There's still plenty of time left to hit the slopes in Arizona. Here's where to go
While Arizona is best known as home to some of the hottest desert communities in the world, the state has plenty of options for anyone pining for winter weather — you just have to reach the right elevation.
The state's skiers and snowboarders have three different resorts to choose from, each offering a slew of unique trails, terrain parks and more.
But if you haven’t hit the slopes yet this year, don't worry. There’s still plenty of time thanks in large part to artificial snowmakers filling the gap for Mother Nature during an unusually dry winter.
Learn more about Arizona's winter resorts as you plan your next trip.
Arizona Snowbowl: a destination for generations
Perhaps the most well-known ski resort in the state, Snowbowl is just 15 miles north of Flagstaff on the San Francisco Peaks, making it an easy trip for many locals and visitors alike.
Located in the Coconino National Forest, the resort operates on a 777-acre special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service that is renewed every four decades.
First opened in 1938, Snowbowl is home to the largest vertical drop in the state: 2,300 feet from summit to base. The park maintains 55 runs, the longest of which is 2 miles, serviced by eight different lifts.
With the help of an artificial snowmaker, Snowbowl’s typical winter season runs from mid-November through the end of April.
Adults and kids can enroll in group or private lessons before hitting the slopes with rentals available for clothes and equipment at the mountain’s two sport shops.
Snowbowl also offers two terrain parks for visitors interested in mastering their freestyle skills on a variety of jumps, rails and other custom features.
Sunrise Park Resort: Arizona's only Native American-owned ski area
Opened in 1970, the state’s largest ski resort is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe and is located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation east of Greer.
Perched atop the White Mountains, Sunrise Park Resort includes three mountains — Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Circle and Apache Peak — with the tallest topping out at an elevation of 11,100 feet above sea level.
The ski slopes are spread across the three peaks and served by eight chairlifts, ultimately covering 1,200 acres of skiable terrain.
The typical winter season at the park runs from Thanksgiving through the end of March, leaving plenty of time to make the trip. And like most ski resorts today, Sunrise doesn’t just rely on Mother Nature to ensure a great season — it can make its own snow if it has to.
If you don’t have your own gear, don’t sweat it. Sunrise offers rentals of skis, snowboards, boots, poles and winter clothing for all sizes and all ages. The resort’s Ski School is open to any first-time skier or snowboarder to either learn in a group, or through one-on-one instruction. Improvement lessons are also available to more experienced visitors.
In addition to dozens of trails for beginners, experts and anyone in between, the resort also includes a separate cross-country skiing area, a snowboard terrain park and a snow tubing hill. Ski bikes are also available for rent at the resort with lessons available.
If you time your visit right, you might be lucky enough to go night skiing, which the resort offers on Christmas and on holiday weekends in January and February.
Ski in southern Arizona at Mount Lemmon Ski Valley
If a trip to northern Arizona isn’t feasible, you can still hit the slopes in the Coronado National Forest just north of Tucson, the southernmost ski area in the United States.
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley opened for skiing and snowboarding just last weekend, with 200 acres of skiable land including more than 20 trails serviced by three lifts. Mount Lemmon’s ski summit measures around 9,150 feet above sea level with an estimated vertical drop of 950 feet.
Unlike the other ski resorts in the state, Mount Lemmon does not make its own snow and relies entirely on the weather. Because of its unique location in the desert, the weather on the mountain is often mild enough to see skiers and snowboarders in sweaters and jeans.
Equipment rentals are available on site before 2 p.m. and a variety of lessons for kids and adults of all experience levels are available.
Not interested in skiing? Try tubing in Williams
If you’re looking to get out in the snow but a ski resort doesn’t fit the bill, check out the winter tubing options in Williams.
Each winter, the Canyon Coaster Adventure Park transforms into a snow-packed mountainside perfect for families.
Four massive snowmakers on site ensure that the park is open for tubing from mid-November until Easter with two conveyor lifts available to transport riders up the hill. Visitors must purchase tickets to ride but do not have to rent any equipment as all inner tubes are provided.
Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.
The Republic’s coverage of northern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. To support regional Arizona news coverage like this, make a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's where to hit the ski slopes in Arizona for winter fun
