Industry News
Arizona Snowbowl has decided last minute to kick off the 2025-26 season today—yes you heard it right, today. The resort announced the great news on its social media channels just hours ago, and opened at noon for the first turns of the year, after a powerful early-season storm dropped three feet of fresh snow across the San Francisco Peaks—giving the resort enough coverage to announce a surprise bonus opening. The ski area started spinning lifts for the first turns of the season at noon, marking one of Snowbowl’s earliest openings in recent years and offering skiers and riders a rare mid-November powder day in Arizona.
Snowbowl staff announced the news early this morning, confirming that the Arizona Gondola will open at 12 p.m., providing access to advanced terrain only. Guests eager to get on snow should note that Guest Services at Hart Prairie Lodge, the Rentals Shop, and the Agassiz Lodge Pro Shop are open from 11:30 a.m., with the Agassiz Lodge restaurant and bar opening at 12 p.m. to welcome the season’s first crowd.
The resort plans to operate the gondola until 4 p.m., weather permitting, but conditions on Snowbowl Road remain wintery. Resort officials are urging visitors to prepare accordingly: Chains or 4WD are required, and no shuttle service will run today due to road conditions.
While only upper-mountain advanced terrain will be available, early-season powder hunters are expected to flock to the slopes after weeks of warm, dry weather across much of the West. The three feet of natural snowfall—combined with sharply colder temperatures—gave Snowbowl just enough coverage to flip the switch on lift operations earlier than anticipated.
The resort encouraged guests to come up, enjoy the storm snow, and celebrate the early opening with the local ski community. After a slow start to November across many Western ski areas, Snowbowl’s unexpected launch offers a welcome dose of winter stoke—and a reminder that in Arizona, ski season can begin with a bang.
