Sunrise Park Resort

Located high up in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona, near Greer, Sunrise Park Resort is one of the more unexpectedly serious ski areas in the southwestern United States. The base is around 2,2624.7 feet and the peaks reach up to about 3,1312.3 feet, spread over three mountains: Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Circle and Apache Peak. With approximately 485 acres of skiable area, Sunrise is Arizona's largest ski resort.

There are 67 slopes with a clear emphasis on beginner and intermediate skiing, but also steeper sections for those who want more of a challenge. The longest run, Lonestar, is about 2.7 miles, which means that you can actually get quite long runs when you find the flow.

Snow-wise, Sunrise is a bit of a "high altitude" joker. The location high above the Colorado Plateau and the drier air means that the snow often feels light and cold when it does come, but with a lot of sun, the surface can change quickly during the day – from nice morning slopes to more spring/fast snow in the afternoon. That is precisely why the facility's snow production plays a major role, and in their own reports it is clear that they drive artificial snow when the temperature allows to keep the season together and fill in sensitive areas.

Another thing that makes Sunrise special is that it is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe and is located on the Fort Apache reservation. In addition to skiing, there is a park, tubing and other winter activities, and during certain periods (especially around Christmas and selected weekends) evening skiing is also offered.