Sunrise Park Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunrise Park Resort |
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Sunrise Panorama
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 Sunrise Park Resort
Location in Arizona
Sunrise Park Resort
Location in the United States
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| Location | Apache County, Arizona, United States |
| Nearest city | Greer, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33°58′24″N 109°33′53″W / 33.97333°N 109.56472°W |
| Vertical | 1,900 ft (580 m) |
| Top elevation | 11,100 feet (3,400 m) |
| Base elevation | 9,200 feet (2,800 m) |
| Skiable area | 800 acres (3.2 km2) |
| Runs | 65 total 40% beginner 40% intermediate 20% advanced/expert |
| Longest run | 1.2 miles (1.93 km) "Sidewinder" |
| Lift system | 9 total 3 Quad chairs, 3 triple chairs, 1 double chairs, 2 Surface) |
| Lift capacity | 16,000 / hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 250 in/year ( 6.35 m/year) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | Yes (4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on limited days) |
| Website | http://www.sunriseskiparkaz.com |
Sunrise Park Resort is a fun ski resort located near Greer, Arizona. It's a great place for winter sports and outdoor adventures! The resort has three main mountains: Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Peak, and Apache Peak.
Sunrise Park is located in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. It sits on the Colorado Plateau. The base of the resort is at 9,200 feet (2,800 m) high. The highest point, Apache Peak, reaches 11,100 feet (3,400 m) above sea level. The resort covers a large area of 800 acres (3.2 km2).
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Who Owns Sunrise Park?
Sunrise Park Resort is special because it is owned and run by the White Mountain Apache Tribe. It is located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. This resort is open all year long, offering many different outdoor activities.
During winter, the three mountains are perfect for alpine skiing. There are challenging slopes for experienced skiers. There are also lots of fun runs for those who are still learning or are intermediate skiers. When Arizona gets a lot of snow, which happens often, the skiing here is as good as anywhere in the Southwest.
The ski season usually runs from December to March. Sometimes, you can even go night skiing in mid-January and mid-February! There's also a special terrain park for snowboarders. Plus, there's a separate area just for cross-country skiing.
Sunrise Park Resort is a popular place for people from nearby cities. It's about 216 miles (348 km) from Phoenix, Arizona. It's also about 231 miles (372 km) from Tucson, Arizona. From Albuquerque, New Mexico, it's around 223 miles (359 km). And from El Paso, Texas, it's about 324 miles (521 km). The closest airports are in Springerville, Arizona, Show Low, Arizona, and Whiteriver, Arizona.
Mountain Fun Facts
How High Are the Peaks?
The ski area has three main peaks:
- Sunrise Peak: This peak is 10,700 feet (3,300 m) high.
- Apache Peak: This is the highest peak at 11,000 feet (3,400 m).
- The base of Apache Peak is 9,200 feet (2,800 m).
- The top is 11,000 feet (3,400 m).
- The vertical drop (how far down you can ski) is 1,800 feet (550 m). This is the second highest vertical drop in Arizona!
- Cyclone Circle: This peak is also 10,700 feet (3,300 m) high.
Ski Trails for Everyone!
Sunrise Park Resort has 800 acres (3.2 km2) of skiable area. There are 65 trails in total! The trails have fun names, often related to Native American history or the Wild West.
Here's how the trails are rated:
Beginner trails: These are the easiest trails, perfect for learning. About 40% of the trails are beginner-friendly.
Intermediate trails: These are a bit more challenging but still fun for most skiers. About 40% of the trails are intermediate.
Advanced and Expert trails: These are the most difficult trails, for experienced skiers and snowboarders. About 20% of the trails are advanced.
The longest trail at Sunrise Park is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long!
Lifts to the Top!
To get up the mountain, Sunrise Park has 10 different lifts. These lifts can carry about 16,000 skiers every hour!
Here are the types of lifts you'll find:
- 3 Quad Chairs (these carry four people)
- 4 Triple Chairs (these carry three people)
- 1 Double Chair (this carries two people)
- 2 Surface Lifts (these pull you along the snow)
Cool Facts About Sunrise Park
- Sunrise Park Resort is the biggest ski resort in Arizona. It's also a large outdoor adventure park in the summer!
- This resort has been open for almost 50 years, bringing joy to many visitors.
- You can see Mount Baldy from Sunrise Park. Mount Baldy is the second highest peak in Arizona!
Images for kids
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View from Sunrise Peak
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Out of bounds area
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Moguls run
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Cyclone Peak
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Top of the ski lift on Sunrise Peak
