![]() However, Taos’ toughest terrain is subject to incredibly variable opening schedules. Once at these non-lift-serviced lines, guests will find much better snow retention than at the rest of the resort-and if temperatures have been consistent, powder stashes can remain for days after a storm. The hike isn’t too bad, however, taking 10-15 minutes up a modestly-sloped path to reach key lines. Taos’ entire upper ridgeline is reserved for experts only, and a journey to the high alpine means a daunting trip down.Ī significant portion of Taos’ expert terrain-including all ridge terrain not served by the Kachina chair-requires hiking to get to. Chutes, cliffs, and cornices are commonplace some of these lines require significant straightlining or mandatory air to get down, and are probably best only attempted after a solid storm. The resort is home to some of the steepest, most perilous in-bounds terrain in North America, with high-consequence lines-several of which hide serious obstacles such as rocks and tree stumps-across all elevations. The blacks served by Lift 1 are some of the lengthiest in the Rockies region and are sure to wear down even the most tenured guests.īut visitors will really want to reach true expert proficiency to properly enjoy Taos. Visitors will find a series of long, trying mogul runs, especially in lower-mountain areas. Taos begins to become worth it for advanced-level guests. There’s also occasionally a terrain park zone served by Lift 7, but it isn’t always set up, especially during the earlier and later weeks of the season. True first-timers can choose from two bunny hills near the base. ![]() Lifts 4 and 8 are best for less experienced guests, with a higher concentration of lower-difficulty trails than other areas. Most chairlifts offer about one or two green and blue trails each, and they’re consistently well groomed. Taos is not for beginners or intermediates, although there is enough terrain to keep the mountain palpable for both ability levels. Taos is a much more regional destination than Colorado and Utah, with many guests visiting from New Mexico and Texas. Despite this, the resort boasts an impressive variety of terrain, as well as a vertical drop measuring over 3,000 feet when conditions allow. Taos’ base village has a distinctive charm to it, feeling vibrant but not overly commercialized like many other resorts.Īt just under 1,200 acres, Taos is notably smaller than most other Rockies destinations. Guests will want to hit Taos’ high-alpine ridgeline for the best views at the resort those who make it up to this zone will be rewarded with stunning panoramic vistas of the lower mountain, surrounding mountain ranges, and dry, contrasting valley to the west. And while that lower-mountain lift line may not look that bad from the base, it only seems that way because the line is so steep it hides the upper portion of the mountain. The mountain may not look that intimidating from the base, but a ride up Lift 1 reveals the true, strikingly tenuous footprint. Taos is quite a unique resort, with a beauty that becomes more apparent the higher you get. The resort does have limited snowmaking capabilities, which helps it open by Thanksgiving most-but not all-years. On the other hand, truly incredible storms can hit as late as early April. Taos is a tough early-season bet the resort has excellent snow quality, but it doesn’t see quite the same quantity as Colorado competitors and the resort sometimes isn’t truly good until late February or early March. The mountain can get bare in between storms, with thin cover present across various elevations. The resort is perennially sunny and can sometimes get above freezing, even during the core season. Taos’ snow cover heavily depends on the resort aspect winds typically come from the southwest, and the best terrain often faces northeast thanks to windswept powder.īut days when it’s not snowing are much more what one might expect from New Mexico. On the right day, one might mistake Taos’ footprint for one in the Cottonwoods. On a powder day, accumulation is supremely dry and light, with storms coming in and dropping true fluff. The snow quality at Taos upends one's prior understanding of north-south geography. ![]() While it doesn’t have the largest or most reliable footprint, the resort has several distinct qualities that the right subset of destination-goers will appreciate. You don’t typically think of New Mexico when it comes to planning a ski trip, but Taos has been a player for quite a long time.
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