Taos Ski Valley: Skiing, Mountain Tours and Trails into the Valley

Taos Ski Valley is a year-round mountain destination with ski slopes and snowboarding terrain for all skill levels. During your stay, you can combine winter sports, guided mountain experiences and quieter trails through the mountain landscape. There are also documented alternatives to a classic day of skiing for groups with different interests.

Skiing and Snowboarding in Taos Ski Valley

Which accommodation is right for you also depends on whether you want to focus on the ski resort itself, excursions into the mountain landscape or a combination of different activities. For a winter outing away from the slopes, Williams Lake can be reached from The Bavarian via a four-mile round trip. The route can be covered on snowshoes or touring skis. The parking area at the Williams Lake Trailhead is two miles uphill from the ski resort's base area. These two details describe different starting points and should not be confused when planning.

Getting There from the Town of Taos

In winter, the Blue Bus operates seasonally between the Town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley on route 341 TSV Green. Service to Taos Ski Valley is free. Taos Ski Valley is also approximately 18 miles from the Town of Taos. The drive through the canyon via NM-150 takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The bus connection and the road journey are therefore two clearly separate ways of reaching the destination; no specific bus travel time is provided.

Trails and Views in the Base Area

The Base Area Loop is a marked, one-mile circular trail in the resort's base area. As a nature trail, it follows the stream along the Rio Hondo. For a shorter stay in the immediate vicinity of the base area, this trail therefore offers a different way to explore the landscape than the longer mountain routes. Kachina Vista Park offers views of Kachina Peak and the Village. The Wheeler Peak Summit Trail #67 leads into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. The round trip is 2.2 miles long and has an elevation gain of 1,910 feet. The route therefore differs significantly from a short loop in the base area. If you are looking for a mountain tour with clearly stated measurements, the length and elevation gain of this trail are the key reference points.

Guided Mountain Experiences and Summer Activities

The Taos Ski Valley Via Ferrata is a guided high-alpine climbing experience that includes climbing equipment. It is located at an elevation of 11,500 feet in the subalpine ecosystem of Kachina Peak. The routes include challenges for beginners through advanced climbers, a 100-foot suspension bridge and a walkway with two safety cables. In summer, Taos Ski Valley offers chairlift rides for experiencing the mountain landscape. There is also a disc golf course in the main village. Taos Bike Park features flow trails for downhill mountain biking served by Lift 4. The Skills Park is located in Kachina Basin and is designed to build confidence and develop basic mountain biking skills.

To the main travel overview: Taos.