Things to Do in Snowflake AZ
Between the area’s local attractions, regional attractions and Native-American attractions, guests can easily fill a day, a weekend or a week with sightseeing in the White Mountains region.
Local Attractions
The James M. Flake House was a home built in 1895 by Jim Flake for his growing family. The “Big House,” a popular site on the Historic Homes Tour, features original furniture, photographs and artifacts.
The John A. Freeman Home exhibits a typical Mormon home in the 1890s. The home was recently restored by the town of Snowflake.
Snowflake Temple serves approximately 35,000 Latter-Day Saints residing in the northeastern section of the state as well as parts of New Mexico. The 17,500 square-foot temple stands as the 108th temple built throughout the world and the 51st in the country. The beautiful architecture both inside and out make this site one not to be missed.
Snowflake Monument portrays a meeting between William Jordan Flake and Erastus Snow in 1878. The monument depicts Snow inquiring if the town had been named, eventually proposing the combination of the names Snow and Flake.
Shumway School, located five minutes south of Taylor, is the only one-room brick schoolhouse that is still standing in the state. The schoolhouse was in use from 1904 through 1947 and was repaired in 2001.
Stinson Museum displays artifacts and pictures from Snowflake’s early history. The curator, Susan Lofthouse, recalls the history of both Snowflake and Taylor for eager patrons.
Taylor Pioneer Museum was built in 1930 and houses artifacts from Taylor’s history. One of the museum’s highlights is an exhibit of the drum, which is seen in the town logo of Taylor.
Petroglyphs and pictographs from early Native-American tribes can be found on cliff walls, overhangs and monoliths.
Regional Attractions
Several archaeological ruins can be found in the region, including the Casa Malpais Ruins, which overlook Springerville and Rattlesnake Point Ruin and Petroglyph Trail at Lymon Lake State Park.
A few Native-American attractions are also accessible within a half-day’s drive from Snowflake/Taylor – Monument Valley, where visitors can tour the Navajo Nation; Hopi Nation, featuring the famous villages of Kykotsmovi and Second Mesa; and the Fort Apache Historic Park, which is an hour’s drive from the area. The park is a 288-acre site comprised of prehistoric ruins, petroglyphs, a museum, the old military cemetery and much more.
Outdoor Recreation in Snowflake
With a location within the White Mountains area, recreational opportunities are endless. From fishing, camping and hiking to golfing, skiing and snowmobiling, residents and visitors to Snowflake-Taylor have unlimited access to it all.
Fool Hollow State Recreation Park in Show Low is a 140-acre lake filled with largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, crappies, bluegills and brown trout. The area also offers campsites for both RVs and tents, as well as a play area for children and an amphitheater.
Additional fishing can be had at the 100-acre Show Low Lake County Park and Woodland Lake Park in nearby Pinetop. Woodland Lake Park also affords patrons an ideal site equipped with tennis courts, ball fields, trails for hiking or mountain biking, picnic areas, boating and volleyball.
Ranked number three in the country by the American Hiking Society, the White Mountain Trail System, with trails beginning in Pinetop-Lakeside, is a haven for hikers, bikers and equestrians.
Boasting 65 runs accommodating skiers and snowboarders, the Sunrise Ski Resort in Greer also provides a separate area for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing trails. In addition to the easy through challenging runs is a“Ski-Wee” area for children.
Golf is abounding in the White Mountains region with eight courses within reach of those in Snowflake and Taylor – the Snowflake Municipal Golf Course (Public, 18 holes, Par 72, 6,400 yards) also includes a 9 hole course at 86 Par; Alpine Country Club (Public, 18 holes, Par 70, 5.595 yards); Bison Golf and Country Club in Show Low (Public, 9 holes, Par 34, 3,000 yards); Pine Meadows Country Club in Overgaard (Public, 9 holes, Par 34, 2,631 yards); Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club (Executive course, 18 holes, Par 63, 4,558 yards); River Run Golf Club and Estates in Eager (Public, 18 holes, Par 71, 6,371 yards); Silver Creek Golf Club in Show Low (Semi-private, 18 holes, Par 71, 6,813 yards); and Torreon in Show Low (Private, 18 holes, Par 72, 6,450 yards). Many of these courses also afford driving ranges, putting greens, pro shops and restaurants.
Snowflake’s Recreation and Parks Department oversees the maintenance of the community’s public parks and recreation areas. The department maintains two parks as well as Heritage Square. Pioneer Park offers patrons racquetball courts, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas and playground equipment, while Frederickson Park affords picnic facilities, playground equipment, tennis courts and a ball field.
This is barely scratching the surface of available recreational areas in the White Mountain region. Additional sites include the Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area in Pinetop-Lakeside, the Big Springs Environmental Study Area in Pinetop-Lakeside, the Pinetail Lake Wild Game Observation Area in Show Low, the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert, which is a 40-minute drive north of Snowflake, and many more.
Arts & Entertainment in White Mountains region
Both Snowflake and Taylor have had a rich art and music history since the area’s establishment. The Silver Creek Performing Arts Association aids in cultivating the arts in the Snowflake/Taylor region by sponsoring a host of local choirs and special events such as Chinese acrobatics, operas, Broadway performances and an annual concert series that brings popular performers to the area. In addition, the Silver Creek Little Theatre and the Silver Creek Community Choir are served by the Association.
The Silver Creek Community Choir produces a variety of Broadway hits, classical music, holiday favorites and much more, while the White Mountain Symphony Orchestra puts on a wealth of productions both old and new.
If you are looking for something more artsy, the Arts Alliance of the White Mountains encourages visual, musical, media and performing arts in the communities of the White Mountains through a number of art shows, poetry readings and films.
The Hon-Dah Resort and Casino in Pinetop offers gamers 600 slot machines, Poker and Blackjack tables and much more. Open 24 hours a day, the casino provides live music and dancing each night and comedy shows on Mondays, as well as big-name entertainment throughout the year.