Sky Island Parkway Overview

Bird's Eye View of the Sky Island Parkway (AZ) [1]

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."

Riding in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (AZ) [2]

You'll find several places along the parkway that have wonderful vistas of the forest and desert far below. In particular, the trek up to Babad Do'ag Vista is the perfect place to pull out your picnic basket, take a rest from your climb and enjoy the view of the sky islands spread out before you. Aspen Vista also offers a fantastic view; your reward for making your way up there will be a panoramic view of the San Pedro Valley. Windy Point Vista offers dramatic views of the Santa Catalina Mountains with its deep canyons, and the Tucson Basin below invites you to explore.

The Sky Island Parkway provides a wide range of recreational opportunities, such as mountain-biking or horseback-riding on its many trails, or remote backcountry hiking in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Mt. Lemmon offers alpine skiing in the winter and an escape from the desert heat in the summer.

Hirabayashi Kiosk (AZ) [3]

The civilizations of the Tohono O'odham and the ancient Hohokam visited these mountains long before Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo settlers arrived. Gordon Hirabayashi refused a relocation order during the Second World War, and served a prison sentence here. Rife with historic importance along with its scenic beauty, the visually stunning Sky Island Scenic Byway offers a well-rounded trip for the traveler.