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    New Mexico, Usa

    Red River

    Ski 209 acres from New Mexico's authentic mining-town main street. 64 runs, 1,600ft vertical and 215 inches of annual snowfall in the Sangre de Cristos.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    27 Nov 2025
    Closes
    22 Mar 2026
    Days open
    115
    Annual snow
    18ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Red River Ski Area occupies 209 acres of terrain in the Carson National Forest within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, rising from a base of 8,750 feet to a summit of 10,350 feet across a 1,600-foot vertical. The 64 runs break down as 31% beginner, 31% intermediate and 38% advanced — a distribution that reflects the resort's genuine appeal across ability levels, with no expert classification in the trail grading and a notably high proportion of challenging terrain for a resort of this scale.

    Three terrain parks, including the "Hollywood" park running beneath the Platinum Chair, extend the mountain's appeal for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Children five and under ski free, seniors 70 and over ski free, and lift tickets remain significantly below the pricing of the larger New Mexico resorts in the region.

    What distinguishes Red River from the majority of ski resorts in the American Southwest is its origin and layout: the town was founded in the 1890s as a gold and silver mining settlement, and the ski area was built directly into it in the late 1950s, with chairlifts rising from Main Street rather than from a purpose-built resort village.

    The Platinum Chair and Gold Chair both depart from the town centre, making Red River one of a small number of US ski towns — alongside Park City and Aspen — where the lift infrastructure integrates directly with a functioning historic main street. The town's permanent population of around 540 gives it a character that purpose-built ski stations rarely replicate, with local bars, restaurants and accommodation concentrated within easy walking distance of the base lifts.

    1,601ft
    Vertical
    64
    Runs
    209 acres
    Skiable
    18ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    64 runs across 209 acres skiable

    Red River spreads 64 runs across 209 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 38%, with 20 beginner runs to find your feet and 24 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    64
    runs
    64 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner20 runs · 31%
    Intermediate20 runs · 31%
    Advanced24 runs · 38%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit Red River

    Red River operates from late November through to mid-April, with the 2025/26 season running 27 November to 13 April. The resort averages approximately 215 inches of annual snowfall, among the higher totals in the New Mexico Sangre de Cristo range, driven by the mountain's position in the Carson National Forest at an elevation where cold arctic air masses frequently collide with moisture systems from the south and west.

    The north-facing aspects across much of the ski area preserve snow quality between storm cycles and slow the rate of melt on the lower runs during the warmer daylight hours that the high-altitude, high-sunshine New Mexico climate produces. The current 2025/26 season has recorded a base depth of around 20 inches as of early March with a season total approaching 48 inches.

    January is historically the most reliable month for cold temperatures and consistent snowfall, though the resort's snowmaking infrastructure supports coverage from opening day through the spring shoulder period regardless of natural accumulation. Red River holds a Saturday night torchlight parade and fireworks during the peak winter season — a tradition that draws visitors specifically for the spectacle and gives the mountain a community atmosphere that larger, more commercially focused resorts in the region rarely match.

    Spring skiing through March and into April takes advantage of long daylight hours, stable weather and firm morning snow on the upper mountain, with afternoon temperatures warming the lower runs to soft, forgiving conditions suited to families and beginner progression.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    27 Nov 2025
    Opens
    22 Mar 2026
    Closes
    115
    Days open
    18 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Red River, and where to stay

    Red River sits in Taos County in northern New Mexico, 36 miles from Taos and approximately three hours by road from Albuquerque via US-64 and NM-38. The town of Red River lies along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway — a 84-mile loop through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that connects Red River, Taos, Angel Fire and Eagle Nest — making it a natural stop on a broader northern New Mexico road trip that covers some of the most dramatic high-desert mountain scenery in the American Southwest.

    The drive from Albuquerque International Sunport, the region's principal airport with direct connections from major US hubs, takes around three hours under normal conditions. Taos Ski Valley, one of the most technically demanding ski resorts in the US, is 36 miles to the southwest and reachable on the same Enchanted Circle route for those looking to combine visits across the northern New Mexico ski region.

    The Sangre de Cristo Mountains take their name from a 1719 observation by Spanish explorer Antonio Valverde y Cosio, who saw the snow-covered peaks at sunrise lit deep red — "Blood of Christ" — a name that has stayed with the range for three centuries and gives the region a distinct cultural and historical identity beyond its ski terrain.

    The Carson National Forest surrounds the Red River valley on all sides, and the mountains above the ski area support populations of deer, elk and bighorn sheep that are regularly visible from the upper lifts. The Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area operates adjacent to Red River and provides an additional 35 kilometres of groomed Nordic trails for those looking to extend activity beyond the downhill terrain, making the broader Red River valley a more complete winter destination than the ski area statistics alone suggest.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Red River, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

    Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

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    22 Aug 2026
    Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

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    22 Aug 2026
    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

    Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

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    21 Aug 2026
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    20 Aug 2026
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    19 Aug 2026
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    19 Aug 2026
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    18 Aug 2026
    Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season

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    17 Aug 2026

    Current conditions

    Snow Report
    Updated 21 Aug 2026
    10,351ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Clear51°F / 77°F · S 21mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Total lifts7

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    27 Nov 2025 - 22 Mar 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 34 hours· Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 6:02 PM
    SatNow9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pSun12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
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    6055
    6458
    6862
    7066
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    5854
    6155
    Snowfallin
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
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    0
    0
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    0
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    0
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    Precip chance%
    0%
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    1%
    8%
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    9%
    16%
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    4%
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    45%
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    Precipin000000000000000000.00.00000000000000.00.00.0
    Wind / gustmph
    3G5
    4G4
    4G7
    13G17
    12G15
    7G8
    4G6
    6G9
    21G31
    19G28
    18G27
    9G17
    6G9
    8G12
    1G2
    2G3
    7G11
    9G16
    4G5
    8G13
    6G10
    5G6
    5G9
    7G10
    6G16
    10G19
    11G16
    11G14
    11G10
    10G6
    5G7
    5G11
    8G12
    11G12

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    10,351 ftUpdated Aug 21, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0"

    Days 8–14

    0.0"

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Sat, Aug 22

    Overcast
    Temp77° / 51°°F
    Snow0.0"(16%)
    Wind21 mph S

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Red River snow report

    Planning a day at Red River? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 2667m base to the 3155m summit.

    Snow measurements

    Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 2667m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 488m higher at 3155m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.

    Weather conditions

    Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Red River are holding up or starting to soften.

    Data sources

    Red River snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 7 lifts, including a quad chairlift.

    When to check

    The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Red River's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.