It’s a good time to ski Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Arizona is known for being hot in the summer, mild in the winter, for cactus and the desert, and outdoor activities like hiking and golf.

Here’s one that tends to go under the radar: Skiing.

That’s right, skiing. And not just a rope tow for kids to take a five-second ride down to the family land.

Massive mountains that appear to be plucked out of the Colorado Rockies. Multiple chair lifts, even a quad or two. Runs ranging from conveyor-belt beginners to tree skiing and hike-and-ski bowls above the tree line.

“People come to Arizona and they’re shocked; they’re surprised that we even have skiing,” Arizona Snowbowl general manager J.R. Murray said. “Then when they come and see the mountain and how great it is, they really are pleasantly surprised.”

What Arizona doesn’t have is a lot of choices. The Grand Canyon State has four downhill skiing areas: Snowbowl and Elk Ridge in northern Arizona, Sunrise Park near the New Mexico state line and Mount Lemmon above Tucson.

Snowbowl is the only ski area with snowmaking capabilities — it was added in 2012 — but snow hasn’t been a problem this season.

After years of drought and hit or miss snow on the mountains, Arizona ski areas have reaped the benefits of El Niño as one storm after another has moved across the state. Snowbowl was 100 percent open around the Christmas holiday and had 58 inches of snow from a series of storms the second week in January, creating some “rad” conditions across the mountain.

“We elevated to almost epic conditions with all that fresh snow,” Murray said. “The skiing in Arizona right now is as good as it gets.”

An added benefit is the deals that can be had.

High season in towns like Flagstaff and Greer, where Sunrise Park is located, is in the summer, when people in the southern part of the state head north to cool off. So while hotel rates can be exorbitant down in the Valley of the Sun and Tucson, deals are there to be had in the mountains, leaving extra money to ski multiple days or dinner.

“You really can get some great deals,” Murray said.

A quick rundown

A quick rundown of the downhill ski areas in Arizona:

• ARIZONA SNOWBOWL

Location: Flagstaff, about two hours north of Phoenix.

Size: five lifts (a high-speed lift will be added for next season) and two conveyors, 32 trails.

Terrain: 37 percent beginner, 42 intermediate, 21 advanced, including a hike-to-ski-bowl above the tree line.

Base elevation: 9,200 feet.

Vertical drop: 2,300 feet.

Lift tickets: $69 adult, $59 teen, $39 child. Half day, $55/$45/$39.

Season: November-April.

Snowmaking: Yes.

• SUNRISE PARK RESORT

Location: Greer, near the Arizona/New Mexico state line; about four hours from Phoenix, just under four from Albuquerque.

Size: 10 lifts, 65 trails.

Terrain: 40 percent beginner, 40 intermediate, 20 advanced.

Base elevation: 9,200 feet.

Vertical drop: 1,800 feet.

Lift tickets: $66 adult, $56 child. Half day $52/$44.

Season: November-April.

Snowmaking: No.

• MOUNT LEMMON SKI VALLEY

Location: Just east of Tucson.

Size: Three lifts, 22 trails.

Terrain: 23 percent beginner, 41 intermediate, 36 advanced.

Base elevation: 8,200 feet.

Vertical drop: 950 feet.

Lift tickets: $40 adult, $20 child. Half day $35/$15.

Season: December-April.

Snowmaking: No.

• ELK RIDGE

Location: Williams, about 30 minutes west of Flagstaff.

Size: Two lifts, 12 trails.

Terrain: 30 percent beginner, 50 intermediate, 20 advanced.

Base elevation: 7,500 feet.

Vertical drop: 600 feet.

Lift tickets: $30 adult, $25 kids. Half day $25/$20.

Season: December-March.

Snowmaking: No.