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Taos Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Snowsure
  • Eco-friendly resort
  • Award winning ski school

Great for

  • Experts
  • Off piste
  • Quiet ski holiday

Ski Holidays in Taos

Swiss bliss, Spanish spice and native American ancestry meet and mingle in Taos. The glue that binds it together? Quiet slopes, truly formidable expert terrain and lots of dry Rockies powder. Taos lives and breathes skiing and wasn’t 'manufactured for the masses'. If you’re after high-tech holidaying look elsewhere, but for rugged perfection, you won’t find better.

  • Flight Time
  • 9 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Denver, Jackson Hole etc.
  • Time zone
  • GMT -5 to -8 hours
  • Language
  • English
  • Currency
  • US Dollar
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Taos Stats

Top Altitude
12481ft / 3804m
Bottom Altitude
9200ft / 2805m
Resort Altitude
9200ft / 2805m
Total Piste
1294 acres / 110 runs
Longest Run
8km
Slope Orientation
N E W
Vertical Drop
3281 feet / 997 meters
Skiable Vertical
Night Skiing
No
Glacier Skiing
No

Everything about Taos, apart from the name (it’s pronounced like 'house' with a T), sounds lusciously Hispanic. Set in New Mexico’s Sangre De Cristo Mountain range, beneath 12481ft Kachina Peak, and 18 miles from an old Spanish pueblo from 1540.

The ski resort, in fact, was founded back in 1955 by not-so-Spanish Ernie Blake and his wife, Rhoda. A tough man for a tough mountain, Ernie had been an interrogator of German war criminals and a suspected spy by turns. The couple lived in an 11ft camper and without electricity for decades, pouring their heart and soul into the hills. Today this home-grown feel can still be appreciated in the European style ski village, and many of its staff are in fact second or third generation descendants of Ernie and Rhoda.

A reflection of its history, the town of Taos just 25 minutes down the valley is a melting pot of influences; Hispanic, European and Native American. Many choose to stay here and commute to the slopes, as it has more and cheaper hotels, a thriving art scene and livelier nightlife than the mountain village, which compensates with ski-in/ski-out access. Staff clearly enjoy their work at both, and it shows in the friendly service.

More than a smashing place to ski, this is also one of the most sustainable ski resorts on the planet. The first ever B Corp resort, Taos offsets the carbon output of its airline and moves mountains to minimise water and energy use as well as waste production. Nearly everything you eat has been sourced locally and you'll struggle to find a plastic water bottle anywhere.

The warm welcome, unique cultural experience and formidable terrain make many ardently passionate about Taos. They’ll tell you it’s well worth the trip to get there. We’re inclined to agree.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Taos Transfer Times

Albuquerque International Sunport 155 miles, 3 hours

The nearest airport to Taos is Albuquerque at 240 km or about 2 hours 30 minutes by car

What's the ski area like in Taos?

Over half the marked trails are black or double black and there are also lots of great chutes and terrifying off-piste. If you don’t like to repeat runs, Taos might not entertain beginners and intermediates for more than a few days. But If you’re an advanced intermediate looking to push yourself, this could be a very good fit.

Beginners will be delighted to learn that they can experience all the iconic views of Taos from almost day 1, since the green runs aren't heaped in a cluster at the bottom of the mountain. Almost every chairlift (there are 11 of them) has a green from its summit. To get you ready to ski these, first timers can build confidence in comfort on the Pioneer lift and slightly more difficult Strawberry Hill lift near the base. Take the greens down from lift 4 to the Bavarian Lodge and imbibe until the lifts close – a shuttle bus will take you back to base.

A lot of the intermediate runs at Taos lean towards the more difficult side, meaning the more advanced are more at home. But this can also mean quick progression for someone who’s more used to casual cruising. Start at the trails off Lift 7 to get a feel for the pitch of the terrain and work your way up to steeper descents like Porcupine and the Powderhorn bowl. A Race Clinic with the ski school will do your technique a world of good.

Taos has always been a mountain for experts, however, or at least for those willing to push themselves and get off the groomers. 45% of the piste map is black and features some of the best tree-line skiing and longest uninterrupted fall-lines in the US. The only potential downside was that many of the runs required a hike – but that’s no issue anymore. A lift now reaches Kachina Peak, where the steep chutes and gullies are abundant. Less tracked-out areas that still involve a short hike (like West Ridge) remain challenging and blissfully powdery.

For cross country you've 33km of trails – where you may spot a local 'skijoring' (skiing with their dog…).

Like the staff in town, many of the ski instructors at the Ernie Blake Snowsports school have worked here for more than 20 years – unlike the rotating young workforce of many other resorts – and know the terrain like the back of their hand. Book in for a clinic to supercharge your technique.

