Arizona Skiing
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The beauty of Arizona is the extreme altitude differences, allowing us to bask in 70 degree winters here, while several hours away is snow waiting to be shushed. Sometimes our snow is erratic, though, and ski conditions in Arizona skiing can range from awesome to non-existant or slushy. Arizona skiing tends to start later than Colorado and end earlier. The bottom line is, if it snows and you can go, don’t hesitate. Enjoy the white stuff right here in our own back yard.
Sunrise Ski Park
The largest ski area in Arizona is the Sunrise Ski Park, about 4 hours northeast of Phoenix. Winter usually blankets these mountains with enough snow to provide some decent skiing.
With 65 runs, Sunrise has something for every level of skier. The resort also has a separate Snowboard Park with a snow halfpipe, rails and jumps, and a special children’s "ski-wee" area. Sunrise Park Resort is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
The cross country ski area has over 13 miles of groomed trails, located in the beautiful pines with several large meadows. The resort also offers sleigh rides and snow tubing.
The Sunrise Lodge is located on the grounds of the resort near the Sunrise Lake and has relatively inexpensive accommodations. There are also plenty of inexpensive motels in Show Low, Greer, or PineTop Lakeside. The Hon-Dah resort casino is nearby. For a more rustic experience, stay at one of the nearby resorts that offer individual cabin rentals, complete with separate bedrooms, kitchens and fireplaces.
800-772-7669; www.sunriseskipark.com
Snowbowl
In a little over two short hours, you can go from the desert valley to over 8000 feet above sea level at the San Francisco Peaks. The altitude climb makes the temperature plummet as well, from 70 degrees to 30 at the top of Snowbowl, where the skiing can be great (given a good dumping of snow). Some might call Snowbowl “small”, with only 32 trails and 4 chair lifts. But convenience makes up for small when you are talking about a simple 2 1/2 hour drive up I-17. The advanced trails can be challenging, with a 2300 vertical feet drop, but Snowbowl also boasts a 50 acre beginner area, with 2 chairlifts and skiing and snowboarding lessons for both children and adults. With skiing so close, you don’t have an excuse not to learn.
Lodging is easy near Snowbowl, with all of Flagstaff to choose from. Or if you want to stay close, the Ski Lift Lodge is near the base of the San Francisco Peaks near the road to Snowbowl.
928-779-1951; www.arizonasnowbowl.com
Durango
Want to drive a tad farther? Durango is in Southern Colorado, an 8½ hour drive north. The reward for your extra time in the car is the Durango Mountain Resort (also known as Purgatory). This ski destination has over 1200 ski-able acres, 11 lifts, 85 runs and an average snowfall that usually dwarfs our Arizona resorts. With over 74% of the runs in the beginner/intermediate range, Durango Mountain Resort is great for those of us who don’t ski much, but the 2029 vertical rise still holds challenge for the advanced skier. The terrain park has been upgraded this season for snowboarders, with new rails, a bigger half pipe and trickier jumps. Opening day is scheduled for November 25th.
Durango Mountain Resort has just about all of the winter activities you can think of, with sleigh rides, snowmobiles, cross-country skiing, snow tubing and snow shoeing.
The ski area is located 25 miles north of Durango, which has many lodging options and a wide variety of restaurants and brew-pubs. For those who like to roll out of bed on to the slopes, the resort offers condos and hotel rooms on the mountain. At press time, the resort is offering 4 days of skiing and 4 nights of lodging starting at $620, for 2 adults and 2 children under 12 (kids ski free).
800-982-6103; www.durangomountainresort.com
