Escape the heat for a mountain adventure at Sunrise Park Resort in northern Arizona
GREER, AZ (AZFamily) — It’s time to pack your bags and escape the Valley heat for a cool mountain adventure in northern Arizona!
Arizona’s Family is taking a trip to Sunrise Park Resort to experience the state’s longest tandem zip lines, ride down mountain biking trails, hop on a coaster that zooms through the mountains and take in the gorgeous scenic views on a lift ride. Sunrise is the perfect destination for the whole family!
A Different Way of Mountain Biking
For thrill-seeking junkies, you need to try downhill mountain biking! The resort allows visitors to ride down one of the state’s tallest mountains at Arizona’s only lift-served downhill mountain biking trails. Get your adrenaline pumping as you head down at nearly 11,000 feet with cool air in your face surrounded by breathtaking views.
Thirty-two trails start at the top of Sunrise Mountain and are ranked by four levels of difficulty. Bring your own bike and gear or rent one of several specialized bike models. Helmets are required for all mountain bikers. Full-face helmets and elbow/knee pads are recommended and are available for rent at the base. Mountain biking is currently open through October 26.
Now Open!
Once you get to the resort, you need a place to stay! Book a room at Sunrise Hotel, which is investing heavily in making the resort the best summer and winter destination in Arizona. While the hotel is currently going through a remodel, it’s still up and running and inviting guests to stop by.
Guests can book a lake-facing room and check out the restaurant, pool, hot tub and fitness center. Phase 2 of the remodel, which will consist of mountain-facing rooms, is expected to be completed later in 2024.
“At the hotel, we’re in the middle of a $5 million renovation, interior and exterior. It’s ongoing right now. All the rooms that we have available are set, ready to go. We’re inviting you. We have dinner options up here. In the wintertime, everything will be up and running and open, so that’s exciting,” said a hotel spokesperson.
Who’s Hungry?
After all the fun and adventures, it’s time to grab a bite to eat! The small, charming town of Greer is only about 20-30 minutes from Sunrise Park Resort and is the perfect stop for food while you’re in the area. We stopped at Little Fork in the Road Cafe, which opened last November.
The cafe offers delicious breakfast options like chicken fried steak, waffles, biscuits & gravy and more! For lunch, check out the Little Fork Beef Sandwich or John’s Brisket Overload, which features tasty beef brisket, pickled red onions, bacon jam, and cheddar.
Mountain Thrill Ride
You can’t leave the resort without trying the first tribal coaster in the nation — The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster! Hold on to your hats as you ride through the beautiful slopes of Sunrise Park Resort. The coaster has a little bit of everything — breathtaking views, heart-pounding turns and thrilling twists, turns and drops.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe is operating the attraction. Riders get in their own carts and control their speed with a hand brake as they coast down the mountain. Children can ride with a parent.
Each cart reaches a top speed of 25 mph and automatically maintains a safe distance between each other. And the best part? It’s open year-round!
Feel Like You’re Flying
Fly through the trees on the Apache High Flyer, Arizona’s longest and fastest zip line! The attraction is two tandem zip lines that fly across the base of Sunrise Mountain. Ride side-by-side with a friend or family member as you reach up to 50 miles per hour.
Reservations are required for the Apache High Flyer, so make sure to reserve your spot now.
Views For Miles
Take a ride and be suspended over 10,000 feet to the top of Sunrise Peak! The scenic lift ride takes roughly seven minutes to reach the peak, where you can take in some of the most expansive panoramic views in Arizona. The scenic lift is available for ages two and up.
To the north, guests will see views of Greens Peak and Sunrise Lake. Turn to the east and you will be treated to Escudilla Mountain and New Mexico. To the south, you will be Arizona’s second tallest mountain, Mt. Baldy, which is also the Apache Tribe’s most sacred mountain.
On a clear day to the northwest, you can see the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, including Humphreys Peak — the tallest mountain in Arizona.
A single ride is $19 for adults and $15 for kids ages 2-17. For unlimited rides throughout the day, it is $24 per adult and $19 for children.
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