Taos Ski Valley: Mountain Adventures in Winter and Summer

Taos Ski Valley combines winter sports with impressive mountain trails and summer experiences. This year-round mountain destination gives you the opportunity to tailor your stay to the season and your desired activity level: from ski slopes and snowboard terrain for all ability levels to guided climbing and UTV experiences, loop trails, and mountain rides.

Getting There and Finding Your Way Around

In winter, the free Blue Bus runs seasonally between the Town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley on Route 341 TSV Green. This is useful information for planning your arrival if you would like to combine your stay with a visit to the Town of Taos. Taos Ski Valley is about 18 miles from the Town of Taos; the drive via NM-150 through the canyon takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Specific starting points also help with planning within the destination. The parking area at the Williams Lake Trailhead is two miles up the valley from the ski resort's base area. If you plan to take this route, you should therefore treat the trailhead as a separate point in your day's itinerary.

Winter Between the Slopes and Williams Lake

For a classic winter stay, ski slopes and snowboard terrain are available for all ability levels. Williams Lake offers a different mountain perspective: from The Bavarian, a four-mile round-trip route leads there, accessible by snowshoes or touring skis. This allows you to shape your stay in Taos Ski Valley in different ways, depending on whether you prefer days on the slopes or a route through the snowy mountain landscape.

The Base Area Loop is a marked, one-mile loop trail in the resort's base area. As a nature trail, it follows the stream along the Rio Hondo. For a shorter walk, it offers a different pace from the longer mountain routes. Kachina Vista Park complements this selection with views of Kachina Peak and the Village.

Summer Mountain Experiences

In summer, Taos Ski Valley offers chairlift rides for experiencing the mountain landscape. The main village also has a disc golf course. Guided UTV tours travel along mountain roads within the ski area and also provide information about the history of Taos Ski Valley.

Those seeking more challenging activities can experience the Taos Ski Valley Via Ferrata, a guided high-alpine climbing adventure. Climbing equipment is included. The Via Ferrata is located at an elevation of 11,500 feet in the subalpine ecosystem of Kachina Peak and includes route challenges for beginners through advanced climbers. Notable features include a 100-foot suspension bridge and a walkway with two safety cables.

Trails and Mountain Biking Options

The Wheeler Peak Summit Trail #67 is a 2.2-mile round-trip trail with 1,910 feet of elevation gain and leads into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. For daily planning, its distance and elevation gain differ significantly from those of the Base Area Loop.

Mountain biking enthusiasts will also find several options: Taos Bike Park has 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.

More Destinations for Your Planning

If you would like to compare additional places besides Taos Ski Valley, you can also include El Prado, Ranchos De Taos, Taos, Costilla, Questa, Red River, Arroyo Hondo, and Valdez in your travel planning. For a vacation rental or vacation home in Taos Ski Valley, it is worth deciding first on the season you want to visit and the experiences you prefer.

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