Summer Activities at Arizona Snowbowl

In Flagstaff, that can mean traveling 15 miles north of town to Arizona Snowbowl, located on the majestic San Francisco Peaks. Doesn’t matter that it’s summertime. In fact, the natural air conditioning above 9,500 feet makes Snowbowl an attractive respite to the searing Arizona heat below.

Plus, summertime activities at the ski resort are the perfect answer when the kids whine “I’m bored” after one too many highway historical markers or souvenir shops.

Turn them loose at Snowbowl for a handful of runs on a thrilling tubing slope. They’ll get a workout climbing back up the slope at this lofty elevation. 

How does a bungee trampoline sound? Exhilarating! Get some serious air on this springy platform. 

A climbing wall will challenge any young alpinist to see if they can summit on a simulated rock spire. 

Visitors can try their hand at treasure panning, corn hole and disc golf. Bring your own discs.

Snowbowl also features SkyTech Virtual Reality Skiing, a skiing or snowboarding simulator that mimics a downhill run on world-famous ski slopes projected on a screen. 

Of course, the biggest attraction at Snowbowl is the Scenic Gondola Rides on the Arizona Gondola. 

“The gondola lift is the only one in the state. It takes passengers up the mountain from an elevation of 9,500 to 11,500 feet and offers access to endless views like no other” said Angie Grubb, Snowbowl’s marketing manager.  

The perch of land at the top of the Scenic Gondola Ride is 856 feet below Agassiz Peak, Arizona’s second-highest summit at an elevation of 12,256 feet. Humphreys Peak nearby is 12,633 feet. 

It’s magical zipping up the ski slopes in the Arizona Gondola. The enclosed cabin is quiet as you whisk along between rows of towering spruce and fir trees. The ride takes about 15 minutes each way. 

The best part is being at the highest lift-served point in Arizona. It’s quite a cheat to be this far up the mountain in what would take hours to hike. I parked myself in an Adirondack chair, put my feet up on a low stone wall and took in the spectacular view. Alpine meadows and the tallest nearby mountains — Kendrick, Sitgreaves and Bill Williams — spread out below me miles away. 

It had rained earlier in Flagstaff and the temperature on Agassiz was approaching 60 degrees on the July day when I visited, at least 25 degrees cooler than in town. Best to wear a hoodie or bring a jacket. It can be cool and windy at the top. 

Take time to enjoy the natural beauty of San Francisco Peaks in summer glory with quaking aspens, ferns and dashes of wildflower color. This mountain is one of the most beautiful places in Arizona, a state with no shortage of breathtaking canyons, waterfalls and red rock deserts. 

Morning can be the best time to ride the gondola during monsoon season, when afternoon storms can shut down the cable car.

Late in the day, visitors can take a Sunset Gondola Ride on Fridays and Saturdays and combine it with a dinner package if they wish. Agassiz Lodge Restaurant serves a special dinner menu from 4:30 p.m. to sunset on Fridays and Saturdays. 

“The dinner menu features a choice of a carne asada plate, two 6-ounce pork chops or a vegetarian enchilada with chickpeas, mushrooms, onions, corn tortillas and green sauce” said Javier Garcia, Snowbowl chef and food and beverage manager. 

Agassiz Lodge’s daytime menu includes burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, rice bowls, and more. 

Poke your head in the Agassiz Lodge bar, just off the patio. The walls are adorned with black and white photos of skiers from 70 plus years ago. Arizona Snowbowl has come a long way since 1938 when it opened with a rope tow powered by an old Ford motor. 

Summer season at Snowbowl runs from June to the end of October. Gondola rides are popular for seeing changing fall colors of golden aspens in September and October.

Tickets and details on entertainment packages at snowbowl.ski