets?
Use our Mount Lemmon webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Mount Lemmon webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Mount Lemmon snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Mount Lemmon intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.