Sipapu
200 acres, 42 runs in the Carson National Forest. New Mexico's first lift-served ski area, family-built.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
20 Nov 2026
Closes
28 Mar 2027
Days open
128
Annual snow
185in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
1,056ft
Vertical
42
Runs
200 acres
Skiable
185in
Annual snow
The Terrain
42 runs across 200 acres skiable
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.
Terrain split
42
runs
42 runs across 4 grades
Beginner8 runs · 20%
Intermediate17 runs · 40%
Advanced11 runs · 25%
Expert6 runs · 15%
Time it right
When to visit Sipapu
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.
Season 2026 - 2027
20 Nov 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
128
Days open
185 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Sipapu
Daily snow reports at Sipapu go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
8 in
Snowiest day
4 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
56 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Sipapu, and where to stay
Sipapu sits in the Carson National Forest in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, with a base elevation of 8,199 feet and a summit at 9,255 feet across a 1,056-foot vertical drop over 200 acres. The resort's riverfront origins date to the Bolander family's original 13-acre purchase in 1950.
The nearby village of Peñasco, where founder Lloyd Bolander was born and raised, and the broader Sangre de Cristo foothills provide the resort's immediate surroundings, with Taos lying a further drive to the north. The Carson National Forest's mountainous terrain gives the area a genuinely rural, forested character distinct from New Mexico's more developed resort towns. Santa Fe lies within a couple of hours' drive to the south.
New Mexico State Route 518 provides the main route through the Peñasco area toward Sipapu, winding through the Sangre de Cristo foothills. Winter driving conditions on this rural mountain route can include snow and ice, and the resort's relatively remote setting means visitors should allow extra travel time compared with more accessible New Mexico resorts. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Santa Fe Regional Airport and Albuquerque International Sunport both offer commercial service within a few hours' drive, though most Sipapu visitors travel by car from Taos, Santa Fe or the surrounding northern New Mexico communities. The resort's modest scale and school-focused programming mean it draws primarily regional rather than fly-in destination visitors.
Where to stay
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Sipapu Trail Map
Downloadable Sipapu trail map
Terrain split
42
runs
Beginner20%
Intermediate40%
Advanced25%
Expert15%
200 acres skiable81 hectares
Resort Stats
Elevation
Base8,199ft
Summit9,255ft
Annual snowfall
185in
Season
2026 - 2027
20 Nov 2026 - 28 Mar 2027
Trail coverage
42 runs
200 acres (81 ha)
About Sipapu's trail map
Explore Sipapu's full trail map with 42 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗
More Sipapu intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.