10 Reasons to Visit Taos Ski Valley with Kids: The best affordable destination for a family ski trip with great food, art, and culture.
Why you should choose Taos Ski Valley for your family ski trip:
There are so many reasons to love Taos. It is a fantastic hidden gem nestled into the Northeastern corner of New Mexico. Since the main reason Taos is so fantastic is that it’s a well-kept secret, I have my reservations about sharing the secret here. But it’s just too good to keep! We have skied in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Snowshoe, WV, and New Mexico and Taos is our family favorite. Here is why we love it so much.
The lift line at 3 PM on Sunday of Martin Luther King weekend. Taos Ski Valley, NM. You won’t find lines this short anywhere in Colorado on a holiday weekend.
With 110 runs, 3,281 vertical feet, and 1,300 acres of skiable terrain, the runs are long and varied and as good or better than anywhere else.
It is WAY less crowded than resorts elsewhere. We skied in Taos for MLK weekend this year and never waited in a lift line for more than 5 minutes. Most of the time we skied straight off the mountain and back onto the lift.
The grade is intimidating and keeps the true novice skiers away. As a result, Taos actually feels safer than other resorts that are perceived as family friendly because you don’t have to worry about other skiers who don’t know how to stop or avoid your children on the mountain.
It is substantially cheaper than other similarly sized resorts. Lift tickets range from 95-195 per day depending on demand. More importantly, however, accomodations, food, and rentals are also more affordable than in other ski towns.
When it isn’t snowing, the skies are blue. With 300 days of sunshine a year, the temperatures are usually mild for skiing. Everyone is happier if your kids are wearing two layers instead of four, trust me.
The people are genuinely nice and helpful. From the folks working the lifts to those working the desks, waiting tables, and renting skis, I am always blown away by how kind and helpful the culture is in Taos Ski Valley.
The high desert climate and nearby towns of Taos and Santa Fe are worth the trip even without the skiing.
The food! New Mexican food is cheap and delicious. Unlike other ski resorts that crank out re-heated $30 cheeseburgers in a cafeteria, Taos has some delicious on-mountain options with prices that won’t make you vomit.
Ski school. We love the ski school at Taos, where you drop your kids off and they do everything, including fitting your kid with gear.
The vibe. It’s hardcore but chill at the same time and a great fit for our family. If you go skiing to show off your outfit, this probably isn’t the spot for you.
The bluebird ski days in Taos are some the the greatest. Short lines, open slopes, spectacular views.
So why not go to Taos?
There are two reasons. First and foremost, it is just far south enough that global climate change has resulted in some inconsistent snow over the last decade. The snow tends to be better in El Niño years, but there have been a few years where the snow remained thin throughout the season. Three weeks before our trip in January, only about 20% of the runs were open. We got very lucky and it dumped for the two weeks before we arrived, resulting in near perfect conditions, but that doesn’t always happen. Secondly, aside from the bunny slopes, there really aren’t any novice runs. The greens at Taos are as steep as blues elsewhere and I have personally known two people who had to get a lift off the top of White Feather, the “easiest” run on the mountain. Our kids learned to ski at Taos and that worked great for them, since they had no fear, but it may be challenging for adults learning to ski.
Gus decided to bomb Ruby Gulley, bailed hard, and took 150+ meters to self arrest. An essential skill when skiing advanced runs at Taos.
Slim Slidell used to help educate people on the lift how to self arrest. He is no longer on the slopes, but I thought he provided a useful lesson.
How to get to Taos:
You can fly into Santa Fe or Albuquerque. The airport in Santa Fe is tiny but there are direct flights in from Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix, making it relatively easy to get to. The drive from Santa Fe to Taos is about 1.5 hours. If you don’t like the flight options into Santa Fe, you can fly to Albuquerque. The drive from Albuquerque is about 3 hours.
The classic New Mexican Adobe house with a beautiful high desert sunset out the window.
Where to stay in Taos:
We have never stayed in the Ski Village proper. Options there are limited but worth exploring if you have a smaller group. Since there are not any good options for a big group in the village, we have always stayed in either Arroyo Seco or Taos proper. I personally like staying around Arroyo Seco where it is about 5-10 degrees warmer and I can enjoy the beautiful high desert landscape. The drive to the resort is about 20 minutes from Arroyo Seco. Our airbnb this year was fantastic and accommodated our large party beautifully for a very reasonable price.
When to go to Taos:
Given the higher temperatures and less consistent snowfall, I would not recommend planning a ski trip in December or later than mid-march. February has the most consistent good conditions and January is usually also a good bet.
Alain and Peggy, the owners of Le Ski Mastery. Taos Ski Valley, NM
Ski Rentals in Taos:
Le Ski Mastery provides daily storage and the staff and skis are excellent. They are our slight favorites. Honestly, you can’t go that wrong here since the staff are knowledgeable and helpful everywhere in the village. There are several other good options, including Taos Sports and Cottams.
Favorite runs in Taos:
Favorite Green:
White feather. There aren’t many green runs at Taos and this is the easiest full run down the mountain. If you are a beginner skier, however, the top ⅓ can still be a little intimidating due to the relatively steep grade. For your first time down the mountain, consider taking High Five to bypass the first portion of White Feather. This run is nice and long and varied. I still enjoy it every time.
Favorites Blues:
This one is tough because the blues at Taos are fantastic. I am a solid blue skier and I like a groomed route, so the blues at Taos are my happy place.
