The Rocky Mountains – the chief mountain range of the West – extend from New Mexico all the way to Alaska. At the start of the Rockies, you will find the incomparable Taos Ski Valley (Taos), in the rugged Sangre de Cristo mountains. Taos is proudly independent, and its diverse and challenging terrain, confluence of cultures, refined yet authentic resort amenities, and its people all add up to create a rare ski experience. The true essence of skiing and a sense of intimacy are alive and well in Taos – you will make new friends on the lifts and get tips and suggestions from locals on their favorite runs. Taos imparts a pure mountain experience with a friendly, ski-town vibe.

FOR THE GOOD

Taos Ski Valley is the first and only ski resort to become a certified B Corporation. This certification helps ensure that Taos meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, sustainability, public transparency, and legal accountability. 

“Here at Taos Ski Valley, we know that an appreciation for the mountain runs deeper than skiing and riding,” said Norden. “When we were certified as a B Corporation in 2017, we pledged to protect our people, place, and planet, and have fun while we do it.”  

“Our vision for the future is ‘better not bigger,’” said Taos Ski Valley CEO David Norden. “Our goal is not more. Instead, we want to provide a sustainable, intimate, and truly special mountain experience within the confines of a remote box canyon surrounded by designated wilderness.” 

Taos’ sustainability initiatives are numerous and industry leading. As a step towards a stated goal of NetZero by 2030, in 2022 Taos Ski Valley became Certified CarbonNeutral® utilizing carbon offsets in its portfolio of carbon reduction strategies. In addition to its emissions reduction work, the resort also continually invests resources toward forest maintenance to protect the mountain and mitigate fire and watershed impacts. The industry has taken note; the National Ski Areas Association has awarded Taos Ski Valley the highly coveted Golden Eagle Award for sustainability more than any other resort in the past decade. 

Beyond its environmental work, as a certified B Corp, Taos Ski Valley evaluates and focuses on its social performance and community impact as part of its daily operations. The resort follows a business model that prioritizes its workers, community, and customers first and foremost. Taos embodies these core values through a philosophy of diversity, philanthropy, and community involvement.

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“We desire to be a purpose-driven business. Our staff, our Northern New Mexico community, and our environment are the most important considerations as we move forward with an unwavering commitment to the B Corp values,” said Norden. “While business trends will come and go, we feel grounded in our values and trust that they will provide an enduring foundation for the way we do business now and into the future. As consumers embrace travel again with newly gained perspective from the past few years, we anticipate many will ‘vote’ with their wallets for businesses that are doing the right thing.”

MOUNTAIN STATS

  • Average Annual Snowfall: 300 inches
  • Average Days of Sunshine: 300+ days
  • 1,294 Total Acres
  • Number of Trails: 110 total. 24% beginner, 25% intermediate, 51% expert
  • Number of Lifts: 13 Total Lifts. 1 gondola, 1 high-speed quad, 3 fixed grip quads, 4 triples, 1 double, 3 surface lifts
  • Base Elevation – 9,350 feet / 2,849 meters
  • Summit Elevation – 12,481 feet / 3,804 meters
  • Vertical Drop – 3,131 feet / 914 meters
  • Uphill Capacity – More than 15,000 skiers per hour (19,000 inc. carpets)  
  • Snowmaking Capabilities – On nearly all beginner and intermediate slopes

In addition to world-class skiing and riding, Taos also offers the Eis Haus ice-skating rink. Large built-in fireplaces with seating adjacent to the ice offer a terrific place for family and friends to relax and socialize after a day on the mountain. Additionally, Taos offers a unique dinner sleigh ride experience on Friday and Saturday nights – guests relax in a sleigh while they are snow-catted to the mid-mountain Bavarian restaurant from the main plaza for dinner, complete with wine. Thick cozy blankets keep the chill at bay, while guests receive an exhilarating and memorable roundtrip ride under the stars. 

HISTORY AND CULTURE

The steep peaks of the region are often referred to as Monte Sagrado, the sacred mountain. Around the 13th and 14th centuries, Native Americans settled into the region, constructing adobe residences and religious structures, many of which still stand today. 

A trip to Taos isn’t complete without a visit to the Taos Pueblo. This is a thriving community and provides a real slice of history that has survived modernization. The Pueblo has been inhabited for more than 1,000 years and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. Witnessing the adobe structures and ancient dwellings – which are still lived and worked in today – is an important step to understanding the rich culture and deep history of this region. Archaeologists say that ancestors of the Taos Native Americans lived in this valley long before Columbus landed in America and hundreds of years before Europe emerged from the Dark Ages.

By the 1800s, the area had grown into a mining town. It wasn’t until 1955 when Swiss/German ski pioneer Ernie Blake was flying his Cessna 170 over the northern mountains of New Mexico when he eyed a region he deemed a perfect spot for a ski resort. He and his wife, Rhoda, along with their children, took up residence in a camper of the parking lot, beginning the work on what would become Taos Ski Valley. They sought to honor the mountain lifestyle first and foremost. While infusing the resort with their own European roots, the Blake family paid homage to the Native American and Spanish Colonial culture that had been in the region for hundreds of years. Evidence of this three-spoke ancestry can still be found all around the resort.

FAMILIES

Taos is the perfect destination for making new memories with your family and instilling the true essence of skiing. In Taos, the sport truly takes center stage.

The Ernie Blake Snowsports School is one of the most celebrated in the country and has a range of options for skiers and riders from first timers all the way to experts looking to refine their technique. Taos offers Pre-K lessons for even the youngest aspiring athletes – just 3-6 years old. Childcare for ages 0-3 is also available. New for the 2022/2023 winter season: a new 250-foot moving carpet will replace the two older models on the beginner hill. This carpet will be utilized within a new design for Taos’ Perfect Progression approach, which uses purpose-built snow features to help assist new skiers and riders by naturally controlling their speed.

Another true differentiator of Taos’ snowsports school is its Ski Weeks offering. Beloved since the resort’s founding in 1955, ski weeks provide a full week of instruction to inspire visitors’ skiing, renew their spirits, and create long-time friendships. They are the only full-week program in North America. Ski weeks at Taos Ski Valley include Private Ski Weeks, and one-time sessions that include Race Week, and Women’s Week. Ski weeks run throughout the season from Sunday through Friday. 

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT

The resort owns three premier slopeside lodging options: The BlakeThe Blake Penthouses, and The Blake Residences, offering Southwestern-inspired interiors with a curated experience from a renowned team of Hausmeisters. Numerous other independent lodgers are also available in Taos Ski Valley, the nearby town of Arroyo Seco, or in the Town of Taos, which is about a 30-minute drive from the ski valley. 

Taos Ski Valley offers an array of restaurants to help guests fill up after a day on the mountain. Visitors can find local cuisine, American fusion, or European influence. The Bavarian is an historic favorite of locals and visitors alike – an idyllic European alpine lodge at the base of Lift 4. Here you can enjoy casual German lunch fare and German beers on tap while soaking up the sun on the deck. Or cozy up inside and enjoy the remarkable Bavarian décor. 

Other dining options in the ski valley include the refined 192 located in the Blake, Rhoda’s at the base of the mountain, the Whistlestop Café and the Phoenix Grill on the mountain. 

An even wider array of dining options can be found in the nearby Town of Taos.