I prefer the heat over the cold any day. But sometimes when it’s a scorching 115 degrees in the Valley of the Sun, I crave nothing more than the crisp mountain air. Thankfully, Flagstaff is only a few hours away! We love snowboarding at AZ Snowbowl, but did you know that they offer fun family activities in the summer as well? We’re excited to share our day in the mountains with you, and hope it inspires you if you’re looking for ways to escape the heat!
**Disclaimer: We received complimentary passes in exchange for our honest review. All opinions are our own.
Summer Activities Available at AZ Snowbowl
Table of Contents
- Scenic Chair Lift
- Downhill Tubing
- Bungee Trampoline
- Treasure Panning
- Mini Ropes Course
- Aggasiz Deck Activities
- AZ Snowbowl Summer Activities Pricing
We drove up the mountain just as the storm clouds came rolling in. We put jackets on for the first time in six months and inhaled the intoxicating scent of mountain pines.
The temperature was a refreshing 68 degrees and we couldn’t help but comment about the weather at least every 3 minutes.
We were so excited to be at AZ Snowbowl and we hadn’t even started any of the activities yet!
Scenic Chair Lift
The Scenic Chair Lift is the main summer attraction. I couldn’t wait to ride the lift up the San Francisco Peaks and take in the sweeping views across the mountains all the way to Sedona, and even the Grand Canyon.
We’ve taken the lift plenty of times in the winter when the world is blanketed in snow. I knew it would be a much different experience to view the tapestry of green.
We planned to do the other activities first, and then finish the day with a scenic lift ride. However, as the day wore on the storm grew worse. Lightning cracked through the ominous storm clouds and the lift had to be closed due to safety. I totally understand, but we were sad to miss out.
We’ll just have to be sure to make it back next summer! If you’re lucky enough to enjoy the scenic lift, here are a few things you can expect.
A Forest Ranger is stationed at the top to greet you as you get off the lift. They’ll share their expertise and answer questions about the volcanic history of the surrounding area.
The Ranger Talks are held from Fridays to Sundays, and interpretive programs are also run by staff members Mondays through Thursdays.
Once you reach the top, you can hike around before taking the lift back down.
You can even purchase a grab-and-go gourmet picnic basket at the Aggasiz Sport Shop and have a scenic picnic with a view at the top.
Downhill Tubing
The other activities were intermittently closed due to the weather, but we were excited that they were open long enough for us to try a few.
The downhill tubing was a family favorite! It’s the thrill of tubing down a snow-covered hill but without the cold!
We learned that the orange tubes are the fastest and the track is especially slick after the rain!
We’re a competitive family, so the stakes were high as we raced each other down. An extra scoop of ice cream was on the line for the winner!
Bungee Trampoline
My kids are always begging to do the bungee trampoline whenever they see it at carnivals and events. I rarely give in, so this was an extra special treat!
They have all been trying to land a backflip on the trampoline at our house this summer, so they were especially excited to practice the technique with the safety of the bungee cords.
They were all on cloud 9, literally, as they jumped and flipped through the air.
A few times the attendant would help give them a boost and slingshot them in the air. Their eyes would get huge as they shot up in the air and they were already begging to do it again before they even came back down.
Treasure Panning
We’ve been to museums and recreations of old western towns that offer gold panning.
This usually involves running some muddy water through a sifter in hopes of finding a few specks of pyrite. It’s still fun for the kids and we assumed it would be similar here at AZ Snowbowl.
However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the experience here was so much better!
You have the choice between fossils or gems. Then you are given a kit with a bag of sand, a sifter, a pail, and a card identifying the different gems or fossils.
First, dump a little bit of sand at a time into the sifter. Then dip the sifter into the running water and watch to see what treasures appear after the water washes the sand away!
My kids are always watching those surprise egg and unboxing videos on YouTube, so they loved the anticipation and excitement to see what would be revealed next!
They walked away with shark teeth, petrified wood, Amber and all sorts of other gems and fossils. These treasures now hold a coveted spot on their nightstands.
Mini Ropes Course
My boys were looking forward to testing their balance and skills at the ropes course but unfortunately, it was closed due to lightning as well. We will definitely be back!
Aggasiz Deck Activities
The outdoor deck just off the Aggasiz Lodge is a great place to just relax and take it all in.
Grab a burger and enjoy the live music during their summer music series held on select weekends in the summer.
Kids will enjoy the life-sized checkerboard and a fun barrel roll.
You’ll also find the beginning of an 18-hole disc golf course at the lodge. The course covers 1.8 miles and traverses up the mountain and through the Ponderosa Pines.
Rentals are available in the Aggasiz Sport Shop for $3 per disc. The course may be changed due to mountain construction, check online or at the shop for details.
The lodge was also a great place to escape to when the summer storm rolled in. After living in the desert for 13 years, the novelty of a thunderstorm never wears off.
We enjoyed a steaming bowl of soup while watching the rain stream down the windows. Every so often we could feel the rumble of thunder and see the sky illuminated by lightning. It was heaven.
AZ Snowbowl Summer Activities Pricing
*Note: Prices are subject to change, these are the current rates when we visited.
Scenic Chair Lift:
- Weekends: Adults (13 +) $19, kids (6-12) $15
- Weekdays: Adults $15, kids $12
- Check on-line or Groupon for discounted tickets
*Just as with their winter lift tickets, you can receive a free lift ticket within 7 days of your birthday!
Activities: Tubing, Bungee Trampoline, Treasure Panning, and Mini Ropes Course
- $15 each
- $10 each if purchased with a scenic lift ticket
- $29 for all four activities if purchased with a scenic lift ticket
The summer activities at AZ Snowbowl are a great way to spend a fun day outdoors with family. We spent all afternoon there and didn’t even get a chance to do it all! We’ll definitely be back next year!
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