Discover Taos Visitor Guide Winter 2024 by The Taos News

We are a family-friendly winter destination. If you’re on the fence about bringing kids, please do so.

SHEEPSKIN COATS FOR AN ICONIC YOU

Founded in Taos over 50 years ago, Overland proudly offers a wide selection of leather and sheepskin outerwear, accessories, and home décor. Visit our store today:

Overland Sheepskin Co. 1405 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte (Two miles north of Taos, towards Taos Ski Valley) (575) 758-8820

Representing the Historical Classics and the Best Contemporary Artists

Chris Morel “Winter Tracks” Oil on linen, 16” x 20”

Red River

The first attempt at creating a recreational ski area in Red River began before World War II. According to a story from the Red River Miner, a ski course was built with a horse-drawn tow. Sadly, the ski area opened on December 7, 1941, the same day that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, so the area closed the day it opened.

The resort would open again in December 1959 using surplus steel from oil derricks, the brainchild of Oklahoma businessman Stokes E. Bolton and his wife Billie. They were inspired by a trip to the Santa Fe Ski Area, which was founded in 1949.

J.B. Veale owned the area from 1962 to 1984, when a group headed by general manager Drew Judycki bought the area. He became sole owner in spring 1998, 10 years before his untimely passing in 2008. Today, Red River Ski & Summer Area is a family-owned and operated business, managed by Drew’s son Linton.

Angel Fire

The history of Angel Fire Resort began in 1954 when Roy and LeVena LeBus began acquiring land in the Moreno Valley to raise cattle. They first purchased the 10,000-acre Monte Verde Ranch and followed it with the acquisition of 15,000 more acres when they added the Cieneguilla Tract.

Wanting to have a place close by to ski, Roy developed plans for a resort at the ranch that would include skiing in the winter, along with a golf course, a lake for fishing, a country club and an airport.

By 1965, the family was identifying locations for trails, and in 1966,

the resort opened with skiers transported by snowcat. Three chairlifts were added and by the following year the resort was fully open for business. The family owned the business until 1972.

The town of Angel Fire grew up around the resort and was incorporated as the Village of Angel Fire in 1986. In fall 1995, a group of Texans bought the resort out of bankruptcy, and for the past two decades, the resort has been owned by Dallas businessman Gregg Allen.

Taos Ski Valley

Ernie Blake helped establish the Santa Fe Ski Area but envisioned creating his own resort. On his airplane trips between Santa Fe and Glenwood Springs, he surveyed the steep mountains of the Carson National Forest near Taos. By 1954, he found the ideal location. The current restaurant at The Blake is called 192 — named after the tail number on Blake’s Cessna that he flew when he spotted the mountainside that would become the home of Taos Ski Valley.

The area opened in 1955 with the help of Blake’s wife Rhoda. A snowcat was used to pull skiers uphill until 1956 when a crew from Taos Pueblo and local Spanish residents helped build the first lift up the north-facing slope that today is known as Al’s Run.

Ernie died in 1989, and in 2014, the Blake family sold Taos Ski Valley to hedge fund billionaire Louis Moore Bacon.

Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area

Northern New Mexico’s only ski area dedicated to cross-country ski ing was established in 1985. In the 1970s, Enchanted Forest founders John and Judy Miller were part own ers of a beginner ski hill in Red River known as Powderpuff Mountain.

After that time and after they sold Powderpuff, John Miller took people into the forest for guided cross-country skiing. He was inspired to start Enchanted Forest near the top of Bobcat Pass after skiing at the Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort in Soda Springs, California.

When Enchanted Forest first began, there were some old logging roads in place. The family added more trails over time, giving them fanciful names from Alice in Wonderland like Jabberwocky. One trail was named Face Flop Drop after a friend demonstrated how to land face first on the trail.

Although John and Judy Miller died in 2022, the area is still family owned and operated.

Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area Co-founder Judy Miller, in her knickers.

The founders’ granddaughter, LaVena Wilson.

Original Red River base lodge

BURNING DAYLIGHT

Northern New Mexico’s enduring firewood tradition — and where to source it

By Emery Veilleux

Through summer, Northern New Mexico carries a few different scents on its winds: roasting chile, a whiff of ponderosa and, of course, sagebrush, its woody aroma swelling like a tide after monsoon rain.

Come winter, different scents prevails, filling the light corners of homes tucked against the dark nights: burning piñon, spruce and cedar. All winter long — after the forests have spent all summer basking in the sun, soaking up its far away fire — we burn that summer’s stored daylight, making our own little suns to get us through the dark months.

LAND-BASED TRADITION

After a either bluebird or blizzard day in the snow, there’s nothing more nurturing than coming home to stoke a crackling fire.

In Northern New Mexico, winter fires are a venerable tradition. Taos County burns wood for heat at one of the highest per-capita rates in the country, according to

the U.S. Census Bureau. Compared to a scant 2 percent of households nationwide, nearly a third of Taos County homes rely on firewood as their primary heat source, generating an estimated demand of more

than 12,000 cords countywide each year. Some folks still rely on wood for cooking, too.

For millennia, people living in Northern New Mexico have entwined with the surrounding forests and woodlands, striking reciprocal relationships that nourish both people and forests. Just as we rely on wood for heat, New Mexico forests rely both on periodic fire and careful culling to thin forests and clear out the deadfall. (Work long-carried out with horse and wagon is now made easier with trucks, chainsaws and perhaps even mechanical log splitters.)

When done well, collecting dead wood improves our watershed health. Clearing dead and downed trees reduces fire danger from overgrown forests and allows more snowpack to build, recharging aquifers.

As for our woods, piñon, cedar, aspen, ponderosa pine, spruce, and fir make up the bulk, with few hardwoods to be found. (Doug-

Photo by John Collier, courtesy the Library of Congress; The Crowley

las fir is considered a soft wood but has a higher relative amount of heat, hence why it’s so prized.)

This winter, while many Norteños are organizing propane fill-ups, many more still are on the hunt for affordable, seasoned cords of wood — or otherwise, the best spots in the county to cut and haul their own.

If for some reason, winter comes and you’re struggling to get a cord, asking around on Facebook will always yield a slew of local firewood dealers.

If nothing else, you can always keep your eye out as you drive through town: No doubt, you’ll find an ancient truck loaded high with split logs and a handwritten cardboard sign promising “Firewood,” somewhere, somehow.

No matter your source, when you watch piñon logs burn hypnotically in your stove or fireplace, know you’re watching time burn backwards: through an autumn day hauling timber, summer’s monsoons and spring’s winds — back through a hundred-odd winters that found Norteños reliably staving off the cold with loved ones, hauling and burning wood as rhythmically as the sun rises and sets. Thankfully, some things never change.

