Red River Ski & Summer Area sits right next to the town of Red River in northern New Mexico, on the Enchanted Circle. The base is 8,750 feet and the top 10,350 feet, for 1,600 feet of vertical over 285 acres. Seven lifts serve 64 trails, and 38% of them are rated most difficult. There are two terrain parks. Red River averages 214 inches of snow a year, and snowmaking covers 85% of the mountain. The season opens the day before Thanksgiving, with a shorter schedule for the first few weeks, then runs daily from December to late March.
Oklahoma businessman Stokes Bolton opened the ski area in December 1959, using surplus steel from oil derricks for the lift towers. It’s still family-owned, and much of it is on Carson National Forest land under a Forest Service permit.
Summit shows the top of the mountain at 10,350 feet. Lift House looks at the Platinum Chair and Main Chalet at the main lodge. Broadway, Downtown, The Face and Town are the resort’s other views. Compare Summit with the base cams for wind and visibility before you head up.
Red River is on NM-38, which runs between Questa and Eagle Nest over Bobcat Pass. The resort puts Santa Fe about 2 hours away, Albuquerque 3 hours, Colorado Springs 3 hours 15 minutes and Denver 4 hours 15 minutes. Taos Regional Airport (TSM) is 36 miles and about 45 minutes away, and Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) about 3 hours. Parking in Red River is free, and the Red River Miners Transit shuttle runs around town at no charge.
NMDOT advises checking your tires and carrying a winter survival kit. NMRoads shows road conditions.
Red River isn’t on the Epic, Ikon or Indy Pass.