Getting to Taos Ski Valley takes a little effort. That's probably why relatively so few people make the trek. Albuquerque is the most common airport point of access, but Santa Fe is the closest option. It lies as it always...
Taos
If you like your skiing steep and deep in an uncrowded resort with views of the New Mexican desert, then Taos Valley is your Valhalla. There are few ski areas left that are still run by the founding family with a passion for skiing, and with such a welcoming feel, But Taos is one of them.
The cacti and sagebush of the arid New Mexican desert might not seem an obvious location for a ski resort, but the big mountain that overshadows Taos Ski Valley offers some of the most legendary double black diamond skiing to be found in the United States. And intermediates and beginners won’t feel left out either, with plenty of varied runs and an excellent ski school that all levels are encouraged to join.
Taos is about as far south as you can get for big skiing in the Rockies. It was the brainchild of founder Ernie Blake who sought to create a world class ski resort in a tiny corner of New Mexico. The resort is an eclectic mix of desert southwest and, oddly enough, Austrian/German architecture. However, it is the European that seems to predominate and if one squints just enough to miss the cacti, one might mistake Taos for the Tyrol.
Taos Ski Valley is known for its expert slopes and its sunshine. With over 300 days of annual sun it’s perhaps the sunniest and warmest big ski resort in the Rockies. The north-facing slopes hold the snow well, but the southern facing slopes on the opposite side of the valley are often completely bare. It’s an odd visual, but Taos is an odd place. It is the rare resort that words cannot adequately describe. Taos simply has a unique feel that is unparralleled in the ski world. A bit desert southwest and a bit of Austria might seem like a mismatch, but Taos pulls the hodgepodge off in a way no other resort can.
In December 2013, the Blake family sold the resort to environmentalist billionaire Louis Bacon, providing the injection of capital the resort badly needed. Improvements to lift system include the lift to the summit of Kachina Peak, increasing the lift-serviced vertical drop by over 1,000 feet.
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For somewhere in the American Southwest, the Taos Valley has a strangely Austrian feel. This may be partly due to the chalet-style Valley architecture and partly to the fact that German Luftwaffe pilots training near El Paso, tend to come...
Taos has excellent ski schools and its instructors are second to none —indeed, Ski Magazine named Olympic Gold Medallist and Taos Valley Ski Instructor Deb Armstrong one of three “Instructors of the Year”. There are two different ski schools in...
Taos Ski Area Taos Ski Valley is set in a north-facing bowl in the Carson National Forest and is known for its expert terrain. “You don’t have to be an expert to ski Taos, but there is no better place...
Taos Ski Lifts & Passes Taos may not have any detachable lifts, but no one in Taos seems to be in too much of a rush. The somewhat aged lift system is simply part of the resort's unhurried culture. Taos...
Taos Beginner Skiing Taos' beginner skiing is spread across the entire mountain and confident novices will have a chance to ski from the top of almost every lift. First timers are also welcome and Taos' well-earned reputation for sunshine makes...
Taos Intermediate Skiing Taos's intermediate skiing is first rate. However, blue skiers will enjoy Taos more as the resort's intermediate runs tend towards the more difficult side of the spectrum. Blue skiers should stick initially to the trails off Lift...
Taos Expert Skiing The expert skiing in Taos is amongst the best in the United States. Taos Ski Valley's bumps, trees and cliffs can test even expert extreme skiers. A skier drops into a run along the West Ridge Basin...
Taos Mountain Restaurants Taos' mountain restaurants are first class and decidedly European. From the world famous Bavarian high atop the resort to the deck at the Hotel St. Bernard at its base, few ski areas can match the charm and...
Taos Ski Valley Village Taos Ski Valley's village is an interesting hodge podge of small, independently-owned businesses that sprung up around the base area. The resort grew out of one man’s vision: Ernie Blake spotted from his Cessna 170 what...
Taos Restaurants & Bars There are some half dozen bars including Martini Tree Bar (upstairs from Tenderfoot Katie’s) which is one of the hot spots for après-ski action with live music, pool tables, a sushi selection, and wall hangings displaying...
Taos Ski Valley Activities Taos Ski Valley is not Aspen, so don’t go there expecting non-stop glitz and entertainment. But it is one of the most romantic spots in the West and just soaking up the sunshine (over 300 days...