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    Arizona, USA

    Arizona Snowbowl

    55 runs, 2,300ft vertical, 777 acres on the San Francisco Peaks. 260in snowfall, 2 hours from Phoenix.

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    Live Arizona Snowbowl conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

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    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    20 Nov 2026
    Closes
    18 Apr 2027
    Days open
    149
    Annual snow
    260in
    Snow record
    0in
    2026-27 so far
    0% of a typical winter143in
    Explore 3 winters of snowfall→
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Arizona Snowbowl's summit reaches 11,499 feet, dropping 2,300 vertical feet to a base at 9,199 feet across 55 runs spread over 777 acres on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. Terrain splits 43 per cent intermediate, 22 per cent beginner, 22 per cent advanced and 13 per cent expert. Average annual snowfall reaches roughly 260 inches. The resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation.

    Snowbowl sits on the western slope of Mount Humphreys, Arizona's highest peak, giving it one of the highest base elevations of any US resort outside the Rockies. Eight lifts, including a gondola, a six-pack chair, two quads and a triple, serve the 55-run network. The resort's unusually long operating season, often extending into May, reflects both its high elevation and heavy investment in snowmaking. The 2,300-foot vertical drop is substantial for a resort in the desert Southwest.

    Arizona Snowbowl has operated since 1938, when it began as a two-person rope tow powered by a car engine. The San Francisco Peaks are held sacred by thirteen Native American tribes in the region, including the Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Hualapai and Yavapai. A 1979 Forest Service approval for expanded facilities, including new lifts and additional trails, prompted lawsuits from Hopi and Navajo groups seeking to halt development on religious grounds; the tribes have not succeeded in any of the legal challenges filed over the decades. Since December 2012, the resort has used reclaimed wastewater from the City of Flagstaff for snowmaking under a contract first signed in 2002, a practice that remains contested by Indigenous and environmental groups on both cultural and water-quality grounds.

    With no major pass affiliation, Snowbowl uses dynamic pricing, with adult day tickets ranging from roughly 19 to over 300 US dollars depending on demand, alongside a flat-rate season pass at 899 dollars. Kids 12 and under ski free. The resort suits Phoenix and northern Arizona skiers seeking high-desert skiing without travelling to the Rockies, roughly two hours from Phoenix and 14 miles from Flagstaff. Its history and ongoing tension over its sacred-mountain location and reclaimed-water snowmaking remain part of the resort's identity for many visitors and observers alike.

    2,300ft
    Vertical
    55
    Runs
    777 acres
    Skiable
    260in
    Annual snow
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    The Terrain

    55 runs across 777 acres skiable

    Arizona Snowbowl sits on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, with 55 runs over about 777 acres (314 hectares). The base is at 9,200 feet (2,804 m) and the summit at 11,500 feet (3,505 m), a vertical of 2,300 feet (701 m) that is the largest in Arizona. Intermediates make up 43% of the terrain, with beginners and advanced skiers at 22% each and experts at 13%. A gondola, a six-pack, two quads, a triple, a double and two surface lifts serve the mountain, and about 260 inches of snow falls in a typical year.

    Two lodges anchor the mountain: Agassiz and Hart Prairie. The Arizona Gondola, or Agassiz Express, climbs the main face toward the summit, while the Aspen quad, the Sunset triple and the Hart Prairie quad spread skiers across the lower and middle slopes. The Upper Bowl hike-to terrain delivers the steepest skiing, and the multiple terrain parks add jumps, rails and technical features. Snowbowl suits intermediates cruising groomers, advanced skiers heading for the bowl and beginners who want high-altitude skiing close to Flagstaff, though the mountain can get busy on powder weekends.

    Terrain split
    55
    runs
    55 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner12 runs · 22%
    Intermediate24 runs · 43%
    Advanced12 runs · 22%
    Expert7 runs · 13%
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    Time it right

    When to visit Arizona Snowbowl

    The 2025-26 season at Arizona Snowbowl ran from 7 November 2025 to 10 May 2026, an unusually long roughly twenty-six-week window for a Southwest resort. The mountain's high base elevation of 9,199 feet, close to Arizona's highest terrain, supports this extended season. Snowmaking, supplied by reclaimed wastewater since 2012, extends the season further at both ends. Season dates can shift based on early and late-season conditions.

    Average annual snowfall of roughly 260 inches is high for the desert Southwest, a result of the San Francisco Peaks' elevation drawing moisture from passing storm systems. This natural snowfall, combined with reclaimed-water snowmaking, supports one of the longest operating seasons of any resort outside the traditional snowbelt regions. Base depth builds through midwinter and can persist into spring given the elevation. The reclaimed-water snowmaking programme remains contested by Indigenous and environmental groups, citing both cultural concerns and studies suggesting the water contains endocrine-disrupting compounds.

