Popular Tucson-Area Trailhead, Picnic Area Closing For Major Overhaul

TUCSON, AZ — One of the most popular recreation sites on Mount Lemmon is about to undergo its biggest transformation in years, and that means a temporary closure for hikers and picnickers this summer.

The Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead near Summerhaven will close from Monday, July 6, through July 26, as crews begin tree remediation work for public safety.

The closure kicks off a larger reconstruction project expected to wrap up by December, officials said.

Marshall Gulch draws roughly 160,000 visitors a year, making it one of the busiest sites in the Coronado National Forest. It serves as the main access point for three popular trails: Marshall Gulch Trail #3, Sunset Trail #90 and Aspen Trail #93.

Once the initial tree work is complete, the site will reopen with a pedestrian path that allows trail access, though picnic areas and restrooms will remain closed for the duration of the project.

A Bigger Overhaul Is Coming

The closure is the first phase of the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead Improvement Project, a broader effort to restore natural conditions along Sabino Creek and Marshall Gulch while modernizing the site's infrastructure.

The current one-way, dead-end parking layout, a frequent source of congestion, will be replaced with a loop road. Crews also plan to build two new bridges over Sabino Creek designed to withstand 100-year floods, construct a new restroom, repave the parking area and replace picnic sites. Vehicle capacity will increase slightly, from 30 to 32 spaces.

During construction, visitors are encouraged to use the newly built Pima County Federal Lands Access Program parking area south of Summerhaven instead.

Hikers on the Arizona National Scenic Trail should also plan for detours. A temporary bypass is in place for AZT Passage 11, Passage 12 and the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass, rerouting through Mint Springs Trail #20 between East Carter Canyon Road and Marshall Saddle.

The project was approved in 2018 and is funded through the Legacy Restoration Fund under the Great American Outdoors Act, which supports deferred maintenance and infrastructure upgrades across national forests.

Questions can be directed to the Coronado National Forest at Mailroom_R3_Coronado@usda.gov.