Which day of the week are you planning to drive up the Catalina Highway? This fall, that question matters almost as much as the date. Mount Lemmon's color season usually peaks in late October, and this year that peak overlaps a construction schedule at one of the mountain's best-loved aspen spots. That schedule closes the whole area four days a week.
For those who live near the bottom of the mountain on the Tanque Verde side, the drive up is close to home. Here is how this season works, day by day.
Marshall Gulch is on a four-day week through mid-December
The Coronado National Forest is rebuilding the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead just south of Summerhaven. Under the Forest Service's Marshall Gulch closure order, the Arizona Trail, Marshall Gulch Trail #3, Aspen Trail #93 and Sunset Trail #90 are open to hikers on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. From Monday through Thursday, the entire area is closed for public safety while crews work. The order took effect July 30, 2026, and runs through December 17, 2026.
Trailhead parking is closed during the construction too, on a slightly shorter timeline. The Arizona Trail Association's July 29 update says the lot will stay closed until December 15, 2026. The Forest Service order runs two days longer, so check the current order before a December visit. The picnic areas and restrooms stay closed throughout construction.
This matters because of when the leaves turn. A fall color guide from Mount Lemmon Lodge says high-elevation color usually starts in early to mid-October. The best viewing generally runs from mid-October through early November, and many areas peak in late October. The same guide lists the Aspen Trail and Marshall Gulch among the mountain's most varied hikes, with aspens, Gambel oak, silverleaf oak, madrone and Douglas fir. The peak arrives while the Gulch is open only three days a week.
Two federal holidays fall in this window. Veterans Day lands on Wednesday, November 11, and Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26. The order's holiday clause opens the trails on both of those days, even though they fall midweek.
The parking fix is in Summerhaven, not at the trailhead
The rebuild at Marshall Gulch adds very little parking. The Tucson Sentinel reported in July that the project replaces the one-way, dead-end lot with a loop road. The loop includes two bridges over Sabino Creek built to handle a 100-year flood, plus a new restroom and replacement picnic sites. According to the Sentinel, capacity goes from 30 vehicles to 32. The work also restores stretches of Sabino Creek and Marshall Gulch to more natural conditions.
The real gain in parking is down the road. KVOA reported that Pima County, working with the Federal Highway Administration and the Coronado National Forest, finished a new 75-space lot in Summerhaven. The project also added 21 spaces along Sabino Canyon Park Road. That is 96 new spaces, compared with two extra at the trailhead. The county also resurfaced about half a mile of road and built a five-foot-wide pathway with an Arizona Trail kiosk. The path is part of an Arizona Trail bypass meant to make walking to the Marshall Gulch trailhead safer.
The Arizona Trail Association points hikers to the new Summerhaven lot on Sabino Canyon Park Road while the trailhead lot is closed. On a Friday, Saturday or Sunday this fall, a Marshall Gulch hike starts in Summerhaven and continues on foot.
The Forest Service lists Marshall Gulch among the standard-amenity fee sites in the Santa Catalinas. Its Mount Lemmon Day Use Area page lists $8 per vehicle for a day and $10 per vehicle for a week, as of the page's August 5, 2026 update. For road conditions on the day you go, the Forest Service road-closure hotline is 520-351-3351.
What is open each day of the week
Marshall Gulch isn't the only place on the mountain with a short week. Sawmill Run, Ski Valley's Iron Door restaurant and the Sky Ride each close on different days. Put them side by side and Friday stands out.
Day | Marshall Gulch trails | Sawmill Run | Ski Valley Sky Ride and Iron Door |
|---|---|---|---|
Monday | Closed | Closed | Open |
Tuesday | Closed | Closed | Closed |
Wednesday | Closed | Open | Closed |
Thursday | Closed | Open | Open |
Friday | Open | Open | Open |
Saturday | Open | Open | Open |
Sunday | Open | Open | Open |
Friday is the only weekday when all three are open, and it also gives you the longest dinner window at Sawmill Run. The restaurant's site lists 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tucson Foodie reported on September 24 that the restaurant's fall menu is out, with new seasonal cocktails, lunch dishes and dinner entrées.
