Sunrise Park Resort
Encyclopedia
Sunrise Park Resort is a ski resort
located near Greer, Arizona
, close to the border with New Mexico
. The resort consists of three mountains named Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Peak, and Apache Peak. Situated on the Colorado Plateau
and perched atop the White Mountains
in eastern Arizona
, with a base of 9200 feet (2,804.2 m) and spread across 3 peaks and 800 acres (3.2 km²), Sunrise tops out at 11100 feet (3,383.3 m) above sea level at Apache Peak.
. The resort is a year round recreation destination and offers a wide range of outdoor activities. During the winter, the resort's three mountains offer excellent alpine skiing
. There are plenty of challenging runs for experienced skiers and an abundance of enjoyable intermediate runs. When Arizona experiences wet winters, which aren't all too uncommon, Sunrise provides as good of skiing as anywhere in the Southwest
. Their ski season usually runs from December to March. Night skiing is occasionally offered in mid January and mid February. There is also a snowboard terrain park
and separate cross-country skiing
area.
Sunrise Park resort is a popular regional destination and is approximately 218 miles (350.8 km) from Phoenix, Arizona
, 230 miles (370.1 km) from Tucson, Arizona
, 250 miles (402.3 km) from Albuquerque, New Mexico
, and 299 miles (481.2 km) from El Paso, Texas
. The closest airports are located in Springerville, Arizona
, Show Low, Arizona
, and Whiteriver, Arizona
.
The trails on the mountain have some sort of theme, such as Native American
and Western
names.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located near Greer, Arizona
Greer, Arizona
Greer is an unincorporated community in Apache County, Arizona, United States. It lies at an elevation of approximately 8,500 feet in the White Mountains of Arizona, and is surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Greer was founded around 1879 by Mormon settlers from Utah...
, close to the border with New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The resort consists of three mountains named Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Peak, and Apache Peak. Situated on the Colorado Plateau
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The province covers an area of 337,000 km2 within western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico,...
and perched atop the White Mountains
White Mountains (Arizona)
The White Mountains of Arizona are a mountain range and mountainous region in the eastern part of the state, near the border with New Mexico; it is a continuation from the west of the Arizona transition zone–Mogollon Rim, with the Rim ending in western New Mexico...
in eastern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, with a base of 9200 feet (2,804.2 m) and spread across 3 peaks and 800 acres (3.2 km²), Sunrise tops out at 11100 feet (3,383.3 m) above sea level at Apache Peak.
Ownership and location
It is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and is located on the Fort Apache Indian ReservationFort Apache Indian Reservation
The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in Arizona, United States, encompassing parts of Navajo, Gila, and Apache counties. It is home to the federally recognized White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, a Western Apache tribe. It has a land area of 2,627.608...
. The resort is a year round recreation destination and offers a wide range of outdoor activities. During the winter, the resort's three mountains offer excellent alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
. There are plenty of challenging runs for experienced skiers and an abundance of enjoyable intermediate runs. When Arizona experiences wet winters, which aren't all too uncommon, Sunrise provides as good of skiing as anywhere in the Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. Their ski season usually runs from December to March. Night skiing is occasionally offered in mid January and mid February. There is also a snowboard terrain park
Terrain park
A terrain park is an outdoor area that contains terrain that allows skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks. Terrain parks have their roots in skateparks and many of the features are common to both. One of the first in-bounds terrain parks was the "Snowboard Park" built in 1990 at the Vail...
and separate cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
area.
Sunrise Park resort is a popular regional destination and is approximately 218 miles (350.8 km) from Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, 230 miles (370.1 km) from Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, 250 miles (402.3 km) from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, and 299 miles (481.2 km) from El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. The closest airports are located in Springerville, Arizona
Springerville, Arizona
Springerville is a town in Apache County, Arizona, United States within the White Mountains. Its postal ZIP code is 85938. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 1,956.Springerville sits at an elevation of 6,974 feet...
, Show Low, Arizona
Show Low, Arizona
Winters in Show Low bring highs between 45°F and 55°F , with lows usually below freezing between November and March, averaging in the 20s December through February, and in the low 30s for November and March....
, and Whiteriver, Arizona
Whiteriver, Arizona
Whiteriver is a census-designated place in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. The population was 5,220 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Whiteriver is located at ....
.
Elevation
The ski area consists of three peaks:- Sunrise Peak (elevation 10,700')
- Apache Peak (elevation 11,000')
- Base: 9200 feet (2,804.2 m)
- Summit: 11000 feet (3,352.8 m)
- Vertical drop: 1,800 feet (2nd highest in Arizona)
- Cyclone Circle (elevation 10,700')
Trails
| Easier | More Difficult | Most Difficult |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 17 | 14 |
The trails on the mountain have some sort of theme, such as Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and Western
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
names.
- Skiable area: 800 acres (3.2 km²)
- 65 trails
- novice - 40%
- intermediate - 40%
- advanced and expert - 20%
- Longest trail - 1.2 miles (1.9 km)
Lifts
| Name | Capacity | Vertical |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit Ridge Quad | Quad | 3900'-550' |
| Sunrise High-Speed Quad | High-Speed Quad | 6800'-1400' |
| Rustler Quad | Quad | 3950'-875' |
| Fort Apache Triple | Triple | 5180'-620' |
| Cyclone Triple | Triple | 8000'-1165' |
| Eagle Feather Triple | Triple | 4000'-690' |
| Geronimo Triple | Triple | 4505'-1000' |
| Pony Double | Double | 295'-50' |
| Beginner Handle-Tow | Single | 350'-50' |
| Cyclone Handle-Tow | Single | 350'-50 |
- 10 Total
- 3 Quad Chairs
- 4 Triple Chairs
- 1 Double Chairs
- 2 Surface Lifts
- Uphill Capacity - 16,000 skiers per hour
Trivia
- Sunrise Park Resort is Arizona's largest ski resort, but not the highest vertical drop. That honor belongs to Arizona SnowbowlArizona SnowbowlArizona Snowbowl is an alpine ski resort located on the San Francisco Peaks, 7 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona. The Snowbowl is a long-standing center of controversy regarding its effect on Native American sacred sites and religious practices...
. - Sunrise Park Resort has been in operation for over 40 years.
- Arizona's second highest peak, Mount BaldyMount Baldy (Arizona)Mount Baldy is a mountain in northeastern Arizona in the United States. It is the highest point in the White Mountains, making it the highest point in Apache County. It is the second highest point in the state after the six summits of the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff...
, can be seen from Sunrise.
