Get Your Last Ski Licks In
Optimism is in the air around Taos. The coldest weather seems to be behind us. The pandemic, while still the foremost threat and safety issue at hand, is losing steam. There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months regarding travel in Northern New Mexico.
But that doesn’t mean everything we’re leaving behind is negative. And it also doesn’t mean it’s too late to capitalize on it either. We’re talking about getting your last licks in on the ski resorts around El Pueblo.
110 trails ranging from beginner to intermediate over 205 skiable acres makes Taos Ski Valley the premier spot to get your last skiing of the season in. April 4 is your last day to ski for the season, so book your trip soon. There’s room at El Pueblo for that weekend!
Angel Fire reeled in plenty of snow this year to provide a base that will last as long as you need. With a peak elevation of 10,667 feet, this is among the highest skiing you can do in the state. But you have to act fast, as closing day is Sunday, March 21.
Northeast of El Pueblo is Red River Ski Area, where both professionals and families come from around the country to rave about. Soaking in over 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s guaranteed to be beautiful as you get your last runs in before the gates close on Sunday, March 21.
Open through April 4, Sipapu is your best bet to get in the last adrenaline rushes of the ski season. With a peak elevation of 9,255 feet and a vertical drop of 1,055 feet, the mountain has something for both beginners and seasoned thrill-seekers.
El Pueblo has rooms available for every weekend through the last lift rides on April 4. Get rid of your cabin fever and take a last-minute weekend vacation out to Taos as the weather gradually gets more and more comfortable. We’re all about adventure and impulsivity every day of the year.
📷: Paul Sableman
Go For Snow
at Bandelier National Park
Heading south to escape the winter chill? Why not embrace it one more time? Just a 90-minute drive southwest from Taos, Bandelier National Park is home to one of the most majestic scenes in the American Southwest. And if you catch it at the right time, a fresh layer of snow veiling the monument will prove to be an unforgettable experience.
Bandelier National Park is one of the proudest historical wonders New Mexico has to offer. The monument features over a mile of kivas, or cave dwellings, found and expanded upon by Pueblos as early as 1150 AD. The trail allows up-close encounters with these ancient marvels, including a small, reconstructed kiva that hikers may enter via ladder.
As beautiful and awe-inspiring as these cave-dwellings are, when snow settles on the façade of the rock and surrounding area, an other-worldly contrast of colors, history and nature make up an extraordinary scene. Along with the human achievements, the park’s own hairy-eared Abert’s squirrels come out in droves in the winter and are far easier to spot amongst the white backdrop.
There are some restrictions to the park due to COVID-19 protocols as well as the severity of snowfall. All outdoor facilities, including trails, campgrounds and park restrooms are open. The visitor center, museum and theater remain closed, however. Whether you’re on your way to El Pueblo or leaving, it’s been a generous season for snow this year and there’s still time to experience Bandelier and its kivas among the white powder.
In The Eyes of Instagram
The reason we advocate not having a compass in Taos, New Mexico is because there’s awe and wonder in every direction. Chances are you’ve made your way here, not for the chance to run into a celebrity, but the chance to see something naturally inspiring.
That’s why you should follow these accounts that give you that New Mexico adventure and picturesque landscapes every day, no matter where you are at the moment. And as always, follow us first @elpueblolodge
@taos
This first page is just a taste of what you’ll find in each of the accounts we’ll feature. Other-wordly sunsets, real-time blizzards and Taos culture that’s been shared for generations.
Snow In Taos
Sunset Moonrise
A Slice of Heaven
@newmexicotrue
Featuring some of the most pristine photography you’ll ever find of New Mexico, this page tags each photographer so you can get caught down your own rabbit hole of New Mexico experiences.
A Sight for Sore Eyes
Long Walk on the Beach
Dreaming of Skiing
@taoschic
A very well-curated Instagram page, this influencer owns her own New Mexico travel company, so she’s guaranteed to show you the best the state has to offer. Maybe she’s even your next trip planner to Taos.
Snow blanketing Taos Mesa
Pitter Patters
No Place Like Home
@heritageinspirations
Branded as New Mexico’s Premier Travel Company, this page is run by @taoschic above and gives a New Mexico tourist, past or future, the yearning to try and capture the same experiences she does.
Romantic New Mexico Excursion
Duke City E-Bike
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
@visittaos
The official