Taos Ski Valley

Even hardened ski bums from the coasts might be surprised by the gnar possible at Taos Ski Valley. Most Americans associate New Mexico with the first atomic explosion at the White Sands Missle Range or aliens visiting Roswell than visiting the southern tip of the Rockies for winter fun.

Visitors can fly directly to Taos Regional Airport, Sante Fe Airport, or Albuquerque International Sunport. Those driving can use Interstate 25 to get into the area along with several US routes. State highways are well-maintained and provide access to the ski area from several directions.

An Alpine Village and Ski Resort

An alpine biome is a tough place for plants to thrive, but it is the ideal setting for skiers and snowboarders looking to do a bit of ripping and shredding. The Taos Ski Valley has a base elevation of 9,350 feet, and the summit elevation registers as 12,481 feet.

That is a vertical drop of 3,131 feet. What that statistic means for guests here is the potential for some serious fun. Depending upon a skier's skill and luck, that can translate into lots of "S" carving down the mountain or bombing it to the point of bailing.

The Taos Ski Valley receives roughly 300 inches of snowfall annually, which is average for the Rocky Mountains (even this far south). Like Colorado to the north, New Mexico's 300 days of sunshine each year means skiers have as good of a chance to ski on a bright clear day as they do during a whiteout.

The public and private partnership that manages the Taos Ski Valley keep things working smoothly. That said, it is worth mentioning that safety should be the utmost concern for guests. That includes using safety gear and following the ski area policies, especially with things like avalanche dangers.

Getting Better One Trail at a Time

The Taos Ski Valley offers plenty to do on the lower and upper Front Side, Backside, Highline Ridge, and West Basin Ridge. There are 110 trails at the ski area that visitors can explore solo or with a professional guide in tow. Just under a quarter are rated green for beginners, and roughly a quarter are blue for intermediates. The rest of the terrain on the mountain is either black diamond or double diamond, providing lots of challenges and sick fun for advanced plankers visiting Taos Ski Valley.

Over a dozen lifts are operating here, including a gondola. Including the magic carpets, Taos Ski Valley has an uphill capacity of over 19,000 skiers and snowboarders. It is funny to note that the ski area was one of the last four resorts to allow snowboarding (the prohibition lifted in March of 2008).

Taos Ski Valley offers several snowsports schools, standardizing skill levels from one (never skied or snowboarded before) to five (able to ski or snowboard the whole mountain). The ski area grooms and marks all 1,294 acres, creating fun on the trails along with Bambi Glade and Maxie's Terrain Parks.