Taos Ski Valley has announced it will open for the 2026-27 winter season on November 26, 2026, Thanksgiving Day, with more than $3 million in operational improvements greeting skiers and riders on opening day.
The resort, which operates under a special use permit in the Carson National Forest, says the investment covers a new curated mountain experience, elevated dining options, and a wider array of on-mountain offerings. It is the latest chapter for a mountain that has been operating for 71 seasons and has built its reputation on steep, challenging terrain — 113 trails spread across 1,294 acres, with a summit elevation of 12,481 feet and a vertical drop of 3,131 feet.
Taos averages about 171 inches of snowfall a season, with the deepest months typically December through March. The projected closing date for the coming season is March 28, 2027, which would make for 129 days of operation. The mountain's terrain mix leans heavily toward advanced skiers — roughly 39 percent of trails are rated expert and another 33 percent advanced — but beginners have their own dedicated learning areas, and the resort's ski school is one of the most respected in the Southwest.
Getting there keeps getting easier. Taos Regional Airport offers nonstop flights from Austin and Dallas four days a week and from Carlsbad three days a week via JSX, plus twice-weekly Contour Airlines service from Denver. The resort's centerpiece hotel, The Blake, provides complimentary airport transfers for guests arriving on those flights.
For Carson National Forest visitors, the ski valley doubles as the gateway to the Wheeler Peak Wilderness in summer — the same parking areas that fill with skiers in winter serve hikers bound for Williams Lake and the summit in summer. If you are planning a ski trip, booking lodging early in Red River, Taos, or the valley itself is wise; Thanksgiving week traditionally sells out. And as always in the southern Rockies, early-season conditions depend on natural snowfall plus the resort's snowmaking, which covers more than 600 acres.