Sipapu is a small ski area in the Carson National Forest, south of Taos, covering 200 acres (81 hectares) with 42 runs. The summit is 9,260 feet (2,821 m) and the base 8,200 feet, a vertical of about 1,060 feet (322 m). The split is 40% intermediate, 25% advanced, 20% beginner and 15% expert, a spread that is notable for a hill of this size. A quad chair, two triples and a few surface lifts serve the mountain, and snowfall averages about 185 inches a year. It is a modest, friendly mountain, and the numbers should be read in that light.

The resort lists 43 named trails and four terrain parks, so there is more variety than the acreage suggests, from gentle learning slopes to steeper advanced and expert pitches. With a vertical of just over 1,000 feet, laps are short and quick, which suits skiers who like to repeat a favourite run. A long-running school program means children and first-timers are a big part of the crowd. Sipapu suits families, school groups and intermediates who prefer a small, easygoing mountain to a big resort, and strong skiers will enjoy a few steeper pitches.

The 2025-26 season at Sipapu ran from 20 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly fourteen-week season. Average annual snowfall of around 185 inches supports this window, and Sipapu has a longstanding reputation as the first ski area to open in New Mexico each winter, often ahead of the state's larger resorts. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season conditions.

Midwinter, from January through February, typically offers the most reliable natural conditions across the resort's varied terrain. The resort's Sipapu School Program brings in local school groups throughout the season, a defining part of its educational mission dating back to founder Lloyd Bolander's original teaching focus. Weekend crowds draw primarily from northern New Mexico, including Taos and Santa Fe.

As a Power Pass resort, Sipapu draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its core regional and school-group visitor base. School holiday periods bring significant family visitation given the resort's beginner-friendly terrain and long-running youth teaching programs. The resort's early-season opening date makes it a particular draw for skiers eager to get on snow before New Mexico's other resorts.

Specific event programming beyond standard operations and the school program is not confirmed in available resort information. Since James Coleman's 2000 purchase, the resort has maintained the hands-on, family-built character established by the Bolander family across the previous half-century. Sipapu's identity as New Mexico's first lift-served ski area remains central to how the resort presents itself each season.