Guide to Flagstaff's Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort

If you live in Arizona, skiing options are in short supply. Flagstaff's Arizona Snowbowl is one of the state's two biggest resorts, the other is Sunrise near Greer.

Neither of these resorts attract many skiers beyond the borders of Arizona. They're what we Arizonans have, and we're eager to hit the slopes whenever the cover grows deep enough. Arizonans will argue constantly about whether they prefer Snowbowl or Sunrise. I'm a Snowbowl advocate not because the skiing is better, but because it's slightly closer to Phoenix, there's more to do when your day of skiing ends, and lift tickets are pretty cheap at $49 for a non-holiday weekend day.

Here's what you need to know about Snowbowl and Flagstaff:

If you're used to skiing in Colorado or Utah, you'll find Snowbowl a lot smaller than resorts in those ski destinations. There are 32 trails serviced by four lifts. The Agassiz lift is the longest: Intermediate skier can bail out at its halfway point, while black-diamond skiers can take it to the top for a nice long run.

There's a terrain park for those who like an extra thrill or two. You'll find it under the Sunset Triple Chairlift.

Get started early. Snowbowl Road is a long, winding, two-lane road from Highway 180 to the Hart Prairie Lodge (it's about 7 miles from Flagstaff to the turn-off, plus another 7 miles up Snowbowl Road to the lodge). Traffic can slow to a crawl - you can avoid some of it with an early start.

Food at the lodges is pretty basic - burgers, pizza and the like. But consider yourself pretty lucky if they're serving the green chili chicken stew. It's good to warm yourself up.

When the Fort Valley Glade area is open, it's a kick - a nice romp through the trees on a narrow track. But it's not open very often. Get there after a heavy snowfall for the best odds.

You can rent skis at the resort. But it's typical resort rental gear. If you want to glide on something fancier, check around town for rentals. Or bring them from Phoenix.

Flagstaff is a college town. That means a great assortment of after-ski fun like breweries and restaurants. Its downtown area is walkable even during the cold, though you should watch for ice in some of the alleys. Flagstaff Brewing Company, The Black Bean and Alpine Pizza are some local favorites. Beaver Street Brewery has tasty food, but connoisseurs will tell you its brews are well behind Flagstaff Brewing Company's offerings.

Had enough skiing? Check out the Wing Mountain Snow Play Area. It costs $12 per car. You can also pick up a quality sled there, which will hold up to an adult-sized flogging far better than the $6 discs you can grab at the gas station. If it's been awhile since you've been on a sled, you'll soon remember how much fun it is. Bring the video camera!