Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop
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Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop
Difficulty Rating:
The Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop is a rugged, adventurous hike near Summerhaven that we recommend for strong hikers who don’t mind a bit of a challenge. This route starts at Mount Lemmon for unbelievable views, but you’ll be dealing with some bugs and potential stream crossings along the way. It’s a full-day adventure! Expect light traffic.
Getting there
The trailhead for the Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop is on E Ski Run Road.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | October-May |
| Pets allowed | No |
| Family friendly | No |
| Route Signage | Poor |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Loop |
Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop
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Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop Description
The Mount Lemmon, Wilderness of Rocks, and Aspen Loop is a rugged route in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness that sees moderate traffic. If you want to feel off the beaten path and be rewarded with excellent views, this is a perfect pick. The route starts up at Mount Lemmon for an amazing viewpoint and ends with a stiff climb. The scenery out here is excellent.
This route can get a bit overgrown because of the lack of traffic, so we recommend long pants and a downloaded trail map. Bring lots of water with you–sometimes the sources you’d filter are flowing well, and other times they’re not. Finally, we recommend hiking this route in a group as users report spotting mountain lions near the trail.
From the trailhead, hike along the ridge near the Mount Lemmon Sky Center, heading southwest to gradually descend off the ridgeline. At the junction at the bottom of the ridge, go left to head in the opposite direction. You might be wading through your creek crossings depending on the season. Follow this route as it climbs back towards the ridge, keeping left at the 5-way junction to make a steep climb back up to the trailhead.
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