Ski Area Facts

LocationNew Mexico, USA
Established1954
Downhill1294 acres / 110 runs
Lift Pass$98 (single day adult pass)

Beginner Slopes

24%

Intermediate Skiing

25%

Advance & Expert Terrain

41%

Snowboarding Trails

1294 acres / 110 runs100%

Taos Restaurants

Taos Après Ski

Taos Activites for Non-skiers

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

For serious shopping you need to head for the town of Taos with its wealth of craft shops and art galleries. Especially interesting outlets include the Taos Drums Factory Outlet where hundreds of Indian drums, textiles, folk art pottery and jewellery are on sale. In Taos Ski Valley there are half a dozen stores. They include Cottam's Ski & Summer Shops where high-performance ski rentals, tuning and apparel is on offer. At Andean Software there's folk art, fine Alpaca sweaters & cotton clothing on sale as well as Beppa clothing, jewellery, carved wood & gourds, dolls, traditional textiles and bags. The Bumps convenience store and The Inn At Snakedance offer groceries, snacks, beer, spirits, fine wine & cigars, cigarettes and videos. Cold Smoke Photography in the Resort Center Building offers photos taken daily on the slopes and the Taos Ski Valley Rental Shop, only steps away from the lifts, has first rate equipment, a demo centre and free over night storage at the base of the mountain.

Best Time to Visit Taos

High elevation, combined with New Mexico’s dry desert climate leaves lots of bone-dry champagne powder, of which there’s about 305 inches every season. 300+ days of glorious New Mexican sunshine do little to dampen this, partly because Taos’s mostly north and northeast-facing turf holds snow well and partly because the resort’s steep slopes are heavily gladed (though later season skiing can turn slushy).

Snowmaking covers every one of the beginner and intermediate slopes, ensuring everyone’s likely to find good coverage for the earlier months.

The fact Taos is a little further out of the way than some means through-traffic is minimal, making this a fantastic destination for a relaxing break at peak dates.

What's Taos like at Christmas?

If all you want for Chrimbo is a rustic retreat with plenty of untracked powder, Christmas in Taos shouldn’t disappoint. For good boys and girls, lessons with the famed Ernie Blake Snowsports School make for presents that guarantee gratitude.

What's Taos like in the New Year?

Fireworks, laser lights and a torchlit parade tend to come out for New Year in Taos, before the resort moves en masse to the Martini Tree. Come morning, make it down a Kachina Peak couloir and come out a new you.

What's Taos like in Half-Term?

Whether you have kids or are looking to escape them, Half Term in Taos should help you find peace. Taos doesn’t do lift queues, so there’s R&R for everyone.

What's Taos like at Easter?

Things are winding down come Easter in Taos, which can see some smashing deals and often special events like Pond Skimming Championship – seeing who can ski the furthest across an 80ft ice-cold pool (in costume).

Taos Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Taos snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Taos snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Taos snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Sunny skies Today
  • Sunny skies Sunday
  • Sunny skies Monday
  • Sunny skies Tuesday
  • Sunny skies Wednesday
  • Sunny skies Thursday
  • Current snow depth at top
    70 cm
  • Alternate Text
  • Current snow depth at base
    40 cm
Despite its reputation for terrifying terrain, Taos is quite family friendly. Ski lessons through the Kinderkäfig Children’s Center start at the age of 3, and children 6 and under have previously skied free with a skiing adult.

A sweet feature, look out for the Coldsmoke photographers around the tops of chairlifts and some of the trails to take action shots and family photos. Check out the finished snaps at the end of the day in their shop down at base for a fantastic memento.

The tubing hill often opens for evenings, while you can climb to 12,000ft on snowmobiles for a thrilling afternoon adventure.

A group trip to Taos will give you tales to tell for years to come. Ski some of the sheerest slopes in the US by day, knock back beers and burgers by afternoon and come nightfall toast the man who made it all possible at the Martini Tree.

For something different, head into Taos town to soak up its Native American ancestry (and the ubiquitous Margarita), changing things up from the European experience up in resort.

Taos
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4
out of 5
Strange town, but really cool ski resort. Fab mix of runs from cruisey bluesy (my style) to off piste steeps which other members of the group loved. Enjoyed the free Mexican hot chocolates they gave out in the mornings and the pretzels at the Bavarian bar - the loop here from lift 7 is really fun. We came on th... + more
Naomi,
4 out of 5
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Taos

Maximum and minimum adult Taos lift pass prices ranged from $510 to $510 for 6 days access to the Taos ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Taos holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price $65 - $65 $105 - $105 $85 - $85
6 Day Price $312 - $312 $510 - $510 $408 - $408
Age Range 7 - 12 18 - 64 65+

Getting to Taos

Most of our ski holidays to Taos packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Taos from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Taos from the UK?

Flights from London take about 9 hours to Denver, Jackson Hole etc.. This table shows approximate transfer times to Taos from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
Albuquerque 240 km 2 hours 30 minutes
Taos 24 km 25 minutes

How long is the transfer from nearest United States train station to Taos?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Taos transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
Albuquerque 240 km 4 hours

Taos Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Taos ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

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Similar Ski Resorts to Taos in United States


Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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