The Winter Review of the Arizona Snowbowl

Note: Arizona Snowbowl has added two lifts since this review was written including the high speed, 6 person Grand Canyon Express that services intermediate terrain. Visit our Submissions page to submit a new WinterReview of this ski area.

When most people think of Arizona, they think of hot temperatures and vultures circling lost desert travelers. But get away from the average 70+ degree winter temperatures of Southern Arizona and you’ll find mountain towns that are home to some great local ski areas. If you thought you couldn’t find use for those sticks in the desert southwest, think again.

Arizona Snowbowl is located on the San Francisco Peaks close to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Amenities: Arizona Snowbowl offers two lodges and a restaurant at the base of the mountain.

• Hart Prairie Lodge is the largest and has a cafeteria and bar. There are also restrooms, a pro shop, lockers, rental shop, lift ticket sales, ski school sales and guest services.
• Agassiz Lodge has a much smaller cafeteria and a cozy bar. Agassiz Lodge offers restrooms, lockers and lift ticket sales
• Ski Lift Lodge is located at the bottom of the mountain, about 7 miles from Hart Prarie Lodge, has a full restaurant and bar as well as “cabin” lodging options. The cabins are just duplex style hotel rooms.

Customer Service: Most of our reports and experiences have been of mediocre service at AZ Snowbowl. Restaurant and bar staff aren’t overly friendly, but they don’t scowl at you unless you show up with a sled. Lifties are always smiling, but you know how lifties are. Rental and ticket lines can be cumbersome on the weekends and holidays but employees are generally upbeat and helpful.

Terrain: Arizona Snowbowl has everything from beginner conveyors to advanced terrain. ·

• Beginner, 37%: The beginner terrain is best suited for ski school and lessons. There are two conveyors for the little ones and two small lifts for beginners. Hart Prairie and Aspen Lift both move slowly and stop a lot due to beginner users. The terrain is groomed with a few opportunities to dabble through the trees.
• Intermediate, 42%: There are two lifts servicing intermediate terrain. Sunset and Agassiz to Midway. Sunset also services the terrain park and Agassiz is the only lift to service advanced terrain. Both lifts are slow and become congested on weekends and holidays. Lots of riders on Sunset are riding the terrain park and intermediate users should jump off Agassiz at Midway. The intermediate terrain is nothing special, lots of wide open groomers and a few introductions to play in the trees.
• Advanced, 21%: There is only one lift servicing advanced terrain. Some would note the need to hike “Upper Bowl” to get to double black terrain, but those in the know will ski or ride in the trees. There are several steep mogul runs, bowl skiing when conditions permit and some long, wide open groomed runs. The advanced tree skiing is some of the best. Snowbowl does some tree work in the off season to clean up the trees and offer advanced users the chance to ride in open forest or ski in tight trees.

Terrain Park: The terrain park at Arizona Snowbowl leaves something to be desired. Beginner riders and skiers just getting into freestyle will find it challenging and not too intimidating. Snowbowl works hard to create features that are popular, they just have limited terrain and snow to work with. In good snow years Arizona Snowbowl will build larger features that will excite more advanced users. As with most things Snowbowl, the terrain park is great for local and nearby riders that don’t get to ride big mountains every day like their Rocky Mountain brethren to the North.