OLGUIN’S SAWMILL & FIREWOOD

On the north side of Taos, Dan and Della (Olguin) Barrone are car-

rying on founder

Luciano Olguin’s longstanding tradition. Since before the Great Depression, Olguin and his sons had a passion for the mill and took great pride in their work. It showed then and it still does today: Olguin’s Sawmill is a Taos cornerstone. Olguin’s produces and sells split firewood year round. Their cords come in either a mixture of fir, spruce, aspen and pine or a full cord of piñon. For hardy individuals who still want to block and split their own wood, but lack the resources to head to the mountains and cut their own timber, Olguin’s delivers logs by the truckload.

Cords this year are going for $250 plus tax. Mixed-wood cords are half-seasoned, half-green, while full-piñon cords are seasoned, but in short supply and going fast.

All the timber Olguin’s sources comes from within the Enchanted Circle. Currently, they’re busy harvesting the the Douglas fir downed at the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area in Red River in late 2021’s the intense windstorm.

The Barrones are also keepers of more Taos traditions: Many characteristic architectural features — vigas, carved posts, corbels and wooden furniture — come from Olguin’s mill. Beyond your fireplace, you’ll see ample evidence in town of the surrounding forests, courtesy of Olguin’s.

Olguin’s Sawmill & Firewood

24930 U.S. 64 W, Taos 575-758-1506 olguinssawmill.com

TAOS VALLEY FIREWOOD

In true Taos fashion, Taos Valley Firewood is a small-scale business wherein Andre Santistevan carries on Taos’ venerable firewood trade.

Santistevan started his business while attending UNM-Taos, when he side-hustled the age-old tradition of cutting and supplying wood to his neighbors. Heading into the mountains with his family to gather wood had always been part of his lifestyle, so he figured it would be a flexible way to earn extra money while he finished school.

The side gig quickly bloomed into a bigger business. “All of a sudden it started to become a daily or a yearly thing. So we started to just switch our whole career over to firewood,” Santistevan told the Taos News in 2022. He now operates Taos Valley Firewood as a year-round pursuit.

Taos Valley Firewood’s mixes and prices range, accommodating most customer desires: cords can contain a standard mixed cord of fir, aspen, pine and spruce; three-quarters piñon, one-quarter cedar; all-piñon — you name it, they can pretty much provide it.

Across different mixes, prices range from $370 for their standard mix to $470 for all-piñon, and stacking an additional $100. Taos Valley Firewood offers summer discounts until Aug. 15, when peak firewood season begins. Customers say their cords are reliably dry. They deliver locally throughout the Taos area.

Firewood

Andre Santistevan unloads a delivery of spruce, fir and aspen mixture in Taos in this 2021 file photo.

FOOTSTEPS in TIME

By Rick Romancito, for the Taos News

Savvy visitors the world over often make a visit to a museum store one of the “can’t-miss” stops on their cultural itinerary. Whether a huge iconic institution like the Met, the Louvre or the Tate, or a local crafts outpost, no visit would complete without an opportunity to bring home a bit of artful inspiration from their experience.

It may come as a surprise that a small community like Taos, nestled in a relatively isolated high mountain valley in Northern New Mexico, is home to several museums whose mission is to bring its vitality and historical significance into an up close and personal encounter. Of course, just as notable are the museum stores in Taos where one can find connections to that creativity and vitality, ready and waiting to be discovered.

A visit to a museum store in Taos is certainly a treat for not only visitors, but locals as well. So, where to start? This historic district, for one, offers museum stores within walking distance to Taos Plaza.

Local museum stores offer a chance to take home a bit of inspiration

HARWOOD MUSEUM OF ART

Affiliated with the University of New Mexico, the Harwood Museum of Art has a deep and storied history. Its collections include some of the most prestigious works by renowned historic and contemporary artists such as Agnes Martin, for whom a special gallery has been dedicated. The museum shows a variety of works from its extensive collection as well as specially curated exhibitions that highlight the lively art community of this region.

Its museum store recently underwent an extensive renovation which had a grand reopening in August 2024, according to a Taos News story by Ekin Balcıoğlu. The Harwood Museum store is noted for its selection of books, notecards, original works and prints of artworks by local creatives. The store’s Katy Ballard told Balcıoğlu, “Our facilities team worked so hard to build up the infrastructure of the store. It’s a retail space, yes, but it’s also a part of supporting the bigger

vision of the museum.”

“Harwood Museum of Art Museum Store is more than a retail location,” reads its website. “With a special focus on one-of-a-kind treasures created by local and regional artists and artisans, the store reflects a love of the art and culture of Northern New Mexico … When you shop at the museum store, not only do you help support the artists we feature, but you also take a piece of the Harwood, Taos, and Northern New Mexico home.”

The Harwood Museum of art is located at 238 Ledoux Street, within walking distance of Taos Plaza. For details on events and exhibitions, visit harwoodmuseum.org

E.L. BLUMENSCHEIN HOME AND MUSEUM AND HACIENDA DE LOS MARTÍNEZ

Just up the road at 222 Ledoux Street is the historic E.L Blumenschein Home and Museum. Under the umbrella of the Taos Historic Museums, the museum is located in

COURTESY

PHOTO

The Harwood

the former home of artist Ernest Blumenschein. In 1898, fellow painters Blumenschein and Bert Phillips were on a sketching trip from Denver to Mexico when a wheel on their wagon broke near Questa, New Mexico.

It was Blumenschein who hiked the 20 or so miles south to get it fixed in Taos. What he discovered there would change both their lives. It was an artist’s dream: Colorful vistas, Hispano and Native American villagers living along dusty roads and in rustic adobe homes seemed sus pended in time.

The rest, as they say, is history, as Blumenschein and Phillips, along with other like-minded painters, soon established a colony known as the Taos Society of Artists.

“Padre Martínez dedicated his life to serving his community’s spiritual needs, but he also represented Taos in both the Mexican and American territorial legislatures

JERRY PADILLA

Late Taos News journalist

The museum commemorates this moment through the display of the Blumenschein family’s belongings and furniture as a gift to the community of Taos and the Taos Historic Museums. It also celebrates the lives and art of Ernest L. Blumenschein, his wife Mary Shepherd Greene Blumenschein and their daughter Helen. The museum was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

del Carmel Santistévan in 1804.

The couple built a large fortress-like hacienda with high walls and two enclosed plazuelas. Here the couple raised six children, one of whom would grow up to become one of the most well-known community leaders, Padre Antonio José Martínez.

