Yes, you can ski in Santa Fe, New Mexico!

ski santa fe powder day
Powder day at Ski Santa Fe!


Although most don’t associate Santa Fe and skiing, this New Mexico city can be a hidden gem for powder hounds.

If you don’t know about the ski culture here in Santa Fe, here’s some local intel so you can enjoy your New Mexico Ski season to the max!

Latest updates about everything you should know about Skiing in Santa Fe, New Mexico:

Ski Santa Fe

The Must Know Facts About Skiing and Snowboarding in Santa Fe, New Mexico (TLDR)

  • We have a Ski Resort about 35 minutes from downtown Santa Fe
  • There is a Free shuttle that operates from downtown directly to and from the resort
  • Santa Fe Ski Resort is NOT apart of any major season passes
  • Snow can be amazing but also go through long dry spells
  • There about 4 Ski Resorts within 2 hours drive of Santa Fe

Where can I ski in Santa Fe, NM?

Bluebird day at Ski Santa Fe

Ski Santa Fe is only 30 minutes from downtown Santa Fe and is a quality ski resort for those looking for fun family terrain or some serious New Mexico steeps.

One of the best parts about this mountain are the small crowds which means more hidden stashes and short lift lines.

It’s very likely on a powder day that you can find powder stashes the entire day rather than most resorts being tracked out before lunch.

The Ski Santa Fe address is: 1477 NM-475, Santa Fe, NM 87501

You know you have arrived when you see the sign and can’t go any farther.

Ski Santa Fe Mountain facts:

ski santa fe trail map
  • Runs: 86 runs
  • Lift Service: 7 lifts
  • Terrain: 20% Beginner – 40% Intermediate – 40% Advanced
  • Acres: 660 acres
  • Vertical Drop: 1725 Elevation
  • Base Peak: 10, 350 feet
  • Summit Elevation: 12,075 feet
  • Experts will love the steep glades off of the Tesuque Peak chair and Millenium Chair.
  • Beginners will certainly enjoy themselves on the lower mountain off of Easy Street chair.
  • The operating hours of Ski Santa Fe are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm!
  • Weekends can get very busy. It’s advisable to travel early and in groups.
  • Parking: There is currently issues with parking near Ski Santa Fe as big weekend crowds are making congested and overflowing road areas.

What are the current 2024/2025 snow conditions like at Ski Santa Fe right now?

Snow conditions aren’t the best at the moment as the 25′ winter season has been a very dry one.

However, over the last 5 days there has been 20″ of snow.

Stay up to date with New Mexico weather forecasts at New Mexico OpenSnow

Ski Santa Fe Lift Tickets and Season Passes

  • Adult Lift tickets cost about $116/day
  • Season Passes: About $700
  • Other pass options include paying as you go with the One Pass or the Peak Plus Pass.
  • One Pass – $279
  • Peak Plus Pass – $79

What other ski resorts are near Santa Fe?

Pajarito Mountain | Los Alamos

Ski resorts near Santa Fe include:

  • Taos Ski Valley (1.5 hours away)
  • Pajarito (50 minutes)
  • Angel Fire Resort (2 hours)
  • Sipapu (1:20 minutes)
  • Wolf Creek Ski Area (3 hours)

There are more New Mexico Ski resorts but these are some of the most local and highest-rated!

Does Santa Fe have any backcountry skiing options?

Santa Fe’s Baldy Bowls are one of the best backcountry skiing options in Santa Fe. Also, skiing Big Tesuque is another “backcountry option” originating from Ski Santa Fe.

Highly recommend visiting this blog all about Southwest Backcountry Skiing

Not specifically “backcountry”, but Ski Santa Fe does ALLOW uphill ski access. Adhere to guidelines around avoiding others and being safe, but you are allowed uphill access at your leisure.

How much snowfall can I expect for a good Santa Fe ski year?

Ski Santa Fe regularly receives around 220 + inches of snow in a good year. We always do the snow dance and pray for the best. As far as the snowiest month in Santa Fe, December seems to have the most snow activity.

With snowfall totals always varying on weather conditions, you typically can ski from November – April in the Santa Fe area.

Are there rental available at Ski Santa Fe?

Yes there are ski rentals for both adults and children available on site! You can also rent snowboards at the mountain as well!

Prices are range between $ $ depending on your choice of setup.

If you would rather get straight on the mountain and rent ahead, consider renting from a Ski Shop in Santa Fe!

Here are some quality Ski & Snowboard shops in Santa Fe to consider

How do I get to Ski Santa Fe Ski Resort?

255 mountain trail route in the winter schedule
Winter 255 Mountain Trail Route Schedule (Blue Bus)

Ski Santa Fe offers a free ski shuttle bus from Santa Fe with the 255 Mountain Trail Route “blue bus”. Use the blue bus website tracker or download the app today!

The blue bus runs one morning trip from the South Capitol Station at 8 am with multiple stops along the way as well as one return trip at 4:30 from Ski Santa Fe.

Pro tip: Get to the South Capitol Station early to ensure you have a spot on board. Many people have reported that the bus has been full on powder days after the first stop.

Visitors can also drive up highway 475 from town which takes about 30 minutes

The driving conditions can get very bad when there is heavy snowfall which does not make accessing the ski resort easy. It is highly recommended to NOT drive a car that doesn’t have AWD or 4WD capabilities.

Snowplowing does exist, but it’s not the best system out there.

Ski Santa Fe Lodging

There are no ski in ski out or hotels on the premises of Ski Santa Fe.

The closest and the most memorable lodging option is to book a Yurt at Hyde Memorial Park for $80/night. This is about 15 minutes south of the ski area whereas town options are about 30 minutes away.

For those who want to stay near the ski area, we recommend somewhere in town like the El Rey Court or the Sage Hotel.

Cross Country Skiing in Santa Fe

Besides downhill skiing and snowboarding, there are cross-country skiing options in the area as well!

The Aspen Vista Trail is one of the most popular options and is just down the road from the ski resort.

Other cross-country ski options in Santa Fe include:

  • Norski Trail
  • Valles Caldera National Preserve (Jemez Mountains) – 1:30 hour drive

Are there any Avalanche courses in Santa Fe?

Skiers and snowboarders in Santa Fe should head to Taos for any comprehensive avalanche training. Two great options are the Taos Avalanche Center & Beverly Mountain Guides

More fun things to experience in Santa Fe

Keep the fun going after an amazing day on the slopes in Santa Fe. If you need some more inspiration of the best of Santa Fe, use any of these resources or shoot us a message!

Best Santa Fe Happy Hours

Best Winter Things to Do in Santa Fe, New Mexico (2025)

Pre Ski Saturdays Farmers Market

Hiking in Santa Fe