At Ski Valley, the Iron Door serves from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The resort lists the Sky Ride on the same days, closing at 4:30 p.m. The site also notes that staff shortages can sometimes close the fudge shop or snack bar. As for winter, Ski Valley says it isn't skiing yet and is hoping for a good 2026–27 snow year.
Beyond Bread Café at Mount Lemmon Lodge in Summerhaven is the steady option, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Cookie Cabin and the Mount Lemmon General Store, known for its homemade fudge, are also in Summerhaven. Call ahead for their current hours.
Where the color is on the closed days
A Monday-through-Thursday drive still has plenty of color. These spots are outside the Marshall Gulch closure, and most of them sit higher or lower on the mountain, so they turn on different schedules.
- Mint Spring Trail. The Arizona Trail Association names it as the weekday alternative to Marshall Gulch. It's also one of the mountain's best aspen walks. The Lodge's guide describes 1.6 miles that climb steadily through an aspen grove, past a small creek, to views over Summerhaven. The trailhead has paved parking and no fee, but no restrooms or drinking water.
- Bear Wallow. Just past Mile Marker 22 on the Catalina Highway, this shallow canyon holds a dense stand of maples. The Arizona Highways fall color guide puts its usual peak in late October through early November. The Lodge describes Bear Wallow Road as unpaved but usually fine for passenger cars in good weather. Parking is informal, so leave the roadway and roadside plants clear. It's one of the busiest leaf-peeping spots on the mountain, so a weekday visit helps.
- Ski Valley and Aspen Draw. The aspens up here often color earlier than those in the lower canyons because of the elevation. Aspen Draw Trail climbs from the Ski Valley area through aspens and mixed conifers. You can also see the color along Ski Run Road without a long hike. On a Monday or Thursday, this pairs well with lunch at the Iron Door.
- Butterfly Trail near Mount Bigelow. This one takes more effort. It's a real hike, and the trees are more varied than the aspen groves, with bigtooth maple, box elder, Arizona madrone and several oaks. A side trip toward Mount Bigelow looks out toward Tucson, Alder Canyon and the San Pedro Valley.
The Lodge's guide warns that a windy autumn storm can cut the season short, and that cold snaps and rainfall shift the timing from year to year. If the forecast calls for wind, go sooner rather than later.
Late October and November on the mountain
The events on the upper mountain this season also lean toward weekends, which fits the Marshall Gulch schedule. Several fall on Friday-through-Sunday dates, when the Gulch trails are open too. Mount Lemmon Lodge's event calendar lists:
- Saturday, October 24: "An Evening of Sound, Spirit & Connection" on the Lodge terrace, 6 to 8:30 p.m., $55 per person, limited to 40 guests.
- Sunday, October 25: The Bouncing Czechs play a free Oktoberfest set, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31: A free Halloween celebration, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, November 7: A candlelit music evening at 6 p.m., $60.
- Saturday, November 14: Stargazing, 7 to 10 p.m., $50.
Near the summit, the University of Arizona's Mount Lemmon SkyCenter has a Halloween-weekend program. Visit Tucson lists a Spooktacular SkyNights from October 31 to November 1, starting at 3:30 p.m., for ages 13 and older. Regular SkyNights run Thursday through Sunday through December 31, on dates and start times that vary. The SkyCenter describes each one as a five-hour program that begins two hours before sunset and recommends it for ages 7 and older. If you book a SkyNights evening, you can spend the afternoon in the aspens at Ski Valley or on Mint Spring before you check in.
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, is a federal holiday, so the Marshall Gulch trails will be open that day under the closure order. The order is set to end December 17. Before a December hike, check the Forest Service alerts to confirm the trailhead has reopened. Until then, park in Summerhaven and check the day of the week before you go.
Living near the mountains is about more than the views. It’s about finding the right fit for your lifestyle, from easy access to the Catalina Highway to the unique character of Tucson’s foothill communities. If you’re considering Tanque Verde or the surrounding foothills, I’d love to help you explore what makes each area special.
Ann Adams | Curated Tucson Homes Let’s Connect.