“Padre Martínez dedicated his life to serving his community’s spiritual

needs, but he also represented Taos in both the Mexican and American territorial legislatures,” according to the late Taos News journalist Jerry Padilla. “He believed education was a liberating force. He started the first co-ed school here, brought the first printing press to New Mexico, and founded a news circular, a precursor of the Taos News.”

Also under the auspices of the Taos Historic Museums is the historic Hacienda de los Martínez, located a little over a mile south at 708 Hacienda Way, off Lower Ranchitos Road (NM 240). The property, located along the Rio Pueblo, was purchased by Don Antonio Severino Martin (later Martínez) and his wife Maria

RICK ROMANCITO/FOR THE TAOS NEWS

Taos Historic Museum’s President Daniel Barela visits the Hacienda de los Martínez gift shop during festivities at the museum’s Old Taos Trade Fair in late September 2024.

Hacienda de los Martinez

NATHAN BURTON/TAOS NEWS FILE PHOTO

Taos Historic Museums board president Rob Nightingale said the hacienda’s store features a fine collection of various gifts, made by local artisans. “We can always use more,” he said.

For more information, visit online taoshistoricmuseums.org or call 575-758-0505

KIT CARSON HOME AND MUSEUM

Maybe it’s a signal pointing to the independent nature of Taos citizens, but one cannot help but note the transformation that Christopher “Kit” Carson underwent as his legend evolved from mountain man, trailblazer and dime novel hero to what many now call a controversial figure. Whatever one’s point of view of the man might be, it’s impossible to ignore his colorful place in the history of frontier New Mexico.

The home of Kit Carson is maintained as a museum and features adobe-walled rooms outfitted with authentic furnishings and artifacts that look as though Kit himself might someday walk through with his wife Josefa. At the entrance is a well-stocked gift shop featuring an extensive collection of books about Carson’s like and times, according to shop manager Dave Cordova. There’s even a video that visitors can watch before taking a tour of the site which features the likes of musician Michael Martin Murphey.

The Carson House and Museum is located at 113 Kit Carson Road, a short stroll east of Taos Plaza. For more information, call 575-758-4945 or visit museum@kitcarsonhouse.org.

COUSE-SHARP HISTORIC SITE AND LUNDER RESEARCH CENTER

The site’s nearly unique authenticity of place affords the visitor a powerful experience of this remarkable part of the world, which continues to influence American art.

DAVISON KOENIG

Couse Sharp Historic Site executive director and curator

Although its gift shop only exists online for now, this adjacent pair of art institutions is committed to bringing to light a scholarly approach to exploring the legacy of artists Eanger Irving Couse and Joseph Henry Sharp, two founding members of the Taos Society of Artists.

Located at 146 Kit Carson Road, the homes of each artist have been preserved in much the same way they looked as they engaged local Taos Pueblo Indians and Hispanos to serve as models for their renowned works of art. Adjacent to these sites, the Lunder Research Center takes a broader approach as it provides a research site and exhibition space to explore and interpret the legacy of the Taos Society of Artists.

“The site’s nearly unique authenticity of place affords the visitor a powerful experience of this remarkable part of the world, which continues to influence American art,” says Davison Koenig, Couse Sharp Historic Site executive director and curator, on the Lunder website.

For more, visit the site’s online store at couse-sharp.org/shop.

Kit Carson Home and Museum

COURTESY KIT CARSON HOME AND MUSEUM

Couse-Sharp Historic Site

COURTESY PHOTO

TAOS ART MUSEUM AT FECHIN HOUSE

Working at the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House “can be dangerous,” says executive director Christy Coleman, but not in a way you might think. Coleman says the museum store has so many tantalizing gifts it’s hard not to crack open her pocketbook at every opportunity.

The Fechin House, where the Taos Art Museum collection is featured, along with special exhibitions and an extensive store, was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and the State of New Mexico Registered Cultural Properties in 1979.

From books and notecards about the museum’s namesake to original paintings, jewelry (works by Taos Pueblo’s Jacqueline Gala are a mustsee), and scented items from Taos Light Goods are perfect ways to remember your visit,

Perusing the museum is a rich experience. It was built by the famous Russian painter Nicolai Fechin over several years after he and his wife Alexandra emigrated to the U.S. in 1923. At first, they resided at the home of renowned art patron Mabel Dodge Lujan, then later acquired a two-story home from a Dutch couple who moved back to Holland. Once in the home, Fechin set about designing and building one of the most unique structures in Taos while also producing a large body of artwork for which he became world famous.

In 1979, the Fechin House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the State of NM Registered Cultural Properties. According to a history at taosartmuseum.org, “Living in the studio, Eya created the Fechin Institute and maintained active exhibition and education programs until her death in November 2002.”

The Fechin also is presently home to the Taos Art Museum collection. Signature works by members of the Taos Society of Artists were originally exhibited at the Van Vechten-Lineberry Taos Art Museum. Its mission was owner Edwin Lineberry’s intention to honor his late wife, the artist Duane Van Vechten. It opened at the Lineberry estate in 1994 but eventually moved to the Fechin home in 2003.

For more about the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, visit the site at 227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte or online at taosartmuseum.org.

MILLICENT ROGERS MUSEUM

One of the largest and most varied institutions, the Millicent Rogers Museum is a can’t-miss stop on your Taos museum tour. You can find it by taking a short drive north of the plaza on U.S. 64–NM 285 and turning off at Millicent Rogers Road in El Prado.

Founded by Paul and Arturo Peralta Ramos, the sons of Standard Oil heiress Millicent Rogers in honor of their mother, who passed in 1953, the museum originated in the town of Taos before Claude J.K. and Betty Anderson donated their sprawling adobe home to house the museum and its collections on the sagebrush-covered mesa north of town.

Millicent Rogers was a high-fashion celebrity of her day who developed a great love of Native American and Southwestern arts and culture. It was here she settled and built a home near Lower Ranchitos.

Over the years, the Millicent Rogers Museum grew in accordance to its mission to preserve, display and interpret the arts of this region. It also has cultivated a close relationship with Taos Pueblo through special exhibitions and cultural connections. That mission also forms the bedrock of the museum store where manager Dawn Romero proudly features one of the largest collection of Native American jewelry found in the area. In addition, the store also features an extensive collection of books, pottery, textiles and original works of art by area artists.

