Arizona Snowbowl Reviews & Ratings

Snowbowl isnt the biggest mountain. Because of the surrounding geography it is very easy for the runs to become wind swept and iced over in the opening hours. Usually around 2pm any ice that was present will be more forgiving. Best to visit this resort in later February into march as snow seems to fall best around this time. Because snow can be sparse depending on the year expect few lifts open in early season maybe only one or two. But check the website for updates.

All lift tickets start at $19 and go up based on demand. They believe in the freedom to ski so if you know when you want to come to the mountain you can buy in advance and secure your weekend on a low price. If you are coming to the mountain this season see if you can buy online ahead of time as the price only goes up from now. Kids under a certain age ride for free, you just need some proof of their age and a visit to the ticket line to pick up their pass.

On windy days you can expect gondola to be shutdown leaving the black diamond terrain out of reach as only one lift can take you there. Though blue runes on the left side of the mountain can feel like black diamonds at the start.

The food is decent but do yourself a favor and order online as peak season can see quite the wait. I recommend the pizzas as a personal favorite.

There are three lodges on the mountain. Agassiz is at the top and the oldest. Its in need of an update but where you want to go if its for the gondola. Be advised that sometimes this building isnt staffed and if you need rentals you want to park in lots 1-4 for the bottom lodge. Here youll find guest services rentals and ski school. Its basically head quarters for the mountain. Fremont is not far but its more of a ski up lodge. You can walk across the bridge to this heated bar tent and get a nice bite to eat away from most of the kids. The lift outside Fremont would be the one that takes you to the sunset park once its open for the season.

Overall the mountain is good for its location. Due to the amount of people visiting and the size of the resort however, I believe it has the highest injuries to acreage ratio compared to other resorts. Because its an old volcano this mountain is on the steeper side making for some long but fast runs. If you do decide to visit just remember to be aware of your surroundings. Its common to see newer guest getting ready for the catwalks without realizing they picked a spot where another run joins the one theyre on. Slow down, wear a helmet (you may trust your ability but do you trust others?), dont ski beyond your ability, and have fun. Remember this is a family centered mountain so be aware of skiwees and beginner riders.

Snowbowl is a small but fun resort! Great for beginners but also some fun expert terrain in the trees. When the snow is good the skiing is awesome!

AZ Snowbowl is wonderful.

Who is this for?
-Locals, Phoenicians, AZ skiers and boarders.
-Great for families! Cheap lessons and rentals, free season pass for kids 12 and under.
-Stellar for learning. Free beginner lessons. Cheap lessons for more advanced folks. Midweek group lessons for intermediate and advanced skiers are typically private because no one else buys a lesson.
-Free Uphill Access
-Midweek is frequently dead, (holidays and school breaks exempt.) Lap after lap of good stuff.


Problems:
-Super busy on weekends. Sometimes it's not that worth it. Operators are really efficient, but crowds are so large that there is a long wait regardless.
-Cortesy Tool benches don't have enough variety. They need more sized of screw drivers because I almost stripped my bindings.
-No Apres. The mountain closes when the lifts do. They have some options open at the hotel lodge at the base of the mountain (mountain base is much lower than the base of the ski area) but it is meh and not Apres.

Not reviewed:
-Park. It looks cool, but not my thing so I can't speak for it.
-Trees. Not enough snow this year for coverage and they are just beyond my current skill set.
-Hike to Terrain. Looks awesome, not there yet and not enough snow so far this year.

Snowbowl is a great option for family friendly activities. Their lessons are excellent. And the snow is superb.

Awesome resort to ski from everyone at a begin to advanced level. If the resort has snow it can be a very fun time. Can be busy so best to go on weekdays.

Very nice resort for the price and location. Very beginner friendly. Can be difficult when there is low snow.

Im a beginner with skiing and snowboarding but this was a nice area. Friendly staff that were very helpful with any questions and concerns.

This is the best place to take your family. I love going here every winter. It is my favorite thing to do with my family. It is so nice and beautiful and friendly atmosphere. I highly recommend everyone to stay here.