Snowbowl is Flagstaff's ski area, up on the San Francisco Peaks about 14 miles, or half an hour by car, from downtown. The 2026/27 season is set to open on November 20. Kids 12 and under ski free all winter, and a free shuttle runs from town.
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Tickets and passesArizona Snowbowl, December 2016 · Photo: Coconino National Forest / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 · Credits
The lifts start at 9,200 feet and top out at 11,500, well above the town itself. From Phoenix that's a climb of more than 8,000 feet in a day, and the altitude shows on the first runs.
Snowbowl sits on Coconino National Forest land under a special-use permit, but the ski area itself is private, with its own rules. Sledding and snow play aren't allowed there.
Lift tickets and rentals are priced by demand, so the day rate moves with the date. Busy weekends and holidays cost the most.
Kids 12 and under get the Power Kids Pass, a free season pass that doesn't require an adult pass. Skiers 75 and older get a free season pass too.
Snowbowl Road leaves US-180 north of town, and after a storm it can require chains or four-wheel drive. The free Mountain Express from downtown Flagstaff, back for 2026/27, takes the road out of the equation.
If you drive, there's no parking along Snowbowl Road. Beginners park at Hart Prairie and advanced skiers at Agassiz.
Road conditions change by the hour. Check Snowbowl's site and Arizona's 511 traveler information (az511.gov or dial 511) before you leave.
When the snow's gone, the gondola takes visitors up the mountain for the view. One ticket gives you unlimited rides on the day it's valid for, and the price changes with demand, like the winter tickets.
The gondola has closed for the 2026 season and reopens after the snow melts.
There's no lodging at the ski area itself. Downtown Flagstaff is the closest place to stay, about 14 miles from Snowbowl, and it's where the free shuttle leaves from.
Bespoke Inn FlagstaffDowntown and Southside 9.8/10 on Expedia · 426 reviewsFree parkingPets: dogs only, up to 2About 14 miles to Snowbowl by carCheck prices
Hotel Monte VistaDowntown and Southside 8.0/10 on Expedia · 1,057 reviewsParking $50 a day in a nearby lot; limited spaces at the hotelNo petsBreakfast extraAbout 14 miles to Snowbowl by carCheck prices
Residence Inn by Marriott FlagstaffDowntown and Southside 9.6/10 on Expedia · 1,002 reviewsParking $10 a dayPets: up to 2 petsAbout 14 miles to Snowbowl by carCheck prices
Highland Country InnDowntown and Southside 9.4/10 on Expedia · 1,005 reviewsFree parkingNo petsAbout 14 miles to Snowbowl by carCheck prices
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Arizona Snowbowl plans to open the lifts for the 2026/27 season on Friday, November 20, 2026. As every year, the date depends on snow.
On the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff, at the top of Snowbowl Road off US-180. From downtown hotels it's about 14 miles by car.
Snowbowl posts lift status and conditions every day on its snow report and webcams. The mountain cams are among the Flagstaff webcams.
The closing day depends on the snow. For spring trips, the resort's number is 928-447-9928.
Yes. Arizona Snowbowl has 61 runs between 9,200 and 11,500 feet, with hike-to terrain up to 12,000 feet. For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, see the Arizona Nordic Village.
About 260 inches in an average season, by Snowbowl's own figure. That's nearly three times the 90 or so inches an average year brings at Flagstaff's airport, more than 2,000 feet lower.
Arizona Snowbowl is the best-known and the one closest to a city, with 777 skiable acres, 61 runs and 2,800 feet of vertical. Sunrise Park Resort in the White Mountains, run by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, is the other large one.
Day tickets are priced by demand, so weekdays and early online purchases are cheaper than holiday weekends. Children 12 and under ski free with the Power Kids Pass, and the adult season pass for ages 37 to 64 is $1,149 in the current presale.
No. Snow play isn't allowed at the ski area. Sledding and tubing are at the Snow Park and the Forest Service areas.
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