“We love kids at Angel Fire Resort,” gushes resort marketing manager Michael Hawkins. That sentiment comes through in the youngster-focused tubing and sledding opportunities, on-mountain events like Skiing with Santa, and complimentary s’mores at Winter Sports on Fridays and Saturdays (and select weekdays during holiday periods). The resort also offers New Mexico’s only night skiing operation and an upscale bar at Elements, the fine-dining eatery at nearby Angel Fire Country Club, so it’s clear the resort caters equally to those who are just kids at heart. WHAT’S NEW: Take the skier’s version of a stroll down Park Avenue, Angel Fire’s newest intermediate run. TRY THIS: Get an up-close look at the moon’s craters during the monthly Stargazing and S’mores event hosted by Hawkins, an amateur astronomer.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 2,077 feet / Annual snowfall: 210 inches / Skiable acres: 560 / Lifts: 7 / Terrain parks: 3
Glide through Enchanted Forest Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Area.
Photograph courtesy of Enchanted Forest Cross-Crountry Ski and Snowshoe Area.
New Mexico’s only cross-country ski and snowshoe resort offers more than 33 kilometers of groomed trails open to classic and skate skis, as well as 18 kilometers available to snowshoers and 10 kilometers ready for fat bikes. The activities are taxing, but the atmosphere is relaxed, says Geoff Goins, who co-owns the ski area with business partner Ellen Miller-Goins. “We have a very family-friendly vibe,” he adds. And to be clear, he means the whole family. Enchanted Forest boasts five kilometers of dog-friendly trails, along with the Glade Yurt, which sleeps eight people plus a pooch or two. WHAT’S NEW: Over the past year, the U.S. Forest Service has worked diligently to remove 90 percent of the roughly 20,000 trees knocked down in the devastating windstorm of December 2021. “This has opened up a lot of the area to spectacular views of the surrounding mountains,” Goins says. “It is going to look different but amazing at the same time.” TRY THIS: Ski by the light of the moon. Check the website for select evenings when Enchanted Forest’s cross-country trails are open to nighttime sluicing.
VITALS: Trails: 33 kilometers of groomed trails for skiing and 18 kilometers for snowshoeing / Annual snowfall: 200 inches / Skiable acres: 600
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area offers challenging terrain with panoramic views of the Río Grande Valley.
Photograph by Stephen Shankland.
Founded in 1943 by a gaggle of nuclear scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and a group of soldiers preparing for World War II, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area boasts panoramic views of the Río Grande Valley and, in the quad-burning Fab Four double-black bump runs, some of the most challenging terrain in the state. When your legs are jelly, head to the Pajarito Mountain Cafe for its legendary green chile cheeseburger. WHAT’S NEW: Enhanced snowmaking operations and additional grooming equipment have been added to the fleet to keep the mountain in pristine ski shape. TRY THIS: Strike up a conversation on one of the proudly slow-moving chair lifts. “Don’t be surprised if you run into some of the most brilliant PhDs in the world,” says marketing director Christiana Hudson. After all, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area sits just six miles west of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 1,440 feet / Annual snowfall: 137 inches / Skiable acres: 280 / Lifts: 6 / Terrain parks: 0
Ski right in town at Red River Ski & Summer Area.
Photograph courtesy of Red River Ski Area/Reed Weimer.
Looking for wide-open groomers? Red River Ski & Summer Area, which sits on 209 skiable acres high in New Mexico’s Southern Rockies, has plenty. If steep, powder-laden tree runs are more your style, the Sluice Box and Dropout runs will satisfy your penchant for adventure. Red River’s two terrain parks serve up ample big-air jumps and challenging boxes and rails, if that’s your jam. What you won’t find at this off-the-beaten-path ski and snowboard oasis: lift lines and commercialization. “This is a real ski town built by miners, not developers,” says Reed Weimer, sales and marketing manager. “Come check out the real thing.” WHAT’S NEW: While the new-this-winter Copper Chair will carry on the legacy of its predecessor’s name, the $6 million, triple-chair replacement will carry a whole lot more people up the mountain: 1,800 people per hour instead of 1,000. TRY THIS: After your child’s ski lesson, share in the joy of their development as you review their Mountain Accomplishment Program progress report, which records their skills growth throughout Red River’s programs.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 1,600 feet / Annual snowfall: 214 inches / Skiable acres: 209 / Lifts: 7 / Advanced terrain: 38 percent / Terrain parks: 2
Chill with a warm beverage at Sandia Peak Ski Area.
Photograph courtesy of courtesy of Sandia Peak Ski Area.
If you’re visiting New Mexico’s largest city, be sure to take a detour from the hustle and bustle of downtown Albuquerque to experience the blue skies and serenity of Sandia Peak Ski Area. Opened in 1936, Sandia was New Mexico’s first ski resort. Here, skiers and snowboarders will appreciate rolling terrain and impressive views of mountains and plains as they descend mellow greens like Fred’s Run or blues like Double Eagle. WHAT’S NEW: After three years of dormancy, Lift 4 is back up and running this season, providing easy access to beginner terrain closer to the base area. TRY THIS: Take Chair 3 to the top of beginner-level Cibola and then carve, glide, and grin as you ski down 1,700 vertical feet to the bottom (where you can do it all over again).
