TAOS SKI VALLEY
On top of the world
It’s a little bit European. It’s a little bit New Mexico. It’s a lot steep and beautiful. The majestic mountain that is home to Taos skiing in the winter, is just as alluring in the summer. The vast, rugged terrain and generous, free-spirited community call out to a different kind of adventurer — a mountain lover with a passion for outdoor thrills and a taste for cultural discovery. Here hiking and bicycling are king once the snow has melted away.
There are many hiking trails to chose from. The hike to Williams Lake Trail is a popular trek accessed at the parking lot in which 1,000 feet are gained in altitude (start at about 10,000 feet) in just under 2 miles. Englemann spruce stands dominate the beginning of the trail. As you get closer to the upper end, it opens up into meadow land and scattered rock fields. Another reward for reaching the natural lake is the opportunity to continue on up to Wheeler Peak along the Wheeler Peak Trail, the highest point in
New Mexico at 13,131 feet. Other trails include Long Canyon/bull of the Woods at 3.6 miles; Gavilan at
2.4 miles; Italianos Canyon at 3.5 miles; Manzanita Canyon at 4.2 miles; and Yerba Canyon at 4.0 miles. For more details on the trails and maps, go online to skitaos.com.
The popular Northside Trail (ridenorthside.com) is a self-guided, fee-based mountain biking area on 1,200 acres of private recreational development.
As a mapped and signed trail system designed especially for mountain biking, Northside is a looped trail network with spectacular overlooks, single and double track routes through blue spruce and aspen stands, and meadows. The terrain is best suited for the intermediate and higher level rider. Singletracks. com selected Northside as one of the 20 most scenic mountain bike trails in the Western U.S.
For the even more adventurous, one can pedal to the top of Frazer Mountain, 12,163 feet, the highest point on the property at an average grade of less than 10 percent.
Northside is open dawn to dusk from late June through October, weather permitting. Access permits are for sale at many locations in Taos Ski Valley or at the trailhead kiosk. Permits are also sold in Taos at Taos Cyclery and Gearing Up Bike Shop.
And just because will flowers have replaced snow, that doesn’t mean you can’t ride a chairlift to the top of the Taos Ski Valley world.
All of that exploration and adventure is sure to need fuel. The popular Bavarian Restaurant has reopened, with renovations that include a larger deck. The Resort Center has a rejuvenated look and feel as well. Other restaurants are creating new menus in a commitment to providing more choices for healthier and selective diets with food coming from New Mexico sources, including organic produce and sustainable fisheries. Taos Ski Valley eateries include Northern New Mexican cuisine at Stray Dog Cantina; The Blonde Bear Tavern, featuring refined European alpine cuisine; and the 192 restaurant at The Blake, which specializes in woodfired pizza and eclectic tapas.
While you’re out there, keep in mind that the mornings and evenings are chilly. It’s wise to dress in layers.
If relieving stress and a little bit of pampering is what you seek, head to The Blake where you’ll find an excellent spa, outdoor pool and a very impressive art collection awaiting.
Taos Ski Valley brings ancestry to life. It has become an unexpected cultural center comprised of Native American, Spanish and Anglo tradition. It’s like nowhere else.