Watch for announcements or various special exhibitions the staff curates on a regular basis by calling 575-7582462 or visit millicentrogers.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

Taos Art Museum at Fechin House

RICK ROMANCITO/FOR THE TAOS NEWS

NATHAN BURTON/TAOS NEWS FILE PHOTO

MAHARASHA on McCarthy Plaza is so ‘Taos’

By Olivia Lewis

It ’s a balmy morning as Asha Hickerson trims a bouquet of lilies and roses outside of Maharasha, one of the newest businesses to open in Taos’ McCarthy Plaza. She pauses her cutting to lead the way inside her boutique, where a cloud of fragrant incense curls through the air like water over the rocks of the Rio Grande.

“This is Maharasha,” she said, ges turing to macramé-adorned ceilings and counters stocked with jewelry, crystals, artwork and decor. “Every thing is fair trade, ethically-sourced, and 98 percent of the brands are women-owned. We opened at the end of April.”

Hickerson, who spent 25 years as a hairdresser in California, said the path to moving to Taos to open Maharasha began with a fateful dream.

“I was meditating in front of a mountain in my dream, and when I woke up I felt compelled to google Taos,” Hickerson recalled. “I didn’t even know there were mountains in New Mexico.”

This dream set off a string of events that crescendoed with her family leaving California to lead new lives in Taos, the so-called “Soul of the Southwest.”

The boutique and gathering space is for all who seek clean beauty prod ucts, spiritual well-being and ethical ly-sourced artisanal goods.

“At first, my husband told me, ‘You’re crazy,’” she laughed. “I said I felt like the mountain’s calling me. It didn’t feel like I had a choice, like I wasn’t going to be able to rest unless I came, so we’re so happy here. We have two teenagers and my husband works at the Holy Cross Hospital.”

One of Maharasha’s highlights is its spiritual and wellness events, held in the back of the store. The

cacao ceremony, for example, is an experience that Hickerson describes as “opening you up and helping you see other people’s points of view.”

The ceremony is rooted in ancient Mesoamerican traditions of the Mayans and Aztec. A far cry from storebought chocolate, participants shared

bitter, raw cacao for shamanic healing and in observation of special rites involving weddings, births and death.

“We’re going to be hosting a cacao ceremony pretty regularly, like once a month,” she said, adding that the ceremony features meditation and sound healing.

Maharasha also hosts biweekly full moon and new moon circles, chakra-balancing sessions and reiki workshops. Hickerson herself is a tarot reader of 12 years and offers 15-minute readings for $45.

“I think when it gets closer to the holidays,” Hickerson said, “I’d like to replace the pillows with tables and chairs and have artists come in to do

“At first, my husband told me, ‘You’re crazy.’ I said I felt like the mountain’s calling me. It didn’t feel like I had a choice.

ASHA HICKERSON Owner

of Maharasha

artist workshops, including pottery, jewelry-making and ‘paint-and-sip’ events.”

As for Maharasha’s name? It’s a Hindi term inspired by both an Indian princely title and oddly enough, raccoons.

“It’s a funny story,” she gushed. “When I turned 30, I threw a big camping trip in Big Sur, California. I had bell tents and set up a glamping experience. The raccoons were attacking the food that night, so my husband and some other guys were like, ‘We’re going to get the raccoons!’ My one friend,

Spiritual items as seen for sale at Maharasha, a new boutique shop and gathering space, in McCarthy Plaza in September. Photos by Daniel Pearson/Taos News

SPA RESORTS Don ’t just stay... luxuriate

By Jeans Pineda

OJO CALIENTE MINERAL SPRINGS RESORT & SPA

The easiest path to ultimate pampering is to head straight to the legendary waters of Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa (40 miles southwest of Taos). Ojo’s historic hotel offers a variety of choices from spacious suites complete with private soaking tubs to camping and RV sites. Hotel guests get unlimited access to the resort’s communal soaking pools and free morning yoga. Campers get discounted access. The mineral-rich waters of the spring-fed pools alone are a complete therapeutic treat, and the cliffside pools can satisfy the soul with stargazing opportunities at night. The soda pool aids in diges-

tion, the iron pool boosts your immune system and the arsenic pool can heal skin conditions. For a richer stay, you can go the whole nine yards and book a spa service.

“I think the beauty of our spa is you can really custom curate your own spa experience. It’s very flexible, so you can kind of mix and match the treatments and the add-ons to get exactly what you’re looking for,” said Director of Marketing Sarah Sims.

The main cluster of spa services at Ojo Caliente is called Elements of Ojo where you can pick a 50- or 80-minute treatment — massage, facial treatment or sound healing. Then there are 25-minute enhancements that can be added to any service, including the

It’s easy in the Land of Mañana and the serene landscapes of Northern New Mexico to whisk away worries. Add a stay with spa services and you’ll leave feeling rejuvenated. Spas are not just about grooming. Treatments can help improve your physical and emotional well-being, reduce stress, detoxify your body, and heal over-stressed muscles. Whether you’re seeking deep relaxation, skin nourishment or holistic healing, our area offers an array of luxurious spa services that can satisfy diverse needs. From therapeutic massages to body wraps to ancient treatments inspired by local traditions, these resorts with in-house spas provide the perfect retreat to unwind.

reflexology, a pointed foot massage. With the hot oil hair therapy enhancement, coconut oil is gently heated and massaged into the scalp and through the length of your hair to stimulate growth and enhance shine. The treatment uses a coconut-based product from RBA, a woman-owned and local skincare line founded by Jen Scott, a former employee of Ojo Caliente.

With the way the services are packaged you can custom tailor your very own experience.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

50 Los Banos Drive, Ojo Caliente 877-977-8212 ojosparesorts.com

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

EL MONTE SAGRADO

An oasis only a few blocks away from the historic plaza, El Monte Sagrado offers spa services that are tied down in traditions that are local — and far out.

Led by Benito Concha, the Gourd Sound Healing Journey is an auditory experience centered on instruments created and inspired by the traditions of Taos Pueblo and its surrounding valleys. Each session showcases the unique potential of these ancient tools.

Then there’s the massage that mimics the alleviation achieved by spending time in the forest. Rooted in the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” this practice emphasizes the health benefits of immersing oneself in nature.

Their service incorporates these healing elements by using a specially crafted blend of native forest essential oils, enriched with the calming scents of frankincense and sandalwood, to amplify the

restorative effects of Shinrin-yoku and bring the soothing power of nature to your senses.

Accommodations include classic hotel rooms, suites and “luxurious Premiere or Global Suites.”