VITALS: Vertical drop: 1,700 feet / Annual snowfall: 117 inches / Skiable acres: 300 / Lifts: 3 / Terrain parks: 1
Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort offers an affordable winter weekend getaway with family-friendly amenities, including lift tickets starting at $15.
Photograph courtesy of Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort.
Planning a winter weekend getaway with the whole family? Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort is the place to go. This affordable resort offers lift tickets starting at just $15, and if you book two nights at its newly refreshed hotel (conveniently located just steps from the slopes), you’ll get two free lift tickets. Another perk: The three lifts leaving from Sipapu’s centralized base area service beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert terrain, so everyone in the family has direct access to their preferred trail type. WHAT’S NEW: Want to feel the thrill of down-hilling in a whole new way? Sipapu’s on-site rental store now has a fleet of SnoGo ski bikes ready to take for a spin. TRY THIS: Whether you’ve finally worked up the nerve to try your first jump or you’re hitting rails like it’s your job, Sipapu’s four terrain park areas have something just your speed.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 1,055 feet / Annual snowfall: 190 inches / Skiable acres: 215 / Lifts: 6 / Terrain parks: 4
Ride in comfort on Ski Apache’s gondola lift.
Photograph courtesy of Ski Apache.
At Ski Apache, one of the few U.S. ski areas under Native tribe ownership, the vibe is “easy-going and laid-back,” says Sarah Kazhe, director of marketing for the Inn of the Mountain Gods Enterprises, which operates the ski area. “We have some of the best warm weather skiing in the Southwest, and the views are epic and awe inspiring. You can feel a true connection with the mountain and nature.” On the other hand, with nearly 20 black diamond runs and New Mexico’s only gondola (which offers great views from the 11,400-foot summit it services), Ski Apache has another apt descriptor: “Exhilarating,” Kazhe says. WHAT’S NEW: Two new Prinoth snow groomers will ensure the slopes are guest-ready this season. TRY THIS: Ski down Burger, a lower-mountain blue trail, then go order one at the ski-in, ski-out Moonshine Burger Stand, conveniently located at the bottom of the run.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 1,900 feet / Annual snowfall: 180 inches / Skiable acres: 750 / Lifts: 11, including the gondola / Terrain parks: 0
Ski Cloudcroft, a family-run ski area, warmly welcomes first-time skiers, especially those new to snow, with personal service and convenient amenities.
Photograph courtesy of Ski Cloudcroft.
Skiing—and all of the gear and lingo that go with it—can be intimidating to first-timers. That’s especially true when those newbies have never seen snow before. Family-run Ski Cloudcroft takes pride in their ski area’s ability to welcome never-ever skiers and make them feel comfortable. From the friendly greeting at the ticket office to convenient on-site rentals, “everything is very personal,” says Michael Adams, who runs the business with his brother, sister-in-law, and dad. “We’re just one family trying to relate to another.” WHAT’S NEW: Snowmaking upgrades will ensure New Mexico’s southernmost ski area has plenty of white all season long. TRY THIS: Go tubing! Ski Cloudcroft offers five tubing lanes, each 700 feet long with 70 feet of vertical drop.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 700 feet / Annual snowfall: 70 inches / Skiable acres: 100 / Lifts: 3 / Terrain parks: 0
Ski Santa Fe has a run for every skill level.
Photograph by Scott Martin.
Bring the whole gang when you head to Ski Santa Fe. “Our terrain offers a little something for everyone, from perfectly manicured groomers to some of the best gladed terrain in the region,” says marketing director Eric Thompson. The après opportunities, which include live bands rocking on the deck at Totemoff’s Bar & Grill every Saturday and Sunday beginning in January, are sure to please the entire crew too. WHAT’S NEW: Ski Santa Fe’s first-ever high-speed lift, the quad-chair Santa Fe Express, will get eager skiers up the mountain in four minutes, less than half the time of the previous 1988-installed lift. TRY THIS: Tackle Roadrunner, the ski area’s most notable mogul run. “This leg-burner runs directly below the Tesuque Peak triple lift, giving skiers and snowboarders a chance to show off their own unique style,” Thompson says.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 1,725 feet / Annual snowfall: 225 inches / Skiable acres: 660 / Lifts: 7 / Terrain parks: 3
Taos Ski Valley’s challenging terrain makes it a bucket list visit for die-hard skiers.
Photograph courtesy of Taos Ski Valley.
Boasting more than 1,294 skiable acres, New Mexico’s largest ski area draws skiers and boarders from around the world. “We constantly hear from people who say Taos is a bucket list destination for them,” says COO John Kelly. “They come here first and foremost for the mountain, its terrain, the snow, and the uncrowded slopes.” With ice skating at the Eis Haus, a legendary Martini Tree Bar, sleigh rides to the famous Bavarian restaurant, and so much more, there are endless other reasons to make the trip. WHAT’S NEW: IKON pass holders rejoice! Taos Ski Valley has returned to the Base Pass after a year-long hiatus. TRY THIS: When the lifts stop spinning, keep your eye on the slopes to see if you can spot the bright green Prinoth Husky E-Motion, the first all-electric snowcat in North America.
VITALS: Vertical drop: 3,131 feet / Annual snowfall: 275 inches / Skiable acres: 1,294 / Lifts: 13 / Terrain parks: 2