Porcupine: wide open blue with a great view of the valley below.
Lower Stauffenberg: another wide, sustained route that usually has very few skiers due to its location at the edge of the resort. The only downside is that lift 8 isn’t a high speed quad.
Shalako: I love lift 4 and the view of Kachina peak as you get to the top of the lift is breathtaking. Head off the lift to cruise down Shalako into Baby Bear for a near-perfect run. I think I did this one 7 times in one day while the boys and Joey skied blacks on the backside.
Bambi: Tucked in between a bunch of blacks, this run is often overlooked and you might find yourself with this gorgeous little blue all to yourself.
The view of Al's Run from the base of the mountain. Lift 1 follows Al's Run all the way to the top.
Favorite blacks:
Our favorite black from last year with Ruby Gully. It has a nice little drop in. It is relatively short and good for people who are just starting to ski blacks. It is also one of the only Blacks that is groomed intermittently. The classic black is Al’s Run. It is the icon run that is under Lift 1. It runs .6 miles, with a vertical drop on 1,300 ft, and is always covered in moguls. It feel a bit like a right of passage, and my boys became obsessed with conquering it. I would prefer to skip it as it is steep, often icy, and wears me out.
Double blacks:
These are the runs that Taos is known for. Unfortunately, I am not your source for info on these. If this is the type of skiing you are looking for, however, I don’t think you will be disappointed at Taos.
Where to eat in Taos:
Taos Ale House: The truffle fries, burgers, and beer here make for a great mid-day re-fuel. You will have to walk a bit in your boots but will be rewarded with better food than you will find right off the lifts.
The Bavarian: At the base of lift 4 is the //year old restauraunt serving hearty brats and beer for a reasonable price. To get here, you will need to ski down the back side. The easiest route is Honeysuckle, which can be a bit intimidating for a beginner skier despite the fact that it is technically a green.
Whistlestop Cafe: Stop in here for a mid afternoon hot chocolate for the kids.
Orlando’s: In Taos proper, this is a tiny New Mexican joint with the best chile rellenos I have ever eaten. They are famous for their avocado pie, which you should try at least once. They don’t take reservations and there is commonly a wait here.
Maria’s in Santa Fe: We usually plan to have lunch here when we are in Santa Fe. This is classic New Mexican cuisine at its best, covered in green chili sauce. The sopapillas are also to die for!
Meow Wolfe is an unforgettable immersive art experience in Santa Fe, NM. A great experience for all ages.
Things to do besides ski in Taos:
I love taking a rest day in Taos because there are so many great things to do aside from skiing. Here are some of my favorites.
Meow Wolfe in Santa Fe. This place is so cool. Book your tickets in advance and plan on spending at least two hours there. It is fun for the whole family! We always make time for a stop here on our arrival or departure day. You could also do a day trip here in the middle of the week.
Hike along the rim of the Rio Grande canyon. This canyon is quite spectacular and even more so because it seems to appear out of nowhere.
Walk around Taos Central Plaza and visit the local art galleries and cute shops.
Rent show shoes and hike one of the trails that head out of the ski valley.
Pro-tips for Taos:
Consider buying your groceries in Santa Fe. Prices will be substantially higher and the selection substantially lower in Taos. We hit up Sam’s Club and Whole Foods on our way out of Santa Fe for groceries. If this doesn’t work for you, your next best bet is Cid’s, Smith’s, or Albertson’s in Taos. In a pinch, you can find most necessities at Sol Food Market in Arroyo Seco and I always love blowing $50 on luxury items I don’t really need at a small town organic grocery store.
Do not leave the bunny slopes until you can confidently and consistently turn and stop. Even the easiest green, White Feather, isn’t that easy and it is a long way down.
If you are a beginner skier and skiing out west for the first time, do not ski the back side until you are very comfortable on White Feather. The first section of Honeysuckle can be initimidating for a new skier because it is quite narrow and the drop along the side of the trail is very steep. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this will be a nice, long, easy green.
When skiing Rhubezal from the back side, get your speed up in the beginning or you will be pushing yourself with your poles on some nearly flat parts of this quaint little trail through the forest.
Send your kids to Taos Ski School. The instructors are consistently great and they do all the work. The ski school drop off is separate from the main village entrance and you don’t have to send your kids with their gear already rented. Rentals, lift tickets, and food are included in the cost of ski school. They are also great at knowing when to take breaks and keeping the kids happy throughout the day. Although it isn’t cheap, ski school is totally worth it and Taos Ski School is a fraction of the price of ski schools at other big resorts.
Rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Taos got a lot of snow the week before we arrived and the driveway to our airbnb was seriously steep and slippery. We were very glad we paid the slightly higher price for an SUV with 4 wheel drive.
Go to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. You really shouldn’t skip this one.
Be aware of the early lift closures. It gets dark in the valley by 5 and the last lift closes at 4 PM.
The kids enjoying Meow Wolfe in Santa Fe, NM
Final thoughts on Taos:
We just love Taos. Plan a ski trip there. Stay in an adobe house in the high desert and soak in the sun. Enjoy the long, varied runs down this beautiful mountain without the packed crowds you find in Colorado. Appreciate the kind, knowledgeable, and genuine people who live there and stop in Taos proper and Santa Fe for a dose of art, food, and culture. Or don’t, and we’ll be happy to keep this gem to ourselves.
