New Mexico's Top Ski Resorts
New Mexico’s Southern Rockies – and even ranges farther south – play host to nearly a dozen ski resorts, from world-class pow havens like Taos Ski Valley to solid hometown haunts like Ski Santa Fe. Click into your bindings or strap on your boards, and hit the slopes with our look at the top ski resorts in The Land of Enchantment.
Best Skiing For…
Families: Angel Fire
Experts: Taos
Terrain Park Riders: Red River
Skiiers on a Budget: Sipapu
Taos Ski Valley
The jewel in the crown of New Mexico’s ski resorts, Taos Ski Valley regularly graces nationwide Top 10 lists. Taos is a study in contrasts. Three hundred inches of snow, meet 305 days per year of sunshine. Fifty-one percent expert terrain, meet an award-winning ski school ready to train up even the newest of noobs. Classy, new-build ski village, meet 1,000-year-old Unesco World Heritage Site Taos Pueblo. Taos has a little something for everyone.
Why go: Thanks to a $300 million cash infusion over the past 10 years, previously hike-to spots are now chairlift accessible, opening up epic bowls, like Kachina Peak, to the masses. That vast investment also has benefited the base. Taos’s ski village glitters with shiny new amenities, including The Blake hotel, an ice-skating rink and a handful of high-end shops.
Après Options: Be forewarned: TSV isn’t known for its rowdy nightlife. Unwind with a cocktail at 192 At The Blake, or take the shuttle up the mountain to grab dinner at The Bavarian. If you’re staying in town, you’ll have plenty of top-notch dining and drinking options. The Love Apple, Taos Mesa Brewing, Doc Martin’s and WHAT’S ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU LIKE, JOE? are a few of our favs.
Lodging: Everything’s chic at The Blake. Or rent one of the stellar ski-in condo options through your favorite short-term rental site. In town, grab a room at Hotel La Fonda de Taos or double down on Taos-style weird and rent yourself an Earthship.
Angel Fire Resort
With 76 percent of its terrain marked for beginner or intermediate skiers, Angel Fire is the perfect spot for families, newbies and powder heads looking for a low-key day. Young ones love the tubing and sledding hills, and the older set is drawn to the 2,077-ft. vertical drop (the second biggest in the state). Angel Fire is located about two hours northeast of Santa Fe – close enough to Taos Ski Valley that it’s easy to experience both on the same trip.
Why go: Two words: Night skiing. Angel Fire is the only resort in New Mexico to open its runs (albeit only a handful of them) for post-sunset shredding sessions – and the soul-warming après ski ops that come with it. Spiked hot cocoa, anyone?
Après Options: Grab a burger and stay for the live music at Legends Grill, located steps from the slopes in The Lodge at Angel Fire. Or make the short trek into town to support the local beer scene at newcomer Enchanted Circle Brewing.
Lodging: For ski-in/ski-out access, stay at The Lodge at Angel Fire or in a vacation rental near the base. The village of Angel Fire and environs also offer rental properties and a few small hotels.
Ski Santa Fe
Locals adore this all-terrain hometown hero. With 660 skiable acres, Ski Santa Fe is big enough to keep surprising and small enough to feel like a hidden gem.
Why go: The tree skiing is exhilarating (Hit up North Burn or Tequila Sunrise Glade if the snow pack is adequate), the views are vast, and there’s a bit of terrain for every style of skier. As long as you’re not visiting on a holiday weekend, you’ll avoid the headaches of a more popular – read: slammed – ski area.
Après Options: With its roaring fireplace, beloved mid-mountain haunt Totemoffs is ideal for a late-afternoon quaff. There’s nada at the base, save for your run-of-the-mill ski lodge, so head down the mountain. Stop off for a sake at Izanami, the restaurant at renowned Japanese spa Ten Thousand Waves or drive into town for a warm-up and a hearty meal at Fire & Hops.
Lodging: Make the best of both city and ski slope and find a vacation rental somewhere in between Canyon Road and Hyde Park Road. With luck, you can even find a spot with killer sunset views.
Honorable Mentions:
Ski Apache
Ski Apache, one of the southernmost ski areas in the United States, features 750 skiable acres, high-desert vistas, mixed terrain and one of the state’s only gondolas. It’s located three hours south of Albuquerque near the mountain town of Ruidoso.
Red River Ski & Summer Area
This tiny (209 skiable acres) resort bumps up against the town of Red River, a postcard Western mountain town with a handful of hopping restaurants, shops and breweries. The resort is a picturesque one-hour drive north east of Taos along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. Red River boasts one of the state’s best terrain parks.
Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort
Looking to save some green? Sipapu has the least expensive lift tickets in the state, starting at just $9 if you purchase in advance. This mini but mighty resort offers copious on-site lodging, solid runs and a friendly atmosphere.
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