Arizona Snowbowl – Flagstaff’s premier ski resort – transports you from the stadiums to the slopes

The San Francisco Peaks – an ancient and dormant stratovolcano – comprise several prominences, including the state’s highest mountain, Mt. Humphreys. This peak rises more than 12,000 feet and looms over Flagstaff as the city’s most recognizable landmark. It’s here that Arizona Snowbowl makes its home.

The resort sprawls 777 skiable acres on Humphreys’ western slope, boasting 2,300 feet of vertical drop and a lift-served elevation of 11,500 feet. Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels will find suitable terrain among 61 downhill runs, the longest spanning two miles.

Thanks to its high elevation, Snowbowl’s average annual snowfall is 260 inches - the winter season begins in November and tends to last until late May or even early June the past two seasons. Arizona Snowbowl has a state-of-the-art snowmaking system and uses this to enhance the natural snowfall with man-made snow. This allows Snowbowl to operate the longest winter ski season in the state.

Arizona Snowbowl runs eight lifts. Lift ticket prices start as low as $19 online and increase with demand, and select dates include a $10 resort credit. Children 12 and younger ski for free with the Power Kids Pass as do guests 75+ in age.

No gear? No problem. Snowbowl offers ski and snowboard rentals, as well as boots, poles, and helmets.

For guests looking to brush up on their shredding, Snowbowl provides lessons for both adults and children, all taught by professional instructors. New adults (ages 13+) to the sport can take advantage of the resort’s free two-hour beginner lesson, a perk that comes with the purchase of a lift ticket and which walks guests through the basics of skiing or snowboarding – fitting since Snowbowl has the largest beginner-friendly terrain in the Southwest.

Half the fun of a day on the slopes is what comes after – retiring to the lodges near a warm fire, noshing on tasty eats and raising a pint (or two) to the mountain. Arizona Snowbowl serves up après ski fun at four spots, from slope-side eateries to cozy lodges.

Hart Prairie Lodge Restaurant offers grab-and-go food items plus wine, beer and spirits. Agassiz Lodge Restaurant and 9500’ Bar features a grab-and-go food items and an open-air patio set against a backdrop of mountain views. Alpine views are also on display at Snowbowl’s newest restaurant, Fremont, while Basecamp Restaurant highlights Tex-Mex cuisine from its bottom-of-the-mountain perch. Both Hart Prairie Lodge and Agassiz also have retail stores.

And no visit to Snowbowl should skip a ride on the Arizona Gondola. It ferries guests to the peak of Humphreys on a 15-minute journey inside a glass-enclosed gondola cabin that showcases unspoiled views of Sedona’s red rocks, a cinder cone volcanic field and – on a clear day – even the Grand Canyon.

Who says you have to return to the Valley’s sunny, 75-degree days? Revel in the winter wonderland just a little longer with an overnight stay at the resort’s Basecamp Hotel, just seven miles from the slopes, or at one of Flagstaff’s in-town options such as the High Country Motor Lodge, Little America, or the Americana Motor Hotel.