Sipapu

Sipapu's summit reaches 9,255 feet, dropping 1,056 vertical feet to a base at 8,199 feet across 42 runs spread over 200 acres in the Carson National Forest, New Mexico. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent advanced, 20 per cent beginner and 15 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 185 inches. The resort offers Power Pass access and is typically the first ski area in New Mexico to open each winter. Six lifts, including one quad chair and two triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside two surface lifts and one t-bar.

Sipapu holds the distinction of being the first lift-served ski area established in New Mexico, a heritage still reflected in its small-scale, family-oriented character today. The resort's early-opening reputation each season has made it a reliable first stop for New Mexico skiers eager to start the winter. Its modest 200-acre footprint and varied terrain give it a genuine local mountain feel relative to the state's larger destinations.

In 1950, Lloyd and Olive Bolander bought 13 acres of riverfront property in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and in 1952 they installed a 100-foot portable rope tow and opened for business as Sipapu, a name drawn from the Tewa language. The Bolander family built the resort almost entirely by hand, hauling rock and cutting and peeling logs for vigas themselves, constructing the operation step by step over subsequent decades.

Lloyd Bolander was especially passionate about teaching new skiers, particularly children, and the resort's Sipapu School Program continues to offer deep discounts to local schools bringing in classes to learn the sport. James Coleman purchased Sipapu from the Bolander family in 2000, and the resort has continued to operate with the family-built, community-focused character established over its first half-century. Adult daily tickets run from 79 to 95 US dollars, with the Power Pass from 399 dollars.