Travel Tips, News, and Conditions for Taos Ski Valley (TSV) 2025-26

[marzNC]

As has been mentioned in recent discussions, making the trek to Taos Ski Valley (TSV) for a Ski Week is a great option for skiers interested in a multi-day group clinic that costs under $500. Travel arrangements for Taos are a bit more complicated than for most destination resorts. Read on for some tips. To get the discussion started, I put together basic info for people who haven’t been to Taos before or haven’t been for more than ten years. Hoping to meet a few new Divas the next time I’m at TSV.

Part 1: transportation
Part 2: special considerations such as altitude adjustment, choosing which week
Part 3 : overview of lodging options

A Taos Ski Week means six consecutive morning lessons (Sun-Fri) with the same instructor and group for under $500, including tip. From a terrain standpoint, TSV is unusual because there are areas with easy "green" bumps, blue bumps, harder blue bumps, and black or double/black bumps with or without trees. Ski Week group lessons are available for any level from intermediate to expert.

If you have never heard about Ski Weeks before, check out this overview based on experiences of Ski Divas in the last decade:
https://www.theskidiva.com/taos-ski-week-complete-guide/

My experience with trips to ski TSV started in February 2017. I fly from North Carolina to Albuquerque and rent a SUV. Since then, I’ve stayed in the town of Taos, slopeside, and in between town and TSV during annual trips (skipped 2023-24). My last trip to Taos was in February 2025. I and several other Divas already have lodging set up for TSV during various weeks in February 2026. I typically coordinate with friends to choose travel dates and make lodging arrangements before July for an upcoming ski season.

Starting in 2018, I’ve done Classic Ski Weeks, Private Ski Weeks, and a Women’s Ski Week. Ski Weeks have been offered the entire season for over 50 years. My ski/travel buddies and I have found Ski Weeks addictive because they are so effective for improving ski technique for any ability level and personality.

Travel preferences vary for many reasons. In the last decade, quite a few Divas have done more than one Ski Week so there is plenty of experience to draw on if you have any questions.

 

[marzNC]

Travel Tips, Part 1 - Getting to NM, then Taos and TSV

Travelers who fly for a Taos Ski Week usually go to Albuquerque. The ABQ airport is not that big and is easy to navigate. There is a separate car rental center that requires a short ride on a shuttle bus. It’s possible to fly into Santa Fe, but there are fewer flight options because the airport is only served by a few airlines. The Santa Fe airport is tiny, so it takes very little time to get baggage and head out the terminal door. Denver is a 5-hour drive.

Some people who live in the midwest or east prefer to stay in an airport motel the night before flying home. There are several hotels/motels with free airport shuttles for both airports. As opposed to leaving TSV/Taos early in the morning for an afternoon departure from ABQ.

While it’s possible to get a shuttle from ABQ or SFA to Taos/TSV, coordinating with flight schedules can severely limit the options. Must allow four hours for a shuttle ride. It can be simpler to rent a car, ideally sharing with someone willing to match travel dates. Even splitting the cost with just one person, the cost can be about the same or better than the airport shuttle. For 2025, a round trip shuttle cost $250-300 including tax and tip.

It’s an easy 3-hour drive from Albuquerque to the town of Taos. The drive is on highways with no concern about snowy roads. RT599 is a bypass around Santa Fe. Santa Fe is about an hour closer to Taos than Albuquerque.

The drive between the town of Taos and the village of Taos Ski Valley (TSV) at the base of the resort takes about 30 minutes via a two-lane highway, with nine miles of mountain driving. While AWD is not required, it’s nice to have in the TSV parking lot or during a snowstorm. The road is rarely completely closed due to snow. Even when the road is dry, best to take it slow when navigating the hill that leads down to the entrance of the TSV parking lots. Day parking is free. Overnight guests staying at slopeside lodges have reserved parking areas.

There is a free public bus between Taos and TSV that should run for the 2025-26 winter season. The Green Route #341 ran late Dec 2024 thru March 2025, but the bus did not run Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The route runs along Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, the main street that runs directly through town. The schedule is geared to a full ski day and is not useful for having dinner in town.

Several rental car companies cover ABQ. There are limited options at the airport rental center to guarantee 4WD/AWD rental. To guarantee AWD, renting using Turo is an option.

When making a car rental reservation, it’s good to keep checking the prices as your travel date approaches, as car rental rates are dynamic. Quite possible to find a cheaper rate as the season progresses if it’s not a stellar snow season. The idea is to make a new reservation at the cheaper rate, then cancel the previous one. I never pre-pay for a car rental. People who are Costco members can get good rates using Costco Travel (second driver free if at pick up). For ABQ, the companies working with Costco are Alamo, National, Budget, and Enterprise. Only Alamo will guarantee AWD using Costco (started in 2023). Hertz and SixT serve ABQ.

