Sunrise Park Resort opens Friday: What skiers need to know

Sunrise Park Resort in Greer, Arizona — about four hours northeast of Phoenix — will open a few of its ski and snowboard trails for the season on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, following a brief delay due to weather conditions and a lack of enough snow.

Referring to it as a "limited preview," Sunrise will have its Midway trail and Bunny Hill open on Friday from noon to 4 p.m., according to the ski resort's website. Lift passes will be discounted to $18-$29, plus a one-time $5 card fee.

The Sunrise Day Lodge Cafeteria and Day Lodge Pub will also be open on opening day and throughout the weekend.

Saturday, Dec. 11, through Thursday, Dec. 16, those same trails will be open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lift tickets will be discounted to $18-$39, plus a $5 one-time card fee.

Beginning the following Friday, Dec. 17, the ski resort expects to resume its normal rates, which start at $45 for a full day pass. Half-day passes are also available.

"We expect a notable storm on Friday, Dec. 10, and we will continue to snowmaking on the mountain to open more terrain as soon as possible," the resort said in an update this week on its website.

ABC15 meteorologist Jorge Torres said cold temperatures and a winter storm could bring between two to five inches of snow in the high country Thursday night, including Flagstaff and along the Mogollon Rim.

Arizona Snowbowl may pick up five to nine inches of fresh powder, while Sunrise Park Resort could receive up to a foot of snow.

Snowbowl had to delay its opening date due to warmer temperatures and a lack of snow. It opened for the season on Nov. 24.