• Arizona
  • Metro Phoenix
    • Phoenix
    • Apache Junction
    • Mesa
    • Chandler
    • Fountain Hills
    • Scottsdale
  • Northern Arizona
    • Flagstaff
    • The Grand Canyon
    • Four Corners
    • Sedona
    • Glen Canyon
    • Payson
    • Tuba City
  • Museums
  • Parks & Monuments
  • Restaurants
  • Tucson
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Youtube Follow us on Pinterest
Top Places to See in Arizona
Flagstaff 2

Arizona Snowbowl in Fall

By Chris Tingom @christingom · On November 9, 2015

I frequently hear people complain that they miss seeing fall colors in Phoenix. It’s true, we don’t see much of a seasonal change here in the Valley of the Sun. Most of the trees are evergreen such as the Palo Verde tree.

One of the best places to go and see fall colors is at the Arizona Snowbowl

People come to Arizona Snowbowl for a couple of reasons, but the biggest reason is due to the birch trees in the area. There are a ton of birch trees, and some nice parking areas where you can stop and hike through the woods.

fall-in-flagstaff

You’ll want to check online to see when the leaves are changing, but mid-October is generally the best time of year.

We also drove up to the top and parked at the Arizona Snowbowl lodge. Parking is free and there are no fees to simply wander around the mountain. You can even hike out onto the open areas and see the snow making equipment.

If you’re looking for a bit of an adventure, they offer rides to the top of Mt. Humphreys on the ski lift. It takes 25-30 minutes to get to the top, but the views can be spectacular! On this trip, we were enveloped in a cloud at the top, but I’ve been to the top numerous other times and if it is clear you can see all of Flagstaff below.

ski-lift-snowbowl-flagastaff-fall

A little story: For this visit, we rode to the top despite the weather. They told us that there was sleet and occasional rain. A few minutes into our trip up to the top of the mountain we experienced a lightning and thunder storm. This was certainly not anything they had warned us about! Due to the storm, they didn’t allow us to get off the lift and so we turned around and came back down. They didn’t offer refunds, but we got one. I asked them about their weather alert system. I don’t believe they have a weather monitoring service. So, you may wish to check the weather before riding to the top (good luck, though, since there is minimal cell signal on the mountain).

snowbowl-flagstaff-fall2

All in all, we had a fantastic time seeing the fall colors.

Other things we did:

  • We checked out Thorpe Park in Flagstaff (good for kids)
  • We had coffee at Rendezvous Cafe at the Hotel Monte Vista
  • We had lunch at Travelers Home Urban Market (they have coffee, too!)
  • Walked around downtown Flagstaff and shopped
  • Ate burgers at Mama Burger
  • Stayed at the Drury Inn and got upgraded to a suite for free
  • Had dinner at Little Thai Kitchen
  • Enjoyed coffee and treats from Cultured Cafe

Getting there

Flagstaff is a two-hour drive from Phoenix, and is one of the best day trips or weekend getaways available in the region. There’s a lot to do in and around Flagstaff.

FallFlagstaffMt. HumphreysSnowbowl
Share Tweet

Chris Tingom

Hi, I'm Chris and I'm a resident if Scottsdale, AZ and I've lived in Arizona nearly all of my life. I'm exploring the state with my wife and daughter and sharing our favorite things to do in Arizona.

You Might Also Like

  • Flagstaff

    Sedona Day Trip Itinerary and Drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff

  • Flagstaff

    Driving from Phoenix to Moab

  • Flagstaff

    Lowell Observatory

2 Comments

  • The Best Flagstaff Weekend: Ideas for Your Next Family Weekend in Flagstaff - Phoenix With Kids says: September 28, 2018 at 6:24 am

    […] Last year we hiked around the Arizona Snowbowl, and took the chair lift up into the clouds! This year we kept to the ground and enjoyed a family […]

    Reply
  • Fall Weekend in Flagstaff with Kids - Phoenix With Kids says: October 8, 2018 at 1:04 am