El Monte Sagrado

317 Kit Carson Road, Taos Hotel: 575-758-3502; Spa: 575-737-9880

A HISTORIC TAOS GETAWAY

Sagebrush Inn & Suites offers authentic Southwest charm amidst modern comforts and conveniences with 156 graciously appointed guestrooms and suites, complimentary breakfast included in all stays, extensive meeting and event space, stunning vistas, onsite dining offering authentic Southwest cuisine including the best Prime Rib in Taos as well as a fabulous Happy Hour, live music, and so much more.

sagebrushinn.com

APRÈS-ADVENTURE ESCAPE TO EL MONTE SAGRADO

Unwind in luxury at El Monte Sagrado after a day of exploration. Nestled in stunning landscapes, our comfortable and serene suites invite relaxation. Enhance your experience with specialty treatments at The Living Spa. Savor innovative cuisine at De La Tierra, and enjoy top-shelf cocktails at Anaconda Bar. Discover the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation at our renowned resort. ElMonteSagrado.com

EDELWEISS LODGE AND SPA

If your idea of pampering is to recuperate after testing your body to the limits on the slopes, then the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa and Blake at Taos Ski Valley has you covered.

Along with slope-side lodging, the Edelweiss Spa offers a range of massage and spa treatments, including facials, body scrubs and hot stones — all provided by skilled therapists.

Their High Desert Facial repairs the harsh effects of sun, wind and altitude. This treatment uses all-natural skin care products infused with essential oils, flowers and herbal extracts to clean, exfoliate, nourish and hydrate the skin. Steamy towels and a face and scalp massage complete this luxurious experience.

A lavender and cornmeal body scrub and massage begins with a soothing application of warm lavender-infused oil, followed by an exfoliating cornmeal scrub that gently buffs away dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and rejuvenated. The calming aroma of lavender enhances relaxation while the cornmeal helps to improve skin texture and the oil provides nourishing hydration. This indulgent treatment is finished with a fullbody massage.

The Rio Hondo Hot Rocks Massage is a deeply soothing experience that combines the healing power of heated river stones with expert massage techniques. Warm, smooth stones are placed on key pressure points, releasing deep-seated tension and promoting relaxation throughout your entire body. The heat from the stones improves circulation, melts away muscle stiffness, and enhances the therapeutic effects of the massage.

The day spa is open to the public as well as Edelweiss guests. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance.

Edelweiss Lodge & Spa

106 Sutton Place, Taos Ski Valley 575-737-6900

edelweisslodgeandspa.com

THE BLAKE AT TAOS SKI VALLEY

This 4-star, alpine-style, ski-in, ski-out hotel offers well-appointed rooms and suites with easy access to chair lift no. 1, retail shops, fine dining at The 192, a heated pool, a steam room, hot tubs, and full-service wellness center and spa.

The Spa and Wellness Center décor and array of treatments offered were born from novelist Frank Waters’ writings of Hopi prophecy that accentuates directions, colors and energies. The hand-painted Dado wainscot that wraps around the spa lobby was re-created from a photograph of Dorothy Brett.

Treat yourself to a massage for relaxation, injury rehab or just to take care of those sore ski legs. Go for a facial, body wrap or eye treatment for renewed health. With its stunning views at the foot of the mountain and inclusive of the fitness center, steam room, pool and hot tub, non-skiers can easily spend the day luxuriating at The Blake’s spa, while skiers and snowboarders have a great place to relax and recover after a day on the mountain.

The Blake at Taos Ski Valley

116 Sutton Place, Taos Ski Valley Hotel: 855-385-0437; Spa: 575-776-5340 skitaos.com/spa

DAY SPA VISITS FOR MIND, BODY & SOUL

Northern New Mexico boasts a wide array of places to have good soak, get a soothing massage, or enjoy other special treatments (emphasis on treat). The following list is by no means comprehensive. Some of the spas at lodging facilities above are only available to guests, others are open to the public. Be sure to call ahead or book online for reservations.

TAOS ROCKS HOT STONE THERAPY

Taos Rocks Hot Stone Therapy, founded by Ana Chavez who has over 40 years in massage therapy, new clients can get certain perks like a complimentary herbal footwrap. Hot Himalayan salt stones are used in all massages. The raindrop therapy features 10 essential oils, all antibiotic, antiviral and antimicrobial. Chavez also specializes in paraffin dips, a treatment that’s very useful for arthritis

108 Latilla Lane, Taos 575-751-3309 taosrocks.com

MEDICINE MOUNTAIN MASSAGE — BENITO CONCHA

Massage, deep-tissue massage and hot stone massage, plus Concha’s unique Gourd Sound Healing Therapy

522 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos 575-779-9856

INSPIRATIONS MASSAGE — JACQUI CROAT

Massage, facials, chakra clearings, Tarot readings and Reiki energy.

522 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos 575-770-2194 inspirationsdayspa-jacquicroat.com

TAOS HEALING ARTS

From medical massage therapy to the Río Pueblo hot stone massage, Taos Healing Arts has been relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring freedom of movement since 1991.

308-B Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571 575-613-2367 taoshealingarts.com

TAOS SPA & TENNIS CLUB

Taos Spa & Tennis Club is a full-service health and fitness center offering a menu of massage therapies and treatments ranging from deep tissue sports massage to luxurious treatments incorporating exotic aromas, water-heated stones and deeply relaxing techniques. Free use of the facility on the day of your massage.

111 Doña Ana Drive, Taos 575-758-1980 taosspa.com

MOUNTAIN BODY & MIND

Holistic rejuvenation and transformative healing with an array of massage treatments — Medical Massage, Structural Integration, Craniosacral Therapy, and Muscle Energy Release with extended training in physiotherapy and myofascial release — and Reiki.

612 W Main St, Red River 575-779-7966 mountainbodyandmind.com

ANGEL FIRE’S BODY SPARK

Therapeutic massages — hot stones, reflexology, polarity therapy, deep tissue, manual manipulation.

3471 Mountain View Blvd Unit 2 (Angel Square), Angel Fire 505-426-7373 facebook.com/angelfiresbodyspark

Edelweiss Lodge and Spa, Taos Ski Valley

rolling

To pull dried (and non-toxically coated) red chile peppers from a ristra is to invoke hundreds of years of culinary tradition, some dating back to Basque and Aztec cooking techniques. The 1,600-mile El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (aka the Silver Route) historic trading route from Mexico City through Taos to today’s Pueblo, Colorado, created more than commerce in beads, rifles, horses and distilled spirits: It forged and infused a broad foodshed of regional ingredients and cooking techniques one can still witness and savor today. To grind dried chile pods in a traditional molcajete (stone mortar and pestle) is to invoke ancient and Indigenous practices in one’s contemporary kitchen.

