Mount Lemmon Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Departure Point

• After booking the tour, search your emails for "self-guided tour." Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
  

Return Details

• This tour ends beside Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Observatory.

Duration
2 hours - 3 hours

Languages Available

• Audio guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
Tucson, Arizona
One of the most fascinating features about this highway is how the climate changes as we drive. From start to finish, it’ll feel like we’ve driven vertically across the entire US, from south to north. Why is that? Because we’ll be gaining 6,000 feet of elevation along the way! Note: This 33+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Mount Lemmon in 2-3 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Soldier Trail
Soldier Trail, Tucson, Arizona
Soldier Trail is up ahead. This challenging 5-mile out-and-back hike features Saguaro, prickly pears, and a 2,000-foot elevation gain!
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Babad Do'ag Scenic Overlook
Tucson, AZ 85749
Babad Do’ag Scenic Overlook is coming up soon. This vista overlooks the entire city of Tucson and the mountains beyond. The Babad Do’ag trail also begins here. It’s a moderate 4.5-mile hike through Saguaros, chollas, and ocotillos.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Molino Canyon Vista
General Hitchcock Highway, Tucson, AZ 85749
Molino Canyon is one of many boulder-filled canyons in the Catalina Mountains. At this elevation of about 4,000 feet, the mountain’s ecosystem is starting to change. Both at the overlook and the mountain it faces, you’ll see the earth covered in native grasses, tall spindly ocotillo, tufted desert broom, and a colorful flowering shrub called pink fairy duster.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Molino Basin Trail Head
Arizona National Scenic Trail, Tucson, AZ 85749
This easy 5-mile out-and-back trail is relatively flat, which makes it a great place to break out the mountain bike if you’ve got one. It’s also an excellent path for trail runners. If you’re walking the trail, it should only take a little over two hours.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Bug Spring Trailhead
Catalina Highway, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
This challenging 10-mile out-and-back trail takes five hours and has a little bit of everything. The route starts in the desert terrain of the Catalina foothills, switchbacks up to a secluded pine forest with creek crossings, and ends in the Bear Canyon Picnic Area. The total elevation gain across the path is 2,000 feet, enough to feel the atmosphere get thinner and the temperature get cooler.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Thimble Peak Vista
930 Catalina Highway, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Speaking of birds, get a bird’s eye view of the canyon up ahead at Thimble Peak Vista! This overlook offers a clear view of Thimble Peak. When you see it, you’ll know right away where it gets its name. The top of the mountain is shaped exactly like a giant sewing thimble… only it’s over 5,000 feet high!
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Middle Bear Picnic Area
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
The Seven Cataracts are a series of waterfalls that pour from the Willow Canyon stream. From top to bottom, the entire complex is about 1,000 feet high! It’s not a straight drop, though. The water tumbles from rock to rock in a cascade formation. Despite the name “Seven Cataracts,” it’s more like a hundred mini waterfalls in one!
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Manzanita Vista
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Did you pack your sandwiches? We’re about to pass one of the highway's best picnic spots! The Middle Bear picnic area sits alongside Bear Canyon, comfortably sheltered by ponderosa pines. You can see the rest of the canyon below. On the opposite slope, you’ll see a strange sculpture garden created by erosion and landslides.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Windy Point Vista
930 Catalina Highway, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Manzanita Vista is up ahead, offering views of a lush manzanita grove. You can identify manzanita by their smooth, bright red bark and gnarled branches. Manzanitas are prolific here because they can survive with poor soil and little water. They have adapted to the harshest growing conditions, and so they have absolutely no competition from other plants.
Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Geology Vista Point
General Hitchcock Highway, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
The view at Windy Point is unbeatable. You can see all the way from the desert at the base of the mountain to the subalpine summit. You’ll get to take in the entire biodiversity of Mount Lemmon in one panorama!
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Duck Head Rock
Mount Lemmon Highway, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Geology Point Vista is ahead, offering views of hoodoos. A hoodoo is a tall, thin spire of rock like a naturally occuring skyscraper. Hoodoos only develop in dry, hot climates.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Hoodoo Vista
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Coming up is Duck Head Rock. This is one of Mount Lemmon’s most beloved landmarks, and you can probably guess why. This rock formation is shaped like a duck’s head with a long bill!
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: San Pedro Vista
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Up ahead is Hoodoo Vista, another overlook featuring unique geological formations. For a look at these fascinating hoodoos, park in the turnout just ahead. Otherwise, continue driving.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Palisades Visitor Center
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
You probably don’t usually associate “Arizona” with “fishing.” Rose Canyon Lake is here to change your mind! This peaceful spot rarely sees the crowds who visit other attractions along the route, making it perfect to enjoy a moment of solitude.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Butterfly Trailhead
North Butterfly Road, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
San Pedro Vista is up ahead. This overlook boasts gorgeous views of the San Pedro Valley down below. When you’re done admiring the scenery, you can hop right on the Arizona National Scenic Trail––an 800 mile hike that spans the entire state, from the Mexican border to Utah! Don’t worry, there’s no rule saying you need to hike the whole thing!
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Aspen Vista
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Need a restroom break? Turn left onto East Organization Ridge Road to visit the Palisades Visitor Center. Otherwise, continue straight.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Red Ridge Trailhead
East Ski Run Road, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Butterfly Trail is up ahead. This challenging 11-mile hike is certainly scenic, but the biggest attraction can be found three miles in. That’s where an unofficial trail breaks off and leads to… a crashed F86 fighter jet from 1957! Wait, what? How did that happen?
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mt Lemmon Ski Valley
10300 East Ski Run Road, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Aspen Vista Point is up ahead, at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet! On a clear day, you can see 50 miles away! The ridge rising out of the horizon is another sky island chain called the Galiuro Mountains. The two ranges are separated by a valley that plunges over 5,000 feet. The San Pedro River flows through the gulf between the mountains.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Observatory
9800 East Ski Run Road, Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Just ahead is Red Ridge Trail. This moderate 10-mile trail gets its name from the red dirt that forms the path. The distinctive Sonoran Desert brick-colored soil is caused by weathering of minerals that contain a lot of iron. Or, as you probably know it, rust. The dirt here is exposed to the elements, just like when you leave your bicycle out in the rain.
Duration: 10 minutes

