Elizabeth Exline 2020-09-03 06:07:53
When it comes to winter recreation, snow sports are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. It’s the whole experience—the adrenaline rush of the slopes followed by warm cookies or, in some cases, a cozy yurt—that makes powder play in Arizona so eccentrically delightful. SKIING & SNOWBOARDING As the southernmost ski destination in the continental U.S., Mount Lemmon Ski Valley offers relatively temperate conditions for skiing and snowboarding. (Temperatures range between 20 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.) This translates to more than a few skiers arriving in jeans as they tackle the 21 different trails, which are groomed daily. Ski Valley offers a ski school and ski and snowboard equipment rentals, but the greatest attraction may just be Mount Lemmon’s proximity to everything else. It’s only a 30- to 40-minute drive up the mountain from Tucson. ► Après: Warm up after the slopes with a stop at the Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin. Occupying a handsome log structure, the restaurant offers pizza, ice cream and chili, in addition to its eponymous treats. If all that sugar has you wanting seconds, you can stay overnight in the new Mount Lemmon Hotel. The first of three phases opened summer 2020, and the lodgings consist of 17 detached cabins. SKI BIKING For those with limited mobility, balance issues or just a yen for something new, ski bikes combine the thrill of skiing with the safety of sitting. (For the uninitiated, ski bikes look like bicycles but with skis in lieu of wheels.) Go for a ride at Flagstaff’s Arizona Snowbowl, which offers ski bike rentals and lessons and boasts the state’s longest ski season. ► Après: Wrap up your adventure with pizza and beer at Dark Sky Brewing Taproom in downtown Flagstaff. Although Dark Sky features more than 500 different beer recipes, the biggest feather in its cap may be the arrival of Pizzicletta, which opened in the Taproom in 2019 and features a menu inspired by available beer pairings. SNOW TUBING Combining the carefree spirit of sledding with the adrenaline rush of skiing, snow tubing is attractive to both adults and kids as young as 5. Take a spin on Sunrise Tubing Hill at Sunrise Park Resort in White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands, where coasting downhill includes magnificent views of the surrounding pines and open sky. ► Après: Lauded as one of the state’s best eateries, Molly Butler Lodge & Restaurant has been serving stick-to-your-ribs fare since 1910. Today, guests can still enjoy the dishes that made this Greer destination famous, including prime rib and Hot Dang Chili. SNOWSHOEING & CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Winter at the Arizona Nordic Village promises a serene retreat of sugar-hued vistas, bracing mountain temperatures and some 30 miles of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Downtown Flagstaff is only 15 miles away, but the village’s location in the Coconino National Forest makes it feel a world away. ► Après: Part practical, part fantastical, the Arizona Nordic Village offers a collection of yurts where guests can camp overnight. Each of the five backcountry yurts enjoy immediate trail access and can accommodate between four and 10 campers with amenities like sleeping pads, firewood and a grill.
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