Points of Interest

Snowbowl Scenic Gondola

A quiet gondola ride up the San Francisco Peaks

(1,184)

Flagstaff, AZ

About

The Scenic Gondola at Arizona Snowbowl trades its winter chairlifts for a summer sightseeing ride up the San Francisco Peaks, climbing toward the 12,000-foot range with views over Flagstaff's ponderosa pine forest toward Humphreys Peak. It's a smooth, quiet ride — reviewers consistently rate it highly, and at 4.7 stars from over 1,100 Google reviews, it's one of the better-reviewed stops in the Flagstaff area.

What to expect

The drive up Snow Bowl Road is scenic on its own, especially in fall when the aspens turn gold. At the top, a short trail continues past the gondola station before it's roped off from further hiking — plenty of visitors just take in the view, snap photos, and settle in at the picnic tables. There's a bar and food at the base if you want a drink before or after the ride. Bring a jacket regardless of the season; reviewers note it's windy and cold at elevation even in June.

Good to know

Hours: daily, 10 AM – 4 PM
Pricing: dynamic, similar to airfare — reviewers report tickets ranging from around $25 to well over $100 depending on demand, so buying online in advance is worth it
Crowds: one reviewer described a wait "that rivaled a Black Friday sale" on a busy day, while others caught it with no line at all — timing varies a lot day to day

It's a stop for the views and the ride itself rather than a hike — worth building into a Flagstaff day if you want elevation and a break from the pines without the effort of a summit trail.

Reviews (1,184)

See all on Google

4.7

1,184 reviews

Google Reviews

Write a review

Jan Hershberger

3 months ago

I typically don’t do scenic gondola rides because they’re overpriced and not worth it, but I ended up doing this on a whim for sunset in June and it was such a great experience! The staff were all so friendly and helpful. There was no wait on beautiful Saturday at sunset. You get the gondola to yourself, even if there’s a line or you’re alone, versus having to share the ride with strangers. They let you go up at 6 pm for sunset and stay until it’s fully set (which was around 8 PM in June). The views are amazing and it wasn’t crowded. I did the little hike up as far as you can go (about 1/4 mile above the gondola) and had the whole area to myself. You can’t hike any further. It’s all roped off with a bunch of signs about getting fined if you cross the rope, which is a bummer. There are bathrooms and picnic tables and chairs. You get a view of Humphrey’s peak. Bring warm clothes and blankets! It was really cold and windy, even in June. I was able to bring my beer I got at the base bar on the gondola as well, even though it was open. Got amazing pics!

Kata Budapest tour guide

3 months ago

Beautiful experience and absolutely worth doing if you’re visiting Flagstaff. The gondola ride offers incredible views over the San Francisco Peaks and, on a clear day, you can even see far into northern Arizona. Definitely recommend buying tickets online in advance — they use dynamic pricing, so the earlier you book, the cheaper it usually is. I also noticed there are often online perks or savings if you purchase at least a day before your visit, so planning ahead really helps. We paid $10 per person the day before, compared to $26 per person if purchased on the spot. The ride itself is smooth and relaxing, and the scenery at the top is stunning. It can get a bit busy during peak times, but overall it’s well organized and a great stop whether you’re a tourist or just passing through.

Jon Jouvenaux

3 months ago

What a beautiful place! Very friendly and helpful staff! We went for the sunset package and we ordered their meal option with the tickets. We both had the New York Strip with seasoned grilled veggies and mashed potatoes. The steaks and veggies were seasoned very well and cooked as ordered. The steak was better than the steak we had the night before at an upscale restaurant. Did I mention the meals were only $10 each added to our ticket price!!!!!!!!!! Best deal we’ve had in years!! Obviously the scenic views up and down the mountain were glorious. We did end up buying some jackets from the gift shop because it was 93 temp before we started up the mountain and when the sun went down and it rained a little bit, the top of the mountain was in the 40s.

Lisa Hendrix

a month ago

Well worth the $27 they charge for an all day gondola pass. They had so many other fun things to do that it would be a great summer day with the kids. The food was tasty and reasonably priced too!

Elizabeth Ciufo

2 months ago

Super fun, must-do activity while in Flagstaff. I paid less than $5 on either a senior or military discount, can't remember which. Bought the ticket online in advance. Great ride up and down with breathtaking views at the top. You can walk around at the top as long as you want, and there's apparently a short hiking trail where you can go a bit higher. May not be appropriate for those with breathing problems as it's 11,500 feet elevation at the top. Definitely not for those afraid of heights! 😂 The gondola operators were very personable and accommodating, and offered a hand to those a little less sure about stepping onto or off of a slightly moving platform. The drive up the mountain is very twisty and traffic understandably moves slowly. Not for those with a weak stomach. Altogether, it was a fun activity and a great experience.