Sky Island Scenic Byway

State: Arizona
National Forest: Coronado National Forest - Arizona
Length: 27.2 mi / 43.8 km
Time to Allow: Plan for three to six hours to drive, including backtracking.

Start your journey among giant saguaro cacti of the Sonoran desert and climb to shady conifer forests at nearly 9,000 feet, passing biological diversity equivalent to a drive from Mexico to Canada in just 27 miles. Enjoy spectacular views and recreational opportunities from hiking and camping to picnicking and skiing.

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  Ski the Southwest at Sky Island's Winter Paradise

  Updated Mar 3, 2011 in Getaways: Escaping the Cold and Get Fit! Get Active: Go Skiing!

  Can you imagine skiing down frosty slopes one morning and basking in 80-degree desert sunshine that same afternoon? Head to the southernmost ski area in the United States -- the downhill skiing oasis of Mt. Lemmon on the Sky Island Scenic Byway in Arizona.

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  Sky Island Parkway Overview

  Sep 21, 2004

  Travel along the Sky Island Parkway, one of the most scenic highways in the Southwest, complete with mountain forests, canyons, deserts, and breathtaking vistas. One of the only paved roads leading up to the top of Mt. Lemmon, it begins in the Lower Sonoran region and climbs up to the forests of the Canadian zone, providing a unique chance to experience four seasons in one trip. The parkway gets its name from areas of biological diversity in the Coronado National Forest that rise dramatically from the desert floor to stand wreathed in clouds as twelve widely scattered "sky islands."

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  1-Day Trip: Driving into the Sky Islands
  (Arizona)

  From the quaint villlage of Summerhaven to a day spent along the shores of Rose Lake; the Sky Island Scenic Byway treats you to a diverse landscape...