Taos

Taos Ski Valley's summit reaches 12,480 feet, dropping 3,281 vertical feet to a base at 9,199 feet across 110 runs spread over 1,294 acres in northern New Mexico. Terrain splits 30 per cent advanced, 25 per cent beginner, 24 per cent intermediate and 21 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 230 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective access. Fourteen lifts, including four quad chairs, three triple chairs and a gondola, serve the mountain alongside two double chairs and four surface lifts.

Taos is widely regarded as New Mexico's premier ski destination, with a reputation for steep, technical terrain that draws serious skiers from across the country. Its 3,281-foot vertical drop is among the largest in the southern Rocky Mountains, and its European-influenced village atmosphere reflects the character its founders deliberately cultivated from the outset. The resort's substantial expert and advanced terrain share sets it apart from New Mexico's more intermediate-focused mountains.

Ernie Blake, born Ernst Hermann Bloch, was flying his Cessna 170 over the mountains of northern New Mexico in 1955 when he spotted a site he judged perfect for a ski resort. Blake and his wife Rhoda, along with their children, lived in a camper in a parking lot while beginning the work that would become Taos Ski Valley, installing the first lift in 1956 and opening the first run, now known as Snakedance, in 1957.

The Blake family owned and ran Taos for more than half a century before hedge fund billionaire Louis Bacon purchased the resort in December 2013. Bacon's ownership has brought continued investment and Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective access, extending Taos's reach well beyond its historic New Mexico visitor base. Adult daily tickets run from 149 to 179 US dollars, with the Kachina Season Pass at 1,395 dollars.