For my February 2025 trip, I started checking car rental rates in May 2024. By late January 2025 the rates for car rentals were lower than usual because of low snow conditions. I had decided to give Turo a try, mostly because I planned to drive to Wolf Creek during the Taos trip. Enjoyed having a RAV4 AWD (my own car is a RAV4) but could have saved money sticking with Costco and re-booking in January. I chose a Turo rental with free pickup/drop off at the airport parking deck (short walk from the terminal), which was a bit easier than taking the shuttle bus to the car rental center.

For February 2026, car rental rates for ABQ have dropped about 10% since early July.

 

[marzNC]

Travel Tips, Part 2 - Special Considerations: high altitude, choosing a week, lift ticket/pass

For those people unfamiliar with New Mexico, the altitude is higher than you might expect from pictures of desert landscapes surrounding the mountains. Albuquerque is around 5300 ft, about the same as Denver. Taos and Santa Fe are about 7000 ft, while the base of TSV is just over 9000 ft.

Staying in either ABQ or Taos for a night or two before moving to TSV can be helpful for those who live in the flatlands. If dealing with altitude is an issue, it may be better to plan to stay in Taos, instead of on-slope lodging. In general, sleeping for a week above 8000 ft is more likely to be problematic for those sensitive to high altitude. Most terrain is between 9300 and 11,000 ft. The Kachina Lift goes to almost 12,500 ft. Note that some people get a prescription from their physicians for Diamox (acetazolamide) to help with altitude adjustment.

My approach (flying from North Carolina, elevation 300 ft) is to stay a couple nights in town before moving to slopeside lodging to help adjust to the high altitude. I choose a flight that arrives at ABQ by mid-afternoon, pick up a rental SUV, and drive to Taos the same day. That’s simpler than staying a night in Albuquerque or Santa Fe and going to TSV the next morning.

Choosing which week is optimal is a personal decision. There are advantages and disadvantages for every possible week. Intermediates can learn a great deal during any Ski Week, which are offered from mid-December through the end of March. Having the lessons earlier in the season can be helpful. Advanced skiers may want to go after mid-February, when it’s more likely that off-piste black and double-black terrain will have enough snow coverage to be fully open. The Kachina lift to the top of Kachina Peak typically doesn’t open before early February. A Women's Ski Week is of interest to some Divas, while others prefer the flexibility of picking any week of the season.

I’ve done more than one Ski Week as an advanced skier during low snow conditions. What I learned while working with an instructor on groomers was invaluable for improving technique useful in any terrain. Low snow conditions are possible even during the second half of February.

Women’s Ski Week has only been in late February in recent years. For the 2025-26 season, it will be offered starting Dec. 14, Jan. 25, and Feb. 22. The price is $395, same as a potentially co-ed Classic Ski Week.

The busiest week after New Year’s is in March when Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas schools have spring break for colleges and K-12 schools. Easiest way to tell which week is to check the black out dates for the Taos Value Pass. Fair to say that plane fares and lodging rates are higher around the holiday periods. Even the Thursday night before a holiday weekend can be significantly higher for slopeside lodging. For 2026 the spring break week is March 14-19.

TSV is the Ikon Pass, 5 days for Ikon Base, 7 days for Full Ikon (no blackout dates). Senior rates start at age 65. If skiing more than 7 days, a Taos Value Pass or the Mountain Collective Pass may be worth considering.

 

[marzNC]

Travel Tips, Part 3 - Lodging Options

There are essentially three general locations for lodging: 1) in the town of Taos, 2) near the road between Taos and TSV, 3) in the village of TSV near base of Lift 1. The areas between the town of Taos and TSV include El Prado, Arroyo Seco, Valdez, and Arroyo Hondo. VRBO and AirBnB have listings in all these areas. The options for lodging continue to evolve as TSV becomes more of a 4-season destination resort, so trip reports from before 2024 may include options that no longer exist.

The motels in town that are recommended are the Hampton Inn and El Pueblo Lodge (independent). El Pueblo is closer to TSV and walking distance to the town center square. The Hampton Inn is closer to the supermarkets and Walmart. Both are near bus stops. However, It’s best to have a car if staying in town.

The independent slopeside lodges at TSV are Snakedance, Edelweiss, Alpine Village Suites, and Brownell Chalet. Some of the units are hotel rooms, while most are more like small condos with kitchens/kitchenettes. Snakedance caters to ski clubs. The Blake is the resort’s luxury hotel. The resort also rents some of the condos in the Blake Residences. These buildings are a short walk (2-3 min, mostly on heated pavement) from Lift 1.

