Where To Go Sledding And Snow Play In Arizona For Families

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Our families may not wake up to fresh snow at home, but we have all the best Arizona spots for sledding and and snow play for kids across Arizona.

Where to go sledding and snow play in Arizona for families

Being just a few short hours away from a winter wonderland is one of the best parts of living in the Valley.

We can visit it and not have to deal with it on a daily basis like our friends in other parts of the country!

If you want to build a snowman and go out and play, put these great spots on your list!

XO,

East Valley Moms

Payson snow play spots for families

Flowing Springs Recreation area: best for snow play with toddlers 

  • Not an official “snow play” area, but the closest snow drive from the East Valley, this is ideal for snow play day trips with toddlers or those looking for a quick day trip to see snow.
  • A vault toilet is on site, but no picnic tables are here.

Flagstaff snow play spots for families

Buffalo Park: best for snow play with toddlers

  • Buffalo Park is a city maintained park that turned into the perfect family friendly snow play area in the winter with a well maintained parking lot, restrooms and good signage to arrive
  • If you’re looking for basic snow play for young children (no sledding hills here), this is a wonderful, free spot that’s easy to get to and FREE!
  • Not only do you get to take in a perfect view of Mount Elden, there’s also a unique view of Mt. Humphreys, Arizona’s tallest peak from the park.

Flagstaff Nordic Village: best for snow adventures with school aged kids and tweens/teens

Flagstaff Snow Park: best for snow tubing with kids in Arizona

  • Families can snow tube or just play in the snow at this snow park which offers full day, half day or night time tickets
  • Spectators still have to pay a small fee to be on property ($9)
  • No tickets sold on property, must purchase online in advance
  • No sleds allowed; everyone must use the tubes provided by Flagstaff Snow Park

Best sledding spots in Flagstaff:

Flagstaff.com has a great map of the best snow hills for sledding around town. Check out the map here.

Wing Mountain Snow Play Area and Crowley Pit Snow Play Areas are NOT OPEN this season for snow play, according to Flagstaff.com. 

 

Where to play in the snow at White Mountains, Arizona

Sunrise Park Resort: snow play and tubing with kids

  • Known for its downhill ski runs, Sunrise also offers tubing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
  • A tubing hill is behind Lake Ono, off the main entrance. Tube rentals are $8 a day, or you can bring your own tube.
  • Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing: More than 13 miles of groomed trails are available. Trail passes cost $7 for adults and $4 for juniors. Equipment rentals are $10 a day.
  • Sleigh rides: $22 per person for a 30-minute ride, and $30 for a 60-minute ride.
  • The Sunrise Park Lodge is undergoing a refresh, with remodeled rooms and updated common areas. The initial plan was to open parts of the hotel in phases, but due to the extensive remodel, they are working to complete work prior to re-opening. The Sunrise Park Lodge is slated to reopen late 2023.

Williams Valley Recreation Area: Free sledding for families

  • For sledding, tubing, tobogganing, cross country skiing, and picnicking Toboggan Hill Trailhead is a free area for families to snow play. Maintained by the US Forrest Service, there aren’t restrooms here, FYI.
  • With a steep enough descent for a fun ride yet an easy climb back to the top, Toboggan Hill makes a good area for sleds, toboggans and tubes.
  • No fees are charged for the area.
  • Gas and food are available in the small community of Alpine a few miles east of the sledding area.

Hannagan Meadow Recreation Area and Hannagan Meadow Lodge: free sledding for families

  • This historic lodge offers free sledding and slow play to the general public without any fees, even if you aren’t a guest there!
  • The main sledding and tubing hill in the entire area is located right behind the main building and open to guests of the lodge and the general public without fee. Tubes and sleds are available through the lodge’s General Store.
  • The Lodge is the starting point for incredible backcountry skiing. National Geographic Magazine selected the Lodge as one of the top five back country lodges in the United States with a full line of skis and boots available for rent.
  • Since it’s connected to a lodge with amazing amenities, this is a great option if you have family members who aren’t going to play in the snow themselves but want to be near the fun

 

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