Additional Information

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Inclusions

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

Exclusions

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Redemption Instructions
Set your tour up NOW ahead of your trip, while in wifi/cell signal. Do not wait until your travel date, your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR.

1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW:

- Email: Search for “Action Tour Guide” with a subject line "Your tour operator sent you a message.". Check All Mail and Spam.

- Text: Search for “Action Tour Guide” sent from 14159804997.

- Viator App Messages: Viator App > Bookings > View Voucher > Contact Tour Operator

- TripAdvisor App Messages: TripAdvisor App > Account > Messages

Can’t find it? Ask Action Tour Guide to resend: actiontourguide.com/redeem/

2. Download The Tour NOW:

You MUST follow the instructions and download your tour BEFORE traveling to the site over WiFi/cellular. Do NOT wait until your travel date to download the tour.

Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR. The tour is not tied to your travel date and is valid any day, any time for multiple visits for one year from your purchase date.

3. Audio Tour Tips

Not familiar with Action Tour Guide’s audio tours? Watch a short video: actiontourguide.com/tutorial

Important Note: Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.

CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use the phone speakers if needed.

Support: Action Tour Guide is here to help! For quick answers read the Action Tour Guide website FAQs at actiontourguide.com/faq. For further help, call Action Tour Guide at 1315-291-0634, chat online at actiontourguide.com, or email support@actiontourguide.com.

⚠️ Important Note:
Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.
Please note that the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory may require advance ticket purchases. Updates and tickets are available at https://skycenter.arizona.edu/content/tickets.

Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted

The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Travel with Action in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.

This offer is not eligible for promo codes.