Snowbowl in Flagstaff, AZ
- Hannah Dollarhide
- Sep 10, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 26, 2020
“Skiing is the next best thing to having wings” – Oprah Winfrey.
Opened 80 years ago, in 1983, Arizona Snowbowl is a snow lover’s paradise in the desert state (2). With the San Francisco Peaks reaching 9,500 feet, Snowbowl is perfect for the skilled skier and snowboarder, or someone looking to try for the first-time (1). Snowbowl is located about 30 minutes from the town of Flagstaff and two hours from Phoenix, Arizona (1), (2). The ski resort typically opens in mid-November and remains open until mid-May, remaining open for approximately 122 days (2). The average snowfall it receives is 260 inches total (2). Snowbowl has a total of eight lifts, 55 runs, and four terrain parks (2). The longest run available is two miles (2). Of the runs, 22% are beginner runs (green circle), 44% are intermediate (blue square), 22% are advanced (black diamond), and 13% are expert (double-black diamond) (2).
There are several lift ticket options available for visiting Snowbowl. If you are an avid skier or snowboarder, there is the Power Pass option which costs $649 for a young adult (ages 19-24) (3). This pass gets you unlimited access to not only Snowbowl, but also other ski resorts in Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico including: Purgatory, Sipapu, Pajarito, Hesperus, Brian Head, and Nordic Valley (3). It also allows you to get six extra lift tickets at with 30% for family or friends (3)! This is the pass my boyfriend, Davis, purchased for the 2019/2020 season. The Value Pass option is $549 and gives you access to Snowbowl on Mondays through Fridays (3). It also gives you 20% off one adult lift ticket on blackout days during week days. The blackout days for the Value Pass are Saturdays, Sundays, December 26, 2019 – December 27, 2019, and December 30, 2019 – January 3, 2020 (3). Single-day lift tickets are $99 for adults (ages 18-64) (4). If you buy early though, you have the chance to save up to 70% on your ticket (5)! A limited quantity of passes are set aside for those who purchase them at least 48 hours in advance (5). This is what my friend, Ryan, has been doing all season in order to save on time and money. You also have the option at Snowbowl to get a free lift ticket on your birthday (5)! Just present a valid ID the day of at the ticket counter to redeem your free pass (5). Starting March 1, 2020, the World’s Best Spring Break deal goes back on sale with full-day lift tickets starting at $29, rentals for $15, and lessons for $15 (6). It also includes a free $15 resort credit. This deal is valid only online prior to the day you choose to head up the mountain (6).
If you choose to drive up to Snowbowl, plan so accordingly. It is about a three-hour drive from ASU’s Tempe Campus to the ski resort (Google Maps). There are several parking lots available at the base of the resort for your convenience. If those fill up, there is parking around town and ongoing shuttles provided by Mountain Express to and from the mountain to take care of you (7). If driving yourself is unavailable to you, check out the Alpine Express or Desert Snow Connections for shuttle services from Phoenix (8). TIP: if you are driving yourself, leave early in the morning to beat the early rush hour traffic and also get a full day on the slopes!
What Gear to Bring to Snowbowl:
Dress in layers – base layer of non-cotton clothing, insulation like a down vest or wool sweater, and weather protection like water-proof jackets and pants.
Gloves or mittens – double check that they are also water proof
Warm, preferably wool, socks
Helmet or hat
Goggles or sunglasses
Chapstick
Sunscreen
Boots
Skis and Poles or Snowboard
You can also rent from gear from a local shop, shop in Flagstaff, or Snowbowl’s rental store
(9)
If you are looking for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat after a long day on the slopes, I recommend visiting the Matador Coffee Roasting Co in Flagstaff. They have the best vanilla lattes! Another good local spot to fill your stomach is Fratelli Pizza. Who doesn’t enjoy a good slice? My final suggestion is to drop on by Diablo Burger. It is one of the best, local burger joints I have ever come across. One of the best parts of driving through Flagstaff on your way home is stopping and enjoying the local cuisine.
“Some people attach snowboards to their feet, very few attach them to their souls” – Shaun White.
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