Outdoors · Pinetop

Sunrise Park Resort

Sunrise Park Resort is the White Mountains' four-season playground, owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe near Greer. In winter it's the largest ski and snowboard area in Arizona, spread across three peaks with runs for first-timers and experts alike. When the snow melts, the same mountain turns into lift-served mountain biking, hiking, and trout fishing.

It's a genuine alpine experience that surprises people who don't associate Arizona with real winters — expect cold, clear days and high elevation, with the top of the mountain well above 11,000 feet. Summer and fall bring wildflowers, aspens, and some of the best high-country air in the state.

Sunrise is a drive from Pinetop-Lakeside rather than next door, so it's best planned as a day trip: pack layers whatever the season, get an early start, and check conditions and operating days before you go, since the lift schedule shifts with the weather and the calendar.