Red chile’s time in the spotlight has arrived. In September, during peak chile season, National Public Radio’s John Burnett reported on the legendary quality and increasingly rare availability of Chimayo red chile — where average prices per pound are upwards of $50, compared to Hatch green chile which costs on average $7 per pound.

This is where reverence for flavor trumps home economics. Pay

the price. Make the culinary pilgrimage to Chimayó — where Catholics make a religious pilgrimage every year for healing — out to the El Potrero Trading Post adjacent to the church parking lot. Here, bags of red chile powder and flakes from local chile growers are reverently displayed and sold by a retailer who knows each chile grower and their ancestral farmland. Chimayó is not only a religious holy place — this is a commerce in New Mexican flavors that is also restorative and healing.

“The difference is Chimayo chile has a much better flavor to it,” El Potrero’s third-generation proprietor Raymond Bal told NPR. “Here in New Mexico, we don’t use chile as a seasoning. We use chile as an ingredient. It wakes up every taste bud and is the main flavor in your mouth.”

QUERENCIA AND HOME RECIPES

Northern New Mexico is the red chile mecca with mostly small-scale family farms producing the rojo capsicum while Hatch green chile is grown on more than 40,000 acres in Southern New Mexico — more than 270 miles from Chimayo and other red chile growing epicenters.

Travel from Santa Fe to Taos on NM 68 along the scenic Rio Grande River and you’ll land in the gorgeous historic farming community of Velarde, where orchards and farm fields abound and have been in cultivation for hundreds of years. Imagine visiting this resplendent river valley founded in 1598 and named after Juan Matias Velarde, whose ancestors continue to grow fruits at 6,500-foot elevation, including what the Velarde family has coined “Velarde red chile.”

The Fruit Basket, located on the Rio Grande side of the highway, is a 15th-generation, Hispano family-owned farm and retailer in Velarde. Today, Eddie Velarde oversees farming using certified organic practices on 100-plus acres — making their 45,000-tree orchard the largest organic orchard in the state. In farm season, The Fruit Basket’s colorful farmstand is festooned with all lengths of in-season ristras made on-site. Enter their store and you are in the equivalent of Can-

dyland of New Mexican grown and made culinary products.

For the Velarde family, and so many others calling Northern New Mexico home, red chile is more than food. All members of the family now running The Fruit Basket and the family’s historic farm agree: Red chile is “... our history, our heritage, our culture. It is just a way of life.”

Should your travels in Northern New Mexico be post-farm-and-chile season, the Velarde family encourages you to email them directly at ranchodesantafe3@yaoo.com to order your winter-season gifts and cooking.

The Velarde family uses their chile rojo sauce recipe (included below) for flavoring chicos (dried and roasted corn kernels), as sauce for enchiladas, and even as a substitute for gravy on holiday mashed potatoes.

Upon our move to New Mexico, our neighbor, a silver-haired Romero descending from Spanish ancestors and living in his grandfather’s adobe gave us a gift of chile to welcome us to our rural neighborhood: a thick salsa meant not for tortilla chips but as a welcoming, aromatic paste of earthen, savory and spicy goodness. It found its way into dozens of stews and soups and as a topper for any egg dish. This was Mr. Romero’s gesture of querencia, an original Spanish word meaning “love of place.”

In Northern New Mexico, querencia takes on an extra layer of meaning: a love of neighbors and place. Do this wherever you live: Share gifts from your kitchen, from New Mexican red chile powders and flakes to extra enchilada sauce rojo. It will be your own trading route of flavor and neighborly care.

When you wish to welcome young Mr. Popularity green chile back into your kitchen this season, think about keeping both chile rojo and chile verde siblings in your pantry and freezer, or hanging a ristra of their dried fruit from a nail in your kitchen. Enjoy cooking and savoring recipes below where red chile takes center stage, as it has for hundreds of years here in our Northern New Mexican foodshed.

a chile ristra

TAOS SKI VALLEYeateries

Grab a quick snack or a delicious sit-down meal at TSV

By Jeans Pineda

Nestled in the heart of Taos Ski Valley, dining becomes an adventure as vibrant as the slopes themselves. Sometimes a hastily made on-the-go breakfast at home just won’t do. You also may not have the time to pack a quick snack when you’ve got to beat out other skiers wanting to get on the first chair. Whether you’re hungry first thing in the morning or winding down after a day of skiing or simply seeking a culinary escape, the valley offers a mouthwatering array of dining options to satisfy every palate.

can load up on calories and flavor with their signature lamb burrito. The humble burrito bar spares no expense with their popular handheld burrito that you can crush while you’re on the lift.

Hondo Restaurant

In the upstairs portion of the same building, the Snakedance Condominiums, you’ll find the local favorite Hondo Restaurant. Since the departure of Tim’s Stray Dog Cantina and the St. Bernard, the Hondo Restaurant is where you’ll find ski-bums, powder hounds and long-time ski valley fixtures tossing back pints and fueling up on New Mexican standard dishes such as rolled blue corn enchiladas served with cheese, lettuce, onion and tomatoes and topped with posole, pinto beans and your choice of red, green or Christmas chile.

The atmosphere of Hondo Restaurant is real casual — you can be in your boots throughout lunch and dinner.

Under the direction of new executive chef Marshall Thompson (formerly of Donabe’s) you can expect some Asian-flair crossover, but you can also expect traditions to be upheld.

“We’re kind of the only people [in TSV] doing New Mexican. So a lot of that has to stay. People seek that out up there. So a lot of the favor-

ites are going to stay. And then just a lot more Asian influence into other things,” Thompson said.

One of those “other things” is a noodle bowl featuring ham, braised pork, shrimp, mushroom, scallion, cabbage, coconut milk, Chinese yellow curry and rice vermicelli noodles.

In addition to a diversity of style of flavors, there’s an emphasis on making items from scratch, such as the veggie patty which is made mostly of chickpea, tahini and chipotles.

carries on “things that I remembered from working at Tim’s Stray Dog; shredding our own cheese so it has a better gloss. It melts easier, doesn’t burn as fast. Things like that, making it so that we have better products.”

192 at The Blake

Another restaurant that’s making use of homegrown talent is the open kitchen restaurant inside of The Blake, the 192 named after the tail number on Ernie Blake’s Cessna. The 192’s executive chef is none other than Taos native Noah Pettus. Pettus along with Brittany Garner were responsible

for Arroyo Seco’s farm-to-table, fine dining restaurant, ACEQ, then the now-shuttered vegan venue next door, the Wake and Take.