A car is not required when staying slopeside. Note that the dinner options are limited at TSV. Renting a car for a group of 2-4 people can be cost effective and makes driving down the mountain for a dinner or two more practical.

In the last decade, Alpine Village Suites (AVS) has become “Diva Central.” Meaning many Divas who opt for slopeslide lodging stay at AVS. While reservations can be made online, it can be good to call if not sure which type of room would be best. I've stayed at AVS several times. It's a bit more rustic than Snakedance or Edelweiss but the location is great. The staff are wonderful, which is not surprising for a family-owned lodge.

There are several condo complexes at TSV. Sierra Del Sol, Powderhorn, and Twining are a short walk to Lift 1. Rio Hondo is near the Children’s Ski School and close to the gondolita to the main base. Kandahar, and Snow Bear are up on the hill (past the Children’s Ski School) and ski in/out when lifts are running, but not an easy walk to the village. The access road to Kandahar and Snow Bear requires AWD. Most, if not all, of the units in these complexes are privately owned so there is quite a bit of variation in how each condo is set up. VRBO, AirBnB, and even Hotels.com have units available for short-term rental.

For slopeside lodging, it’s better to make reservations before July if at all possible. A phone call or email may be needed if the online booking system isn’t available yet for winter reservations.

 

[santacruz skier]

Note that some people get a prescription from their physicians for Diamox (acetazolamide) to help with altitude adjustment.

This ^^^^ has really helped me adjust to altitude. My first time to Taos I had a headache for the first 4 days, and that was without alcohol until the last evening. The next 3 trips I took Diamox a couple days before and a couple days upon arrival. OMG it made a huge difference. I ski Tahoe primarily and base elevations are more in the 6,500 ft range. Sleeping slope side at TSV is approximately 9,200 ft. I live at sea level.

 

[Bookworm]

I regards to which airport to fly into: Santa Fe is tiny, has few flights and fewer car rental choices. It's easy to get stranded by flight cancellations. ABQ has more options, as @marzNC said, and the drive up to Taos, although longer than that from Santa Fe, is always a pleasure.

 

[marzNC]

I regards to which airport to fly into: Santa Fe is tiny, has few flights and fewer car rental choices. It's easy to get stranded by flight cancellations. ABQ has more options, as @marzNC said, and the drive up to Taos, although longer than that from Santa Fe, is always a pleasure.

Oh yeah, getting to Taos in early Feb 2022 was hard. That was the trip when a huge ice storm went from Texas all the way to Maine and scrambled every airport for days. As I remember, the only Diva who didn't have to change flight times was @santacruz skier from California. I left a day early but still got stranded in Dallas, one of the few times I opted not to change planes in Chicago. @TNtoTaos helped me find a motel with airport shuttle and a room when it was clear I had to spend the night. Ended up being two nights before I could get to ABQ. We had a plan for 9 people to share 3 rental cars and it was quite a puzzle to adjust to everyone's new flight schedules as the situation changed practically by the hour for a few days. There was a MOTH thread was used for planning starting in October 2021. It ended up with powder snow pictures from people who skied TSV the week before.

It always pays to watch the travel advisories for the airline you plan to fly when a major snowstorm is making national headlines. Another reason I plan to arrive in NM at least a day early is to allow some flexibility in case of winter weather issues. Of course, that's a lot easier for me because I'm retired. Luckily that having to change flight schedules doesn't happen that often starting from RDU. My friend who lives in Ohio has to pay more attention for mid-season flights.

Posted in the MOTH on Feb. 3, 2022:

 

[marzNC]

As an example of how much car rental rates can change at ABQ, here are recent rates from Costco Travel for an Intermediate SUV without AWD for 13 days in February 2026.

The rental period I checked started on a Thursday. For that week, starting on Friday for the same number of days was $50 less. However, plane fare on Friday was higher than Thursday so the total transportation expenses would be about the same.

$525 by Alamo - as of July 6
$476 by Alamo - as of August 6
$519 by Budget or Alamo - as of August 10

The rate for an Intermediate AWD SUV is about $100 more and only offered by a couple rental companies. Late model RAV4 AWD or comparable AWD SUVs on Turo are more expensive.

 

[santacruz skier]

If staying in TSV, shuttles from ABQ seem to be around $130 each way. Also, you can fly directly into Taos from 2 cities in CA, Burbank (LA) and Carlsbad(No County San Diego).

 

[TNtoTaos]

If staying in TSV, shuttles from ABQ seem to be around $130 each way. Also, you can fly directly into Taos from 2 cities in CA, Burbank (LA) and Carlsbad(No County San Diego).

The schedule of flights into Taos airport is very limited. If you're considering this option, check the schedules and the luggage restrictions carefully.

