Starting Monday, July 6 through July 26, 2026, the Coronado National Forest’s Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead, near the city of Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon, will be closed as part of a maintenance and reconstruction project.

The temporary closure is in place for public safety while tree remediation work occurs as part of the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead Improvement Project Once initial work is complete, the site will open with a “pedestrian path” that will allow access to the trails. The project is expected to be completed by December 2026. Picnic and restroom facilities will be closed throughout the duration of the project.

The Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead is one of the most popular recreation sites on the Coronado National Forest, welcoming approximately 160,000 visitors annually, and serves as the primary trailhead to the popular Marshall Gulch Trail #3, Sunset Trail #90, and Aspen Trail #93.

The purpose of the project is to restore areas along Sabino Creek and Marshall Gulch to more natural conditions, to improve vehicle circulation and parking within the recreation site and improve recreation infrastructure. To reduce the current congestion issues, the project includes the replacement of the one-way, dead-end parking design with a loop road. The loop road will include construction of two 100-year flood-designed bridges over Sabino Creek, installation of a new restroom, maintenance and replacement of the asphalt parking area, and replacement of picnic sites. The overall capacity of the site is increasing from 30 to 32 vehicles.

During construction, trail users are encouraged to use the newly constructed Pima County Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funded parking area located south of Summerhaven.

A temporary detour is in place for the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) impacting AZT Passage 11, 12, and the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass. The bypass utilizes the Mint Springs Trail #20, connecting E Carter Canyon Road to Marshall Saddle. Arizona-Trail-Mt-Lemmon-Detours-Map.pdf

The forest analyzed the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area and Trailhead Improvement Project for environmental and cultural effects under the National Environmental Policy Act and other applicable laws. Approved in 2018, the project is supported by funding from the Legacy Restoration Fund under the Great American Outdoors Act. The Fund allows the Forest Service to address deferred maintenance on these critical facilities as well as improve critical infrastructure essential for the use and enjoyment of national forests and grasslands.