    […] Take a hike: We explored at two new places this year, Hart’s Prairie and Aspen Loop Trail. Hart’s Prairie quickly because our top favorite hike ever! Take Hwy 180 north of Flagstaff, then turn right on FR 151 (Hart Prairie Road) around 4.5 miles; it’s a dirt road, but fine for all vehicles. There are numerous groves of beautiful yellow aspen trees to wander around. The kids even found huge forts made out of logs! We stayed here for a couple hours and took so many photos. Aspen Loop Trail is part of the Arizona Snowbowl, which is popular in the winter for skiing, but also has great hiking trails year round. At 1.6 miles this is the perfect kid friendly hike to enjoy the fields and trees. You can also ride the ski lift for a gorgeous birds eye view of the fall colors! Read all about our experience here. […]

    Reply
  • Leave a reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Things to do in Arizona

    • Phon D Sutton

      Wild Horses at Phon D Sutton

      April 22, 2019
    • Makutu’s Island

      March 18, 2017
    • Sedona Day Trip Itinerary and Drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff

      April 25, 2016
    • Red Rock Crossing

      April 14, 2016
    • Take an Ultralight Flight in Tucson!

      March 1, 2016
    • Pump It Up

      December 3, 2015
    • Arizona Snowbowl in Fall

      November 9, 2015
    • West Fork of Oak Creek in Sedona

      August 4, 2015
    • Cactus Park

      July 17, 2015
    • Fountain Park in Fountain Hills

      July 17, 2015
    • Rawhide Western Town

      July 16, 2015
    • Golfland Sunsplash

      July 13, 2015
    • The i.d.e.a Museum

      July 9, 2015
    • Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

      July 9, 2015
    • National Comedy Theatre

      July 8, 2015
    • Encanto Park

      July 7, 2015
    • Tempe Paintball

      July 3, 2015
    • USA’s Skateland

      July 2, 2015
    • Stratum Laser Tag

      June 30, 2015
    • Phoenix Rock Gym

      June 29, 2015
    • Things to do at Lake Pleasant

      June 12, 2015
    • Goldfield Ghost Town

      April 29, 2015
    • All the fun you can have at Phoenix Zoo

      February 4, 2015
    • Driving from Phoenix to Moab

      December 7, 2014
    • Best Coffee in Arizona

      October 26, 2014
    • Phoenix Points of Pride

      September 27, 2014
    • Phoenix Points of Pride: Museums & Education

      September 26, 2014
    • Phoenix Points of Pride: Culture & Entertainment

      September 26, 2014
    • Phoenix Points of Pride: Parks & Gardens

      September 26, 2014
    • Heard Museum

      September 26, 2014
    • Hoover Dam

      September 26, 2014
    • Monument Valley

      September 26, 2014
    • Lowell Observatory

      September 3, 2014
    • Arizona Renaissance Festival

      August 28, 2014
    • Tonto National Monument

      August 8, 2014

    Find us on Facebook

    @PlacesArizona

    Tweets by @PlacesArizona

    Other Sites

    • Kids in Phoenix
    • Arizona Coffee
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Instagram

    Tags

    Arizona Chandler Desert Dinner Hiking Mesa Museums Northern Arizona Outdoors Phoenix Restaurants Scottsdale Sedona The Grand Canyon
    • About Us
    • Arizona Facts
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Top Places to See in Arizona

    Hello!

    Hi, I'm Chris, and I'm bringing the best things to do in Arizona to you! My family lives in Arizona, and we're always traveling around the state!

    Check out the awesome list on our home page which highlights our favorite Arizona destinations. Enjoy!

    Pages

    • About Us
    • Arizona Facts
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Top Places to See in Arizona

    Categories

    • Apache Junction
    • Arizona
    • Chandler
    • Flagstaff
    • Fountain Hills
    • Four Corners
    • Glen Canyon
    • Mesa
    • Museums
    • Parks & Monuments
    • Payson
    • Peoria
    • Phoenix
    • Restaurants
    • Scottsdale
    • Sedona
    • Tempe
    • The Grand Canyon
    • Tuba City
    • Tucson

    Phoenix with Kids

    We also run a web site that specifically suggests things to do with your kids in Phoenix. Check it out and let us know what you think!

    © 2016 Places to See in Arizona. All rights reserved.