Red River Ski Area



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I have not skied Red River as much as other NM ski areas, so I can't say quite as much about it. I can say the snow is good there early in the season, and Red River is one of the earliest areas in New Mexico to open. I can also say that if you want a real town at the base of the ski area, this is your place - really the only such place in New Mexico.

Much of my skiing at Red River has been early in the season, before many other areas are open. Red River seems to always be open by Thanksgiving, and is often the second New Mexico ski area to open, behind only Sipapu. But this is usually a limited opening, with only the lower 300 vertical feet or so of the mountain open. Even then, Red River is one of the best ski areas in New Mexico for beginners, with two separate beginner areas near the base lodge. When it is fully open, I would say that Red River is an excellent area for beginners and for very advanced skiers, but like its much larger neighbor Taos Ski Valley, the amount of terrain for mid-range intermediates is a little more limited. Certainly enough to keep you entertained for a couple days, but probably not enough for a full week. Fortunately, Taos Ski Valley and Angel Fire are nearby, so even if you do stay in Red River it is easy to have a ski day or two at either or both of the neighboring ski areas.

With its snowmaking capabilities and its location somewhat higher than several other New Mexico ski areas (though not as high as Taos Ski Valley or Ski Santa Fe), Red River appears fairly well-positioned to withstand the warming and drying climate trend that has been impacting New Mexico in recent years. That said, if the weather is warm and dry when you are there, you might find better snow conditions at nearby Taos Ski Valley because of its higher altitude.

Lodging: Because of its location in a real town (albeit a small one), Red River has more ski-in/ski-out and near-the-slopes lodging than most New Mexico ski areas. This includes hotels, condos, B&Bs, and cabins. Additionally, there are a number of restaurants within easy walking distance, so you can come here and park the car for the week, unless you want to take that side trip to ski Taos or Angel Fire. For more lodging info, go to the Red River Website linked below, and click on "Platinum Partners" under the Lodging tab.

Official Web Site

This page last updated January 17, 2015.