Pettus’ culinary expertise was cultivated at the Culinary Institute

For lunch you could do no better than Cid’s Mountain Market. Think of Cid’s Mountain Market as The Cellar, a fine-spirits boutique, that can also serve you a freshly made, hot-off-thegrill green chile cheeseburger to pair with your afternoon rosé. The possibilities are endless for the imaginative bon vivants. There’s no shortage of cured meats and aged cheeses and there’s a strong supply of craft beer to go with it.

The Blonde Bear Tavern

Inside the Edelweiss Lodge & Spa, the Blonde Bear’s cozy bar and soft-chair lounge has a settled, days-end atmosphere. Chef Bill Hartig has created a unique menu of breakfast classics, fresh salads, and brunch favorites accompanied by beer, wine, and traditional breakfast cocktails. Freeskier magazine named The Blonde Bear Tavern the Best Aprés Ski in the state of New Mexico and New Mexico magazine reported, “the Blonde Bear Tavern has been raising the quality of food at the Edelweiss restaurants to levels that approach TSV’s altitude.

Der Garten Bistro

To feel cozy and right at home, sometimes you have to eat at someone else’s home. The only way to do that is to dine at Der Garten, which is essentially a guest house that’s still technically a guest house but is also a comfy restaurant where you can lose track of time as you sink into a couch by the fireplace.

Co-owners Christoff Brownell and Asia Golden have gone the extra mile to provide something totally unique: a place where you are invited into intimate quarters where the flavors of the food are fresh and the decor is personal.

Golden, who has been in the Taos culinary scene since the ‘90s, has a background in Italian and Ayurvedic cooking but is famous for her salads.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever had one of my salads. It’s very thought out, and there will never be a brown piece of lettuce in my salad. You know what I mean” Golden said.

One of those sought-after salads is the supergreens salad which boasts arugula, spinach, kale, pickled onions, artichokes, radish, carrots, red and orange bell peppers, roast-

ed pepitas, hemp seeds, and a house lemon vinaigrette.

They recommend sharing salads if already ordering an entree.

At Der Garten there will be some nods towards South American flavors based on the influx of J-1 visa workers that traditionally arrive at Taos Ski Valley to work the many available jobs on the mountain.

“We want to add some ethnic, some South American dishes, to honor those guys and bring awareness to other cultures and their food,” Golden said.

When you walk into Der Garten, you’ll immediately notice the small round tables, the La-Z-Boy style chairs and the many other homespun sundry elements. It’s a veritable home. Few things have changed over the years with the exception of adjustments to meet code, such as changing the kitchen floors to epoxy

The fireplace was built in 1968. “That fireplace has been there making fire since 1968 which is pretty awesome. So that’s now 56 years old,” Golden said.

Golden continued, “We wanted to keep the ambiance of being in your living room, right? The community table back there. That’s 56 years old. That’s an original table from the house, you know. So we wanted to keep that and not create a lot of changes, so that when people did come to dine with us, they felt like they were sitting in their living room with their fire and a nice glass of wine.”

Golden made a final point: “You walk in, you’re going to be treated like you’re royalty.”

As a fun fact, the piano seating where you sit on a piano bench was engineered with an add-on to allow for eating and drinking while you sit on it. With Christoff also being a talented musician, there’s the strong

The Blonde Bear Tavern @ the Edelweiss

Der Garten Bistro

ANGLING ON ICE A guide to cold-weather fishing

By Ellen Miller-Goins

It can be a bit … unsettling, the first time you hear the ice groaning, thumping and cracking like gunfire under your feet on Eagle Nest Lake. When it starts warming and the sounds intensify, more than a few ice fishermen have sprinted for the shore. Let those eerie sounds intimidate you, though, and you’d be depriving yourself of some of the finest fishing in the Southwest. Fishermen in the know reelKokanee salmon, rainbow and cutthroat trout, perch, and pike out of Eagle Nest Lake year round. And for one simple reason: They’re hungry!

WHEN TO GO

Kokanee snagging season lasts until Dec. 31. After that, ice fishing is typically available January through March, or sometime earlier if the ice gets too thin. Eagle Nest State Park officials make that determination.

And what will lure the fish? Try Power Bait, salmon eggs, corn, roe sacks or jigs, but also check with local shops for advice and gear. Eagle Nest Fly Shack & Lodge and

Eagle Nest Cabins & Marina rent everything an experienced angler needs for a day out on the lake. Both also offer guided trips: They’ll drive you out to a spot, set everything up, drill the hole and offering coaching, too.

Renita Pollard, who owns and operates Eagle Nest Cabins & Marina with husband John, says, “If you have never tried ice fishing, it is time to give it a try. Nothing is better than sitting on the ice, warm sun shining down, enjoying the peace and quiet with an occasional holler of joy from catching a big one!”

FLY-FISHING OPTIONS

Toner Mitchell, the New Mexico Water and Habitat Program Manager at Trout Unlimited, is a Northern New Mexico native who has fished all over the state, says that for a long time before embarking on his current career, “I was a fly-fishing guide, and I ran a fly shop.”

An avid fly fisherman who still gets out as often as possible, Mitchell says, “Fishing in the winter is very temperature dependent, so on really cold days, success isn’t very likely. The best places to find kind of better water temperatures might be where springs come in. So, in the Red River area that would be below the hatchery.

Jeff Fagan, who guides and fishes year round also recommends the lower part of the Red River and advises, “Dress warm! It’s always an adventure if it’s snowing. Fish are a little lethargic in winter so you have to change your tactics a little bit.”

Fagan, a professional musician who plays with the Highway 38 Hounddogs along with Mike Smith and Ry Taylor, says winter guiding is slower, but he still gets out often. “I don’t know what else to do with myself. It’s a good way to get outdoors.”

Mitchell has a few favorite spots closer to Taos: “Big Arsenic Springs [at Wild Rivers Recreation Area] is another place, but you have to be careful on the hike down, because the trail often has packed snow and ice.”

Mitchell says he wears cleated boots but strap-on winter traction devices like MICROspikes or Yaktrax will work. Some waders also have spikes, but “Hiking in your waders isn’t the most comfortable thing.

You end up getting hot.”

“John Dunn Bridge is another popular winter spot,” Mitchell adds, “and in the spring there’s a little window, especially with climate change, before runoff when the days start getting longer down at Taos Junction Bridge, where on warm days you can see a blue-winged olive hatch.”

The Cimarron River can also offer good winter fishing for browns and rainbows though, because water flow is low, freezing is likely.