 

[TNtoTaos]

I regards to which airport to fly into: Santa Fe is tiny, has few flights and fewer car rental choices. It's easy to get stranded by flight cancellations. ABQ has more options, as @marzNC said, and the drive up to Taos, although longer than that from Santa Fe, is always a pleasure.

Also, when driving from ABQ I always make sure to stop for lunch in Santa Fe at Tomasita's, one of the best authentic New Mexican restaurants anywhere. It's family-owned, has been around for decades, and has expanded quite a bit in the last 25 yrs, but the food and service are still the best!

 

[marzNC]

Also, when driving from ABQ I always make sure to stop for lunch in Santa Fe at Tomasita's, one of the best authentic New Mexican restaurants anywhere. It's family-owned, has been around for decades, and has expanded quite a bit in the last 25 yrs, but the food and service are still the best!

Maybe you could write up or find a reference for what "Christmas" means when ordering New Mexican food that involves chili peppers.

 

[TNtoTaos]

Maybe you could write up or find a reference for what "Christmas" means when ordering New Mexican food that involves chili peppers.

Ahh, Chile (with an "e", not an "i")!
In New Mexican cuisine chile is basically a sauce (nothing like Tex-Mex chili -- no meat or beans involved!) that's made from roasted hot chile peppers that are ground up and cooked with various spices and basically served on almost everything. You can get green or red chile (the red are just ripened green chiles). Which is hotter? Depends on that particular restaurant's recipe - your server will usually know (I order mine on the side, to be safe ). To be adventurous and try both red and green, just order "Christmas".

 

[TNtoTaos]

And speaking of late Summer and Fall in Taos -- if you find yourself in the area, it's absolutely beautiful this time of year! Not too hot, perfect for browsing the art scene, stores, and museums in both Santa Fe and Taos. TSV has hiking and mountain bike trails, a Via Ferrata (rock-climbing for non-rock climbers, lol), and scenic lift rides on Lifts 1&4. It's an entirely different world in the Summer!

 

[BlizzardBabe]

Ahh, Chile (with an "e", not an "i")!
In New Mexican cuisine chile is basically a sauce (nothing like Tex-Mex chili -- no meat or beans involved!) that's made from roasted hot chile peppers that are ground up and cooked with various spices and basically served on almost everything. You can get green or red chile (the red are just ripened green chiles). Which is hotter? Depends on that particular restaurant's recipe - your server will usually know (I order mine on the side, to be safe ). To be adventurous and try both red and green, just order "Christmas".

For anyone in the DC Metro area, if you want to experience NM cuisine, try Anita's. There are several locations. Authentic NM and NO CILANTRO!! This is HUGE for those of us with the "cilantro tastes like soap" gene.

 

[TNtoTaos]

For anyone in the DC Metro area, if you want to experience NM cuisine, try Anita's. There are several locations. Authentic NM and NO CILANTRO!! This is HUGE for those of us with the "cilantro tastes like soap" gene.

Interestingly, I have that gene, yet I love cilantro! Go figure...

 

[diymom]

Interestingly, I have that gene, yet I love cilantro! Go figure...

So does that mean you like the taste of soap?

 

[marzNC]

For anyone thinking of flying to NM in March 2026, the Southwest schedule recently opened up thru April 6.

The fares to ABQ have been consistent for the last few weeks. The Basic fare is not available for a few flights Feb-Mar already. For one date in early March, Basic is not available and about a dozen seats are taken. The available fares are among the highest for ABQ to RDU that day.

Since I have a SW credit card, that allows me to choose seat(s) when I book flights. Means that the significant difference between Basic and Choice is that if I cancel the credit expiration is 6 months from purchase for Basic and 12 months for Choice. The difference is usually about $50 for the flights I've checked in the last month for ABQ.

 

[marzNC]

Didn't make a note of lowest season passes prices before they went up. For reference, here are the prices as of late August for 2025-26 for the passes a traveler might consider. The senior rate is for 65 and up. The lowest prices ended in early April and were about $100 less.

The holiday blackout dates are Dec 27 to Jan 3, Jan 17-18, Feb 14-15, Mar 14-19.

Value Pass, holiday blackouts: $975 Adult, $895 Sr

Midweek, Mon-Thu, holiday blackouts: $550 Adult, $525 Sr

5-Day, consecutive or non-consecutive, holiday blackouts: $525 Adult, $495 Sr

 

[marzNC]

Taos seems to be using new software for buying lift tickets online. Already available for the entire season. For people buying individual or multi-day tickets, good to remember to buy more than 72 hours in advance. Can get 2-6 days, although not much of a discount. Simply means not having to buy separate tickets. Seems that the full price is $205.

The month with the most expensive tickets overall is March.

Webpage for adults: