Catalina Mountain Highway

Catalina Mountain Highway - This breathtaking scenic highway to the top of the sky island of Mt. Lemmon takes you from the low Sonoran Desert to a high Alpine forest (9100 feet). That's the biological equivalent of traveling from Mexico to Canada in 27 miles.

Where: Just north of Tucson, AZ

When: October 17, 2009

Weather: Bright and sunny with some puffer clouds and a bit of a breeze. Temperatures in the mid-90s on the desert floor and mid-70s at the summit.

Birds of note: Townsend Warblers.

Trail notes: Beautiful fall colors. The leaves are just about at their peak.