Wherever you go, Mitchell suggests lowering your expectations. “It just means fishing a little more meticulously [and] a little more time at places.”

TIPS FOR WINTER FISHING

Be aware of and prepared for weather conditions. Dress in layers and wear thermal underwear, fleece or wool, and wind and waterproof outerwear, especially for feet, hands and head. Take extra clothes, food and water.

Mitchell recommends checking in with a reputable place like Taos Fly Shop for up-to-date information “like what flies are working the best, and where to go.”

The Taos News also prints a weekly Reel Report with updates from anglers on which flies they’ve found successful.

FOR ICE FISHING INFORMATION AND UPDATES, VISIT WILDLIFE.DGF.NM.GOV OR CALL 575-377-1594.

PHOTOS BY NATHAN BURTON / TAOS NEWS

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Events Calendar

NOVEMBER

La Dame Blanche from Havana, Cuba, and Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness from South Africa

NOV. 18-24

Daleee at KTAOS daleeektaos.com

Taos Folk

NOV. 18–DEC.24

Taos Center for the Arts, Stables Gallery

Holiday pop up store with a wide variety of affordable one-of-akind handmade arts, crafts and gifts from fantastic jewelry, winter wear, home decor, fragrant candles and lotions and exquisite pottery, plus books by Taos authors and so much more. taosfolkart.com

Frozen Turkey Race

NOV. 28, 12–1 P.M.

Red River Ski & Summer Area redriverskiarea.com

Thanksjibbing Rail Jam

NOV. 30, 12 P.M.

(REGISTER BY 11 A.M.)

Red River Ski & Summer Area redriverskiarea.com

DECEMBER

Holiday Season Festival

DEC. 13

Harwood Museum of Art

Taos Chamber Music

Group: Gleb Ivanov’s solo piano recital

From Bach to Liszt to Schubert.” taoschambermusicgroup.org/ concert-calendar

Holiday Season Festival

DEC. 14–15

Harwood Museum of Art

Taos Chamber Music

Group: Mindful Med itations with Friends, compositions by Antonín Dvořák, Felix Mendelssohn and Jules Massenet. taos chambermusicgroup. org/concert-calendar

Farolito Lighting

DEC. 6–25

Thanks to all the busi nesses, organizations and families partici pating, we are able to give our community and visitors a season filled with lights of love and holiday.

DEC. 14

Bent Street

Lighting of Ledoux

DEC. 6

Ledoux Street

575-758-9826

Watch historic Ledoux Street come aglow with the light of farolitos, luminarias and bonfires as the community gathers to enjoy warm holiday treats and hot drinks from the galleries, shops and museums that stay open late for this annual Taos holiday tradition. harwoodmuseum.org

Bonfires on Bent Street

The John Dunn Shops and Bent Street merchants offer holiday cheer, with bonfires and farolitos lighting the way for carolers and shoppers to enjoy hot beverages, entertainment and festivities. Shops will be decked out with holiday décor and visitors can expect a magical evening. johndunnshops.com

Procession of the Virgin Mary

DEC. 24

Taos Pueblo

Just after mass at dusk on Christmas Eve, riflemen signal the birth of Christ

Pueblo visitor etiquette:

Please respect that these are religious ceremonies. Don’t talk or walk around during dances or other ceremonies, don’t applaud, and don’t ask for explanations. Photographs and recording are prohibited. Taos Pueblo has a strict confiscation and no return policy.

then part the crowd for the procession featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary, hoisted high upon a dais, from the chapel into Taos Pueblo Plaza and accompanied by Pueblo drummers, dancers and singers singing in English and Tiwa.

taospueblo.com

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parades and Fireworks

DEC. 24

Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Sipapu and Red River ski resorts’ skiers carry lights down the slopes for a magical winter celebration. Watch the procession, replete with fireworks, and enjoy hot beverages with friends and family. For more information, visit any of the ski resorts’ websites.

Deer or Matachines Dance

DEC. 25

Taos Pueblo

Christmas Day brings either the Deer Dance or Matachina Dance. Deer dance starts at about 1 p.m. and lasts all afternoon. Matachina dance starts at about 11 a.m. and lasts all day.

taospueblo.com

Christmas Night Luminaria Tour

DEC. 25

Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area

enchantedforestxc.com

New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parades and Fireworks

DEC. 31

Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Sipapu and Red River ski resorts. For more information, visit any of the ski resorts’ websites.

JANUARY

Turtle Dance

JAN. 1

Taos Pueblo

No visitors before 9 a.m. Dances may last all day dependent on weather. No cellphones and/or recording devices allowed. Thank you for respecting our home. taospueblo.com

Deer or Buffalo Dance

JAN. 6

Taos Pueblo

Deer dance starts at about 1 p.m. and lasts all afternoon. Buffalo dance starts at about 11 a.m. and lasts 2 hours or so.

taospueblo.com

Costume Parade & Contest

JAN. 18

Angel Fire Ski Resort

Show off your stuff on the slopes in costume!

angelfireresort.com

Race the Face

JAN. 18

Red River Ski & Summer Area

Contestants rev up a steep hill known by locals as The Face, and hope to do it fast enough to receive a cash payout. redriverskiarea.com

Military Appreciation Ski Week

JAN. 21–26

Taos Ski Valley

A week-long ski & snowboard adventure for Military families and individuals. Discounts on lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and more!

skitaos.org

Taos Winter Wine Festival

JAN. 29–FEB. 2

A long weekend of events featuring the

FEBRUARY

culinary artistry in Taos and Taos Ski Valley coupled with wines from around the world. The schedule of food and wine events features a Reserve Tasting, chef luncheons, Aprés Ski Tastings, a Grand Tasting and wine dinners. taoswinterwinefest.com

Ski Ranch Rodeo

FEB. 1

Red River Ski & Summer Area

Take your ranch skills to the slopes with a team ranch rodeo on skis or snowboards. One team consists of three skiers or snowboarders who will compete as a team for the fastest time of roping, branding, and saddle bronc.

redriverskiarea.com

Costume Parade & Contest

FEB. 15

Angel Fire Ski Resort

Show off your stuff on the slopes in costume!

angelfireresort.com

World Champion Shovel Races

FEB. 1 & 2

Angel Fire Ski Resort

Shovel Races are back! Racers ages 6 and up can compete. angelfireresort.com

MARCH

Taos Freeride Competitions

MARCH 2025

DATES TBA

The Taos Adult Freeride Competition with the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association and the Freeride World Tour.

Costume Parade & Contest

MARCH 15

Angel Fire Ski Resort

Show off your stuff on the slopes in costume!

angelfireresort.com