    January and February typically offer the most reliable natural conditions, while snowmaking extends viable skiing well into spring given the exceptionally long season. Late-season visits in April and May are unusual for most US resorts but routine at Snowbowl given its elevation. Weekday visits are generally quieter than weekends, with the resort serving a large day-trip population from Phoenix as well as destination visitors. Family Friday afternoon discounted access reflects the resort's effort to spread demand across the week.

    Snowbowl's season calendar operates within the ongoing context of its location on the San Francisco Peaks, sacred to thirteen regional tribes, and the continued use of reclaimed wastewater for snowmaking since 2012. Protests and legal challenges have recurred around season openings in past years, reflecting sustained opposition from some Indigenous and environmental groups. The resort's own programming otherwise centres on standard ski operations rather than major festivals. Its exceptionally long season remains its most distinctive seasonal feature nationally.

    Season 2026 - 2027
    20 Nov 2026
    Opens
    18 Apr 2027
    Closes
    149
    Days open
    260 in
    Annual snow
    The record

    Historical snowfall at Arizona Snowbowl

    Daily snow reports at Arizona Snowbowl go back to 2025, 3 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.

    22 in
    Snowiest day
    19 Nov 2025
    0 in
    This winter · 2026-27
    so far
    143 in
    Typical winter
    average of complete seasons
    Explore historical snowfall →
    Winter totals
    in
    Past wintersThis winter
    Getting there

    Getting to Arizona Snowbowl, and where to stay

    Arizona Snowbowl sits on the western slope of Mount Humphreys in the San Francisco Peaks, roughly 14 miles from Flagstaff, with a base elevation of 9,199 feet and a summit at 11,499 feet across a 2,300-foot vertical drop. This is within the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona. The San Francisco Peaks are held sacred by thirteen Native American tribes in the region, including the Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Hualapai and Yavapai, a fact central to the mountain's identity and ongoing disputes over its development.

    Flagstaff, Arizona, is the nearest city, a university and railroad town at roughly 7,000 feet elevation that serves as the resort's main service centre. The city sits along historic Route 66 and the modern Interstate 40 corridor. Flagstaff's own high elevation and forested setting distinguish it from the desert character of much of the rest of Arizona. Reclaimed wastewater from the City of Flagstaff has supplied the resort's snowmaking since 2012, linking the city and resort directly.

    Highway 180 provides the main access route from Flagstaff to the ski area, climbing steadily into the San Francisco Peaks. The drive from Flagstaff takes roughly 30 minutes under normal conditions. Phoenix lies approximately two hours south by Interstate 17 and connecting roads, making Snowbowl a popular day-trip destination for the state's largest metropolitan area. Winter driving on Highway 180 can include snowpack given the elevation gain from Flagstaff to the resort.

    Flagstaff Pulliam Airport offers limited regional commercial service, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, roughly two hours south, provides far more extensive flight options and is the more practical choice for most visitors. Most Snowbowl visitors drive up from Phoenix rather than flying into a smaller regional airport. No passenger rail connects directly to the resort, though Amtrak serves Flagstaff itself. A rental car from Phoenix or Flagstaff is the standard way to reach the resort.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Arizona Snowbowl, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings

    Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings

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    1 Nov 2026
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    31 Oct 2026
    Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street

    Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street

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    31 Oct 2026
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    30 Oct 2026
    What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass

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    30 Oct 2026
    Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace

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    30 Oct 2026
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    29 Oct 2026
    Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup

    Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup

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    29 Oct 2026

    Arizona Snowbowl Trail Map

    Downloadable Arizona Snowbowl trail map

    Open in the app

    Live Arizona Snowbowl conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

    Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

    Open in the app

    Live Arizona Snowbowl conditions, webcams & maps. Opens straight here.

    Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
    Arizona Snowbowl trail map↓ Download PDF
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    Terrain split
    55
    runs
    Beginner22%
    Intermediate43%
    Advanced22%
    Expert13%
    777 acres skiable314 hectares
    Advertisement
    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base9,199ft
    Summit11,499ft
    Annual snowfall
    260in
    Season
    2026 - 2027
    20 Nov 2026 - 18 Apr 2027
    Trail coverage
    55 runs
    777 acres (314 ha)
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    About Arizona Snowbowl's trail map

    Explore Arizona Snowbowl's full trail map with 55 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Arizona Snowbowl intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.