KACHINA PEAKS WILDERNESS ACCESS PERMIT
THE ATTACHED PERMIT IS REQUIRED BY PERSONS ACCESSING THE KACHINA PEAKS
WILDERNESS FROM THE ARIZONA SNOWBOWL SKI AREA AND TWO LOCATIONS ALONG
SNOWBOWL ROAD (LAMAIR HAINES TRAILHEAD AND FREIDLEIN PRAIRIE ROAD JCT),
DURING WINTERTIME OPERATIONS.
The following are terms and responsibilities of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Access Permit System:
1) Each individual is required to have a current permit which is valid the duration of the ski season.
2) Permit holders are required to have this permit and a picture ID on their person while in the
Kachina Peaks Wilderness.
3) Persons under 18 years of age will require a parent or legal guardian to be present for permit
issuance.
4) Permit holders are required to register each time they access the wilderness through the ski area.
Register boxes are located at the Hart Prairie Lodge ticket windows and at the top of Chair #1
(Agassiz Lift).
5) Persons accessing the wilderness for periods longer than the ski area’s daily operational period are
required to leave a copy of this permit clearly visible in the windshield of their vehicle.
6) This permit allows the holder to park a vehicle and access the Kachina Peaks Wilderness at the
Lamar Haines Trailhead (milepost 4.0) and at the junction of Forest Road 522 and the Snowbowl
Road (milepost 2.5). Parking at these two areas is limited and does not allow any persons to park on
the Snowbowl Road. This permit must be clearly displayed in the windshield of the vehicle.
7) The permit holder is responsible to be knowledgeable of the hazards associated with travel outside
of the ski area.
The permit does not allow uphill or downhill travel within the ski area including ski runs or slopes
except within designated routes.
Permit holders not following the terms and responsibilities will be in violation of the Code of Federal
Regulations. The fine for the first offense is $50. Violations of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of
not more than $5000 for an individual, or $10,000 for a person other than an individual, or imprisonment for
not more than 6-months, or both.
The following are some items that all individuals using the backcountry should be aware of:
A) National Forest lands beyond the ski area permit boundary are not patrolled and hazards are not
identified.
B) 13 essential equipment articles that each person should carry include matches, extra food, water, first
aid kit, extra warm clothes/hat, map & compass, pocket knife, flashlight, rain gear/shelter,
sunglasses/goggles, shovel, avalanche beacon, probe.
C) Knowledge to evaluate snow stability; past weather history, current weather – (accumulation,
temperature, wind direction & velocity/duration), slope aspect, slope angles, and slope profile.
D) Knowledge of unstable snow conditions and their warnings.
E) Knowledge of FirstAid / CPR.
F) Don’t travel in the backcountry alone.
G) Let someone know as to your specific travel plans and itinerary, and adhere to them.
H) Be willing to turn around and come back another day.
There are many areas on the San Francisco Peaks that are very susceptible to unstable snow conditions and
avalanches are a regular occurrence. Some of these areas are directly adjacent and within the Arizona
Snowbowl Ski Area boundary. The Forest Service recommends that individuals using the backcountry in
winter are instructed by certified instructors in avalanche and snow stability recognition, evaluation, and
rescue techniques prior to traveling outside of the ski area boundary.