Carve your way into some of Arizona’s best ski destinations, from beginner to pro.
Snowbowl
The fist sign of snowfall was well over a month ago and now, with the dropping degrees in weather, it’s the perfect time to dust off your snow coat and boots and hit the slopes. Snowbowl in Flagstaff offers the perfect amount of fun and freedom—whether you’re a black-diamond connoisseur or a snow bunny who enjoys a nice hot cocoa on a blustery day. Two lodges are located at the ski area — Hart Prairie and Agassiz. Two additional lodges are located at the base of the mountain on Highway 180, Ski Lift Lodge & Cabins and Fort Valley Lodge, to make accessibility easy and stress-free. www.arizonasnowbowl.com
Sunrise Park Resort
From cross-country skiing to sleigh rides, Sunrise Park Resort will keep you on the toes of your snowshoes well into the winter season. And be sure to mark your calendars, for specific dates in January and February for night skiing, where the fun rises once the sun sets. Then relax in the indoor pool at the Sunrise Park Lodge, complete with two restaurants and unlimited resources for snow-day activities. www.sunriseskipark.com
Mt. Lemmon, Tucson
Don’t be fooled by the size, Mt. Lemmon has more than enough to offer any skier or boarder from beginner to pro. Carve your way down the Lemmon (as the locals call it) and slide into the Iron Door Restaurant, serving a best local fare in picturesque scenery. The Lemmon also offers ski school in normal to semi-private lessons. www.skithelemmon.com
Flagstaff Nordic Center
White is the new green at Flagstaff’s Nordic Center. Cross-country ski or snowshoe your way through tall ponderosa pines, never having to repeat the same run twice. Let it be known that this place is for soul-skiers, as there is no lift. The Flagstaff Nordic Center produces its own power using solar and backup generators, and all grooming snowmobiles have been replaced by less-polluting, more-efficient 4-stroke snowmobiles. If you’re daring, take this luxury less traveled by staying at the yurts or camping cabins, or the EcoHideaway cabin. www.flagstaffnordiccenter.com, www.offgridgetaways.com
