Ski in Taos

Skiing in Taos

Taos - Ski Resort in American Rockies (2810m to 3410m)

A legendary ski centre created in the 1950s by Ernie Blake. Over 50% of the terrain is 'expert' standard, and there is a very highly regarded ski school. The historic town of Taos is 30km/17 miles away.

Taos

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Taos Ski Facts

Taos Ski Facts

		Expert Skiers
		Intermediate Skiers
		Beginners
		Snowboarding
		Snow
		Apres-Ski
	56	Black Pistes
	28	Red Pistes
	26	Blue Pistes
12		Ski Lifts
600m		Max Vertical
3410m		Highest Lift
2810m		Lowest Piste
2810m		Resort Altitude

Taos

The American ski resort of Taos has direct access to 108 individual pistes, served by 12 ski lifts.

The ski resort itself is above 1500m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With pistes above 2500 metres, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

Snowmaking :- Taos is able to augment natural snow, with 32 Snow Cannons.

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 12 Ski Lifts of Taos are able to uplift 15,000 skiers / snowboarders per hour.

Skiing in Taos

Taos is the most southerly of the major North American ski areas and is famous for its light, desert-dry powder of which an annual average of 305 inches falls. Secondly, and equally important, its famous for its ski school, named after resort founder Ernie Blake, which has a reputation second to none for tuition of skiers at all ability levels.

For beginners, tuition is likely to begin at the Strawberry Hill beginners area at the base of the mountain, although it's possible to get around most of the key sectors of the mountain on easy trails once you've perfected those first turns. Beginners will be taught using a technique known as 'Zone therapy' through which they will progress through five zones dividing up the various stages of novice skier progression.

Intermediates will enjoy fast cruises down through the trees and a few of the lift served bowls such as Hunkizer or black diamond runs like Blitz and Reforma accessed by the number two lift. Virtually all beginner and intermediate skiing has snowmaking back up in case Mother nature fails to do the business.

Experts have more than half of Taos's terrain to enjoy - normally including unpacked powder, trees, glades, bowls, bumps, chutes and wide well-groomed cruisers. Above the tops of the lifts there are dozens of double black diamond extremely difficult trails which can be hiked up to along West Basin Ridge and highline ridge. The highest bowl skiing is beneath Kachina Peak up at 3805m (12,481 feet) - 200 metres above the top of the lifts and giving a skiable vertical of virtually 1000 metres.

Snowboarding in Taos

After a 53 year ban, Taos opened for snowboarding in the Spring of 2008. All of the facilities both on and off mountain were upgraded to accomodate snow boarders from classes to rentals and an upgraded terrain park called TSU is ready to host snowboarders and their families.

Taos Aprés Ski

There are no super night spots in Taos Ski Valley itself, although several of the hotels and restaurants lay on live entertainment. Otherwise it is a case of trying different friendly and relaxed bars and other eateries or participating in an organised evening activity like skating, snowmobiling or tubing. For a greater range of evening activities you will need to stay in, or at least travel to historic Taos town.

Taos Snow Reports by e-mail

For a Free 7-Day Snow Forecast for Taos, including a Snow Report with current skiing conditions, just sign-up to our Ski Chat Forum and set Taos as a favourite ski resort in your Profile.

Taos in brief

Taos Ski Resort is:
Good for Expert Skiers.
Ok for Intermediate Skiers.
Ok for Beginners.
Good for Snowboarding.
Opened : November 22, 2012
Closed : April 7, 2013
Opening Subject To Snow Conditions.

Taos Snow Forecast

Map of Taos