Would I recommend a 0.8 mile hike as a destination for a 25 mile drive up the Catalina Highway? I guess not, but I would recommend finding some way to incorporate the Meadow Trail into any Loop or route you plan on doing on the top of Mt. Lemmon. It is that sweet...

The Meadow trail exists as a small alternative route to the beginning of the Mt. Lemmon trail. The official trailhead is about 0.1 miles into the Mt. Lemmon trail, which is located at the top of the road (Observation Road) that goes right past Ski Valley. So, hop on the Mt. Lemmon trail and immediately look for the signed trail junction for the start of the Meadow trail. Hang a right onto the Meadow Trail.

It starts as an old dirt road. There is a fenced off observatory off to the right. To the left is forest and ferns. There are often sunflowers here, with the requisite butterflies on them. The trail is flat through here.

Shortly the flavor of the trail changes as you enter covered pine forest proper. Some of the forest it burned, some is not. Everything is blanketed in ferns and there is shade everywhere, cooling off those hot Tucson temperatures. There is a great earthy, pine scent to the air. There are a couple of small grassy meadows here and there. To your left if you wander off trail are nice views out over the Wilderness of Rock and upper Sabino Canyon. You could spend all day here. Up to this point the trail is markedly level.

After roughly 0.5 miles the trail starts to switchback down the ridge, shaded all the way. There are some nice, huge trees along the way. Flowers and ferns too. Soon enough you come to the signed junction with the Mt. Lemmon trail again. To the right is miles of wilderness. To the left is the route back to the Mt. Lemmon trailhead. If you hang a left here be sure to take the short signed spur to the Lemmon Rock Lookout for some of the best views in Southern Arizona.

Don't miss out on this summertime treat.
- Jun 25 2007 fricknaley & Preston the yeti

One-Way Notice: This hike is listed as One-Way. When you hike several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example.