A Day Trip to Arizona Snowbowl: What to Know Beforehand

Every year, I hear the same response as I pack up my snowboard in preparation to go live in Arizona for the winter. 

“You live in Phoenix. Where are you going to snowboard?”

I could get technical and say that there are actually three ski hills across the state of Arizona and that I actually have options. But there is only one ski hill that brings in a massive number of skiers and snowboarders looking to hit the slopes in one of the hottest states in the U.S.

About two and a half hours north of Phoenix lies Arizona Snowbowl, located just outside of charming Flagstaff. An oasis in the desert for midwesterners like myself who are feeling a little homesick and missing the snow while living in paradise. 

After visiting Arizona Snowbowl for the first time recently, I learned a lot about visiting Arizona’s most famous ski hill. From getting some altitude sickness to enjoying a beer in a yurt, an eventful day was had at the hill.

Getting to Snowbowl

The drive from Phoenix to Snowbowl is pretty easy and straightforward. Early in the morning, my friends and I just hopped on I-17 and got our cars heading north. Only two and a half hours later, we had left the desert behind and were welcomed with pine trees and temps below 30 degrees.

Arizona Snowbowl is tucked back behind the mainstays of Flagstaff, but it’s not that difficult to get in your car and make the drive over if you want to stay in Flagstaff overnight, before or after your day on the hill. It is about a half-hour drive to the hill, depending on traffic, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to get first chair in the morning.

We did see a local bus bringing people to and from the mountain and downtown, so that’s also an option to look into if you’re staying downtown.

Since we’re talking about driving, let’s talk about that drive up to the base of the ski hill. It is full of winding switchbacks, twisting and turning as it brings you farther and farther up the mountain. If you suffer from car sickness, be prepared that this part of the drive can be a little rough, especially if you’re also dealing with the consequences of altitude sickness as well, since the base of the hill sits at about 9,000 feet above sea level. 

If I wasn’t driving, I would have felt pretty awful before I even got to the hill.

There are a number of parking lots to choose from when you first get to the base. Parking lots 1 and 2 will be a farther walk to the hill, though nothing terrible. If you need to pick up lift tickets or rentals, your best bet is to park in lots 1 through 4, as those will be closer to the lodge.

Hit the Slopes

Once you’re parked, dressed, and ticketed up, it’s finally time to get out on the slopes.

Arizona Snowbowl has over 60 runs, however, the amount of open runs really depends on the day and the time of year you’re going. 

When I visited just this past weekend in late January, only half of the runs were open due to the lack of snow in Flagstaff this year. While this did result in a cheaper lift ticket (though it still set me back $110 on a Sunday) I felt as though this hill would have been awesome to see at its full capacity. 

The runs I did get on were awesome and so different from Midwest skiing. The long, winding trails took my breath away, not just because I was pretty out of shape and I was suffering from a touch of altitude sickness, but from the sheer beauty of it all. 

There is nothing like being on these massive hills, carving down the mountain with other people who love the sport just as much as you do. I kept thinking about how a younger, more in-shape version of me would have had the best day there; flying down these runs like it was absolutely nothing.

A Day on the Slopes

Snowbowl is a pretty big hill compared to the Midwest hills I grew up on, but it’s not as big as some of the resorts I’ve been to out in Colorado. That being said, there is a lot going on at this hill, especially on the weekends. 

People are often seen grilling out in the parking lot. There are DJs and bars all over the hill, either at base camps or in yurts across the mountain. I’m lucky my group decided to get there early because we really got to make the most of our day there. 

In my opinion, I think taking the time to stop and enjoy the music and the fires and the bars is part of the day. My favorite moment was when I stumbled upon the Agassiz Lodge, and sat and just looked at the mountain in front of me with a beer in my hand. 

And when I look back on my day, I’m happy I had those moments off the hill. I loved spending time with the people I love, just enjoying a sport we all love. 

So, to answer the question, I brought my snowboard to Arizona for days like this. Days full of friends, beer, and some great snow.