Snowbowl Road Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

5.4
FIETS
6.6 mi
DISTANCE
2,017 ft
GAINED
5.8 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Well - we have climbed the United States, Spain, Italy, and France, but we have never started in such cold conditions (19 degrees Fahrenheit on March 8, 2016 - ouch!) - that's what we get for riding up to the top of a ski resort during the winter! What were we thinking?  However, this is a great bike ride to the highest point on a paved road in Arizona.
The average grade is 5.8% - gaining 2,023' in 6.6 miles with 0 descent.  40% (2.7 miles) is at 0-5% grade and 57% (3.7 miles) at 5-10%.  The steepest quarter-mile is 8.5% and steepest mile 6.9%.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway:  Paved and in good condition but with some cracks across the road that can be annoying on the descent. 

Traffic:  Mild.

Parking:  There is plenty of parking at the start of the climb - Map; Street View
Gear and Weather:  You are riding to a ski resort at the highest paved point in Arizona, so be sure to consult the PJAMM "Full Forecast" feature for the time you expect to arrive at the finish to assess what clothing to bring on your ride.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
If you're going to do this climb, don't miss out on the chance to spend the entire day in Flag! Here are some of our favorite post-ride hangout spots:
Brunch: The Toasted Owl Cafe
Local Brews (☕️+🍻): Mother Road Brewing Co; Cedar House Coffee Shop

If you're a hiker, we HIGHLY recommend climbing Humphrey's Peak as well. At 12,633ft, it's the highest point in Arizona, and you can even see the Grand Canyon from the summit - a once in a lifetime view.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Moderate
2
Road
4
Traffic
3.7
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

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NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

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Jun 2, 2022
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 2
Jun 2, 2022
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 2
Fun ride up, painful ride down. The road really eats you alive on the descent. Still worth the effort, though, and you can ride in along the arriving road for quite a ways jf you want to tack on some miles.
May 24, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 5
traffic: 4
road: 2
May 24, 2021
scenery: 5
traffic: 4
road: 2
really a fantastic climb; we did it twice with no trouble; took me an hour to climb up each time. the road is terrible but you only notice it on the way down
May 7, 2021
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 3
traffic: 5
road: 2
May 7, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 5
road: 2
Not a bad climb but the road surface is terrible in places.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Well - we have climbed the United States, Spain, Italy and France, but we have never started in such cold conditions (19 degrees Fahrenheit on March 8, 2016 - ouch!) - that's what we get for riding up to the top of a ski resort during the winter! What were we thinking?  

IMG_0439.JPG      IMG_0441.JPG 

​This is the top climb in the Flagstaff area and #5 in Arizona.  With a fairly continuous 6% grade, this is a nice climb through Coconino National Forest up towards Humphrey's Peak,  along a well maintained road surrounded by pine trees and occasionally stands of aspen.  There are brief views of the plains below as we ascend, ending at Snow Bowl Ski and Snowboard Hill.

IMG_0429.JPG

Snow Bowl is the highest paved road in Arizona

Roadway surface and traffic - the road dead ends at the top, so there is no through traffic - traffic is light and the roadway surface good.