Basecamp at Snowbowl

Owned by the Arizona Snowbowl ski area, Basecamp was known as the Ski Lift Lodge before a 2021 remodel to update and modernize the accommodations. The renovated rooms are warm and cozy, with crisp white linens and walls adorned with stunning photography of the region’s landscapes. 

With modern amenities such as flat-screen televisions and gas heaters, the 18 cabins don’t bear much resemblance to their 1931 origins as crew accommodations and sets for Clark Gable’s Western film The Painted Desert. But guests who snag the cabin named after Gable still get the Hollywood treatment: a full kitchen, a living room and a king bed.

Basecamp’s other cabins are spaced out among the towering pines, with a horseshoe pit, cornhole boards and a basketball court tucked into the surrounding woods. Front porch Adirondack chairs provide the ideal spot for post-adventure relaxation or swapping tales from the trail with other guests. Don’t be surprised to find a four-legged friend curled up next to those chairs, as many Basecamp rooms are pet-friendly. 

With the rugged San Francisco Peaks in Basecamp’s front yard, the options for outdoor exploration are endless. Ski Snowbowl’s varied terrain in the winter, bike and hike miles of breathtaking trails in the summer, leaf-peep the changing aspens in the fall, or pay a visit to one of the area’s national and state parks any time of year. For those who consider shopping the ultimate sport and prefer lunch at a local cafe over a granola bar on the trail, downtown Flagstaff is just a few miles away. 

Whichever path you choose, make sure it leads to the Basecamp Restaurant. Toast the day’s accomplishments with a local craft brew and refuel with a house-smoked pulled pork sandwich or a quesadilla stuffed with smoked chicken, chiles and cheese. Stop by on a Saturday, and you’ll be greeted with live music and an irresistible cheesesteak special. 

Whether you’re up for a solo slalom down a black diamond ski run or a leisurely walk through the woods with friends, Basecamp is exactly as described: the home base for any adventure.