Sunrise Park Resort

Sunrise Park Resort is an alpine ski resort located near Greer, Arizona. The resort consists of three mountains named Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Circle, and Apache Peak. Situated on the Colorado Plateau and perched atop the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. The base of the resort sits at 9,200 feet (2,800 m) and the tallest mountain, Apache Peak, tops out at an elevation of 11,000 feet (3,400 m) above sea level. The ski slopes spread across the 3 peaks and cover 1,200 acres (4.9 km2),[1] making it the largest ski resort in Arizona.

Sunrise Park Resort
The three mountains at Sunrise Park Resort: Sunrise Peak, Apache Peak, and Cyclone Circle
Sunrise Park Resort
Location in Arizona
Sunrise Park Resort
Sunrise Park Resort (the United States)
LocationApache County, Arizona, United States
Nearest major cityGreer, Arizona
Coordinates33°58′24″N 109°33′53″W
Vertical1,900 ft (580 m)
Top elevation11,100 feet (3,400 m)
Base elevation9,200 feet (2,800 m)
Skiable area1,200 acres (4.9 km2)
Runs65 total
45% beginner
28% intermediate
27% advanced/expert
Longest run1.2 miles (1.93 km) "Sidewinder"
Lift system7 Operational Chairlifts

- 1 High-Speed Quad
- 2 Fixed Quad
- 2 Fixed Triple
- 1 Fixed Double

- 1 Surface lift
Lift capacity16,000 / hr
Terrain parks1
Snowfall250 in/year ( 6.35 m/year)
SnowmakingYes
Night skiingYes (4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on limited days)
Websitehttps://sunrise.ski/

Ownership and location

Sunrise Park Resort is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and is located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The resort is a year-round recreation destination and offers a wide range of outdoor activities.

Sunrise Park Resort is a popular regional destination and is approximately 216 miles (348 km) from Phoenix, Arizona, 231 miles (372 km) from Tucson, Arizona, 223 miles (359 km) from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 324 miles (521 km) from El Paso, Texas. The closest airports are located in Springerville, Arizona, Show Low, Arizona, and Whiteriver, Arizona.

Winter

The ski season at Sunrise Park Resort usually runs from Thanksgiving through the end of March. During the winter, the resort's three mountains offer alpine skiing. Night skiing is occasionally offered in mid-January and mid-February. There is also a snowboard terrain park, separate cross-country skiing area, and a snow tubing hill.

Ski bikes

Ski biking (also known as Skibobbing) is a bicycle-like frame with skis instead of wheels. The sport is offered for beginners and experienced individuals at Sunrise. They offer both lessons and rentals for ski biking and the lift system allows for ski bikers to ride the lift up the mountain. First-time ski bike riders at Sunrise require a safety certification by the ski bike staff prior to loading the lifts, regardless of their experience or personal equipment to ensure the safety of themselves and other visitors.

Lessons and rentals

Sunrise offers rentals of skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and winter clothing for all sizes and all ages at the rental shop at the base of Sunrise Peak. Ski School is offered for all ages and allows first-time skiers or snowboarders to learn in a group setting or one-on-one with an instructor. Some lessons are offered for a half-day and others are an entire day. Sunrise also offers improvement lessons for experienced skiers or snowboarders to improve their skills.

Summer

The summer season at Sunrise Park Resort usually runs from Memorial Day weekend through September or October, depending on weather and other factors. Sunrise offers several summer activities, including downhill mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, a zip line course, a tubing hill, a rock climbing wall, hiking, and 3D archery.

Mountain bike trails

There are 15 mountain bike trails, and an array of side trails.[2] The trail system is primarily located on Sunrise Peak with one trail (Ba'cho) traveling over to Apache Peak. All trails converge at the base of Sunrise Peak, where riders can load on the Sunrise High-Speed Quad or the Spirit Ridge Quad lift to access the trails.

  • Easy – 5 trails (33%)
  • Intermediate – 2 trails (13%)
  • Difficult – 3 trails (20%)
  • Expert – 5 trails (33%)

Mountain statistics

Elevation

The ski area consists of three peaks:

  • Sunrise Peak (elevation 10,700')
  • Apache Peak (elevation 11,000')
    • Base: 9,200 feet (2,800 m)
    • Summit: 11,000 feet (3,400 m)
    • Vertical drop: 1,800 feet (2nd highest in Arizona)
  • Cyclone Circle (elevation 10,700')

Trails

The trails on the mountain have some sort of theme, such as Native American and Western names.

  • Skiable area: 1,200 acres (4.9 km2)
  • 65 trails
    • Beginner – 29 trails (45%)
    • Intermediate – 18 trails (28%)
    • Advanced/Expert – 17 trails (27%)
  • Longest trail – "Sidewinder" 1.2 miles (1.9 km)

Lifts
Lift Lift Name Capacity Length
(feet)		 Vertical
(feet)
1 Sunrise High-Speed High-Speed Quad 6800 1400
2 Pony Fixed Double 295 50
3 Rustler Fixed Quad 3950 875
4 Fort Apache Fixed Triple 5180 620
5 Geronimo Fixed Triple 4505 1000
6 Cyclone (removed in 2017) Fixed Triple 8000 1165
7 Eagle Feather (Closed) Fixed Triple 4000 690
8 Spirit Ridge Fixed Quad 3900 550
Beginner Surface Lift Single Surface Lift 350 50

Images

Winter Images
  • View of the Sunrise High-Speed Quad at the top of Sunrise Peak (10,700')
  • High-Speed Quad chairlift on Sunrise Peak.
  • Triple chairlift on Apache Peak.
  • View from mid-mountain Sunrise Peak looking north. Volcanic cinder cones can be seen in the distance.
  • Out of bounds area
  • Moguls run
  • Cyclone Peak

Summer Images
  • Downhill Mountain Biking at Sunrise
  • A platform along the zip line course at Sunrise
  • Scenic chairlift riders on the Sunrise High-Speed Quad in the summer
  • The rock climbing wall at the base of Sunrise

Trivia
  • Sunrise Park Resort is Arizona's largest ski resort and Summer outdoor adventure park.
  • Sunrise Park Resort has been in operation since 1970.
  • One of Arizona's highest peaks, Mount Baldy, can be seen from Sunrise.
  • Sunrise Park Resort currently offers the only lift-served downhill mountain biking available in Arizona.
  • Sunrise Park Resort is home to Arizona's longest zip line with their tandem Apache High Flyer, measuring over 2300'.

See also

References
  1. "Trails and Camera".
  2. "Downhill Mountain Biking".
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