Taos Ski Valley, a world-class destination only a 20-mile drive from the historic town of Taos, offers a confluence of rustic charm and Alpine opulence. It’s also the first ski resort in the world to become a certified B Corp, putting people and planet ahead of profits.
Skiing at Taos is an experience like no other. It’s an unlikely collision of rustic charm and Alpine opulence, with accommodations and dining options ranging from homey old-world to five-star luxury.
The mountain has a lot to offer both winter and summer guests, with terrain parks, tubing, and Via Ferrata to keep you busy in the warmer months. The mountain’s location is also perfect for an adventure-filled vacation, as it’s only a short drive to both Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
It’s a great place to bring the family, with kids camps, a tubing area and teen centre. The mountain is also a member of the Mountain Collective network, which means you can buy one lift pass and ski at other nearby mountains.
Taos’ steep expert terrain is known for being among the most challenging in the country, and there are plenty of runs that will challenge even the most skilled skiers or snowboarders. Unlike some other ski resorts, a significant amount of the slopes requires hiking to reach, so you can expect to spend a good deal of time out of the lift system. Once on these non-lift-served runs, however, the snow retention is usually much better than at other parts of the ski resort, and if conditions are favorable, your powder stash can stay intact for days after a storm.
This mountain has some of the best powder in the country, thanks to a high elevation and average snowfalls of 7.5 metres. The slopes are also renowned for their super fun steep groomers and excellent fall line skiing, making this a great choice for both beginners and experts alike.
It’s also well worth a side trip to the historic town of Taos, which is only a short distance from the ski resort. The town is filled with authentic adobe mud brick buildings, and has a strong Native American arts and culture scene.
The village is undergoing revitalization, with new and updated lodges and restaurants, including the Blake Hotel and 192 at The Blake. The hotel’s rooms and dining areas mix the classic Georgia O’Keefe artwork of its hallways with locally sourced green chile-infused fare, while 192 at The Blake serves shareable dishes and carefully curated wines.
There’s a definite focus on the food and drink at Taos, as it has a reputation for being one of the most unique places to dine in the ski industry. You can apres ski in the base village at Tim’s Stray Dog Cantina or enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the Tyrolean-styled Bavarian, which has four guest rooms on-mountain.
On-mountain dining includes a tavern called Blonde Bear, where the locals go to get a good bowl of chicken enchilada soup or a hearty beef stroganoff. Another popular spot is Doc Martin’s, a tavern inside the Edelweiss.