[2020 UPDATE] 9 Best Ski Resorts in New Mexico (2023)

Looking for the best ski resorts in New Mexico? We are protecting you.

Known as the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico is not just a dusty desert.

In fact, the state boasts snow-capped mountains and generous stretches of true alpine surroundings, offering fantastic skiing and snowboarding terrain for all skill levels.

Here's our guide to everything you need to know about New Mexico's best ski resorts...

apache ski

New Mexico's second largest ski resort has over 750 skiable acres with a vertical drop of 1,900 feet and receives over 15 feet of snow a year.

The trails are well mixed, with 18% of the 55 races having wide beginner grades, 55% intermediate races with cruisers and a huge bowl, and 27% advanced races, including some tricky and bumpy races.

There is also a terrain park with jumps, tubes and trails.

Après ski at Ski Apache is second to none, with the Main Lodge Spirit Bar offering panoramic views and the ideal place to unwind after a day of skiing on the slopes.

The mountain town of Ruidoso has a wide variety of restaurants and bars with a great nightlife, as well as a casino and excellent shops.

Where to stay:MCM Elegante Lodge & Resorts

Located high in the Ruidoso Mountains, the 3-star MCM Elegante Lodge & Resorts offers 120 air-conditioned rooms with a refrigerator, LED TV, MP3 docking station and private bathroom with shower/tub combination.

Suites benefit from fully equipped kitchens for self-catering.

The resort also has a golf course, a large indoor pool and hot tub, an outdoor terrace with a barbecue, and a bar and restaurant serving a complimentary breakfast buffet.

• restaurant
• Bar
• Pool
• Jacuzzi
• Academia
• golf course

Taos ski valley

This laid-back, friendly ski resort has 300 inches of average annual snowfall, a vertical drop of 3,281 feet, and 1,200 skiable acres with a wide variety of terrain for all skill levels.

Taos Ski Valley is particularly renowned for its fantastic advanced terrain, with 30% of the 111 trails advanced and 37% challenging black diamond and double black diamond with steep slopes, ruts, cliffs and tree skiing.

Beginners have 15% of the trails, which spread across the entire mountain and almost all lifts have a green trail at the top.

Intermediate 18% runs offer fast cruising and many more test runs to hone your skills.

There is also a terrain park for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

The ski town has a small but solid selection of bars and restaurants, including a Bavarian lodge offering beer and hearty German food, as well as a canteen serving spicy New Mexico cuisine. For more bars and restaurants, head to nearby Taos for some live music or party at Shadows dance bar.

Where to stay:The Blake at Taos Ski Valley

This outstanding 80 room, 4 star property is located in the heart of the Taos Ski Valley resort, amongst the retail shops and restaurants of the Taos base area.

The Blake offers an inviting and sophisticated lodging experience, with Hispanic and Native American artwork and artifacts defining the decor.

All rooms at the resort are equipped with a flat-screen TV, refrigerator and private bathroom. Spacious suites feature gas fireplaces and full kitchens.

The luxurious spa and wellness center offers innovative fitness programs, personalized spa treatments and a holistic approach to wellness and renewal.

Guests are invited to dine at 192 Restaurant, where the dining experience is centered around a communal fireplace and eclectic dishes are paired with carefully selected wines and signature cocktails.

• Acesso ski-in/ski-out
• restaurant
• Bar
• sauna and jacuzzi
• Pool
• pet rooms

Angel Fire Resort

Angel Fire Resort's 560 acres are filled with diverse ski terrain, including over 30 acres of clearing trails, 3 ski parks and terrain rides, a Nastar giant slalom course, a tubing hill, ski school, skiing and, as an added bonus, it's the only ski resort in New Mexico that offers a lit trail for skiing at night.

Of the total 81 races, 21% are dedicated to beginners, 56% intermediate and 23% advanced, with the races featuring everything from gentle, groomed cruises to challenging hike-only climbs.

Angel Fire has a vertical drop of 2,077 feet and an average annual snowfall of 210 inches, and the ski area also has an extensive snow making system.

When the skiing stops, Angel Fire Resort includes several places to warm up and relax after a day on the slopes. If you're looking for a buzzing nightlife, Angel Fire probably isn't for you, but it has a good selection of restaurants, including fine dining at Elements and tasty pizza at Chianti's Pizzeria.

Where to stay:O Lodge no Angel Fire Resort

At the base of the mountain, just steps from the Chile Express chairlift, the 3-star The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort offers spacious rooms and suites, each with two queen-size beds, a seating area, refrigerator and coffee maker.

Pets are welcome.

Take a dip in the indoor pool, enjoy a relaxing soak in the Jacuzzi, get your blood pumping in the fitness center or drink and dine in one of the 3 restaurants.

Choose from a pizza at Chianti's, a family dinner at Legends Grill or a coffee at The Lift Coffee Shop and Market.

• 3 meal options
• Bar
• indoor pool
• hot tub
• Garden
• Academia
• friendly pet

watermelon peak

Located near Albuquerque with access to ski resorts close to town, a 60-person gondola lifts over 4,000 vertical feet in less than 20 minutes to take skiers to the top of this popular ski resort that fills up on weekends.

There are 200 acres of ski terrain at the resort, which has a vertical drop of 1,700 feet and produces an average snowfall of 125 inches per year.

Sandia Peak offers excellent beginner skiing and snowboarding, as well as an excellent ski school, and of the 39 slopes, 31% are for beginners and 46% of the slopes are intermediate.

There are also 23% advanced trails and a terrain park that includes fun boxes, jumps and trails suitable for beginners and intermediates.

Apres ski is limited at Sandia Peak, but the Double Eagle II Cafe is a good place for coffee and a snack, the restaurant at the top offers lunch and dinner, and a full bar to go with the views, and at the base of Sandiago's O Trolley is a perfect place to enjoy good food with an amazing view.

Enchanted Forest

New Mexico at its best 🌵❄️🌞

A post shared byKati Roivas(@katimiiakristiina) esJanuary 29, 2017 at 11:39 am. PST

This small but attractive ski resort has 30 km of groomed ski slopes and 18 km of snowshoe trails, as well as stunning mountain views.

The vertical drop is 400 feet, and 50% of the 33 runs are intermediate, with 30% beginner and 20% advanced.

The trails have a backcountry feel, with gentle slopes and groomed trails from 12 to 16 feet wide for classic and freestyle skiing, and Enchanted Forest is a great place to learn to ski.

The complex also has a complete rental shop and snack bar.

Where to stay:The Lodge on the Red River

An iconic 4-star hotel, The Lodge at Red River offers 1 and 2 bedroom en suite rooms with a flat screen TV.

The rooms are located next to the hotel's lounge with library, games area, morning coffee and large screen TV.

The hotel's restaurant, Texas Red's Steakhouse, offers hearty dishes such as steaks and burgers, and the Lost Love Saloon offers live music.

• restaurant
• Bar
• Library
• game zone
• cafeteria

bird mountain

A post shared by Montaña Pajarito (@skipajarito)emAugust 3, 2018 at 8:57 am. PDT

Perched above Los Alamos in the Jemez Mountains overlooking the Rio Grande Valley, Pajarito Mountain Ski Resort boasts a maximum elevation of 10,400 feet, 40 trails, 300 skiable acres, 125 inches of average annual snowfall and 1,200 feet vertical drop.

It has five chairlifts, three doubles, one triple and one quadruple.

Pajarito's terrain includes miles of groomed trails, obstacle courses, and clearing skiing, and the trails are divided into 20% green runs, 50% blue runs, and 30% advanced runs, so there's plenty for all skill levels.

There's little après ski at Pajarito Mountain Ski Resort, but the mountain lodge's cozy café offers an authentic mountain dining experience, from breakfast to dinner.

At regular beer and band events, craft beer is served from 12pm. m., and 3:00 p.m. m. at 5:00 p.m. there are live music shows.

sipapu ski resort

Located just over two hours north of Albuquerque, the affordable and family-friendly ski resort of Sipapu is blessed with 41 runs on 200 acres of skiable terrain, a snowfall average of 190 inches, a vertical drop of 1,055 feet and a of snow covering 70% of the slopes to offer the longest ski season in New Mexico, from November to April.

There's plenty of terrain for beginners and intermediates alike, with 20% green and 40% blue runs and a ski school.

For the more advanced, there are 30% black runs and 10% double black diamond runs for experienced skiers.

The terrain is diverse, with lots of great ski trees and two terrain parks for all levels of snowboarders and skiers.

Basic facilities at Sipapu Ski Resort include the Riverside Cafe and Paradise Riverside Bar and Grill with open mic nights on Thursdays. There is also a rental shop and gift shop on site.

Red River

The welcoming Red River Ski Resort offers terrain for all skill levels and is one of the best places to learn to ski or snowboard.

It features 290 skiable acres with a vertical drop of 1,600 feet, 7 lifts, 214 inches of annual snow plus 85% state-of-the-art artificial snow, and 63 trails.

Beginner trails make up 31% of runs, including fun skiing at Moon Star Mining Camp, a replica of a Rocky Mountain mine.

The terrain offers open runs, park loops and clearing skiing, with 38% of the terrain comprising blue runs for intermediate skiers and the remaining 30% being advanced trails.

There are also 3 terrain parks, and the pros offer private and group ski and snowboard lessons.

Quiet and mostly deserted, this characterful ski resort has a Wild West feel, complete with lounges, bars and restaurants and live country and western music on weekends, plus torchlight parades and fireworks.

The Grill at the Lift House offers a full bar offering everything from margaritas to local craft beers, and an exclusive snowcat ride to the Ski Tip Restaurant is an experience to remember.

Where to stay:Sitzmark Sports Hostel

Sitzmark Sports is the premier ski and snowboard rental shop in Red River and guests of the Sitzmark Sports Lodge benefit from an on-site ski rental service.

The spacious rooms accommodate 2 to 8 people and feature a fireplace, flat-screen TV/DVD/VCR, seating area, private bathroom and mountain views.

Larger rooms have large, fully equipped kitchens, balconies, and some have laundry facilities.

• accommodation with kitchen
• Excellent location close to slopes

Ski Santa Fe

Happy 4th everyone! #skibueno #skisantafe #skinewmexico #newmexicotrue #simplysantafe #feliz4th

A post shared bySki Santa Fe(@skisantafe) andJuly 4, 2018 at 6:34 am. PDT

Perched above the iconic cultural city of Santa Fe, Ski Santa Fe's terrain is a fantastic mix of cruises, rough runs, clearings and tree runs, short slides and small bowls.

Average annual snowfall at Ski Santa Fe is a generous 225 inches, and the resort benefits from a vertical drop of 1,725 ​​feet and 77 trails.

Ski Santa Fe offers a full-service children's learning complex, as well as a snow sports school for teenagers and adults.

Races are divided into 20% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 35% Expert and 5% Double Black Diamond.

The La Casa Lodge complex has easy access to lift tickets, ski and snowboard rentals, retail stores, a cafe and food court with a barbecue grill, pizza and pasta bar, hot and cold deli, local favorites and a bakery.

Totemoff's Bar & Grill, located mid-mountain, is perfect for enjoying a signature hot cocktail, hot chocolate or local craft beer and a bite to eat, plus live music throughout the season.

What do you think are the best ski resorts in New Mexico?