Ikon Pass
$179/day
North America
Taos Ski Valley
New Mexico, United States★4.6editor's rating
Taos Ski Valley is northern New Mexico's legendary steep-skiing mountain, founded by Swiss-German émigré Ernie Blake in 1955 and still radiating a one-of-a-kind Bavarian-meets-Southwest character. More than half its 1,294 acres are rated expert, crowned by the Kachina Peak lift to 12,481 feet and the hike-to chutes of Highline and West Basin Ridges, all served by famously short lift lines and dry desert-mountain powder.
Lift Ticket
$179/day
Vertical Drop
3,281 ft
Skiable Area
1,294 acres
Annual Snowfall
300"
Best For
Steeps & Hike-To Ridges
Terrain Breakdown
Beginner 24% Intermediate 25% Advanced 51%
Mountain Stats
Base Elevation
9,200 ft
Summit Elevation
12,481 ft
Vertical Drop
3,281 ft
Skiable Area
1,294 acres
Lifts
15
Runs
110
Annual Snowfall
300"
Season
Late November – Early April
Pass
Ikon Pass
Night Skiing
No
Terrain Parks
Yes
Nearest Town
Taos, NM
Highlights
Kachina Peak lift tops out at 12,481 feet - some of the highest lift-served terrain in North AmericaHike-to chutes along Highline Ridge and West Basin Ridge rival anything in the Rockies51% expert terrain, headlined by the moguls of Al's Run straight off the baseFirst ski resort in the world to earn B Corporation certificationErnie Blake Snowsports School and its famous week-long Ski Better WeeksDistinctive Bavarian-meets-New-Mexico culture - Hotel St. Bernard and green chile at 9,200 feet
Pros
- ✓Sustained in-bounds steeps and chutes that genuinely challenge expert skiers
- ✓Short lift lines even in peak season - a fraction of the crowds at Colorado Ikon stops
- ✓Light, dry Southern Rockies snow paired with abundant New Mexico sunshine
- ✓One of the most respected ski schools in America for breakthrough progression
- ✓Ikon Pass access makes a once-cult mountain easy to add to a Southwest trip
Cons
- ✗Expert-heavy trail map can overwhelm true beginners and cautious intermediates
- ✗Snowfall is streaky - the Southern Rockies see boom-and-bust seasons
- ✗Remote location: about 2.5 hours from Albuquerque, with limited flights to Taos itself
- ✗9,200-foot base elevation hits unacclimatized visitors hard
Photo: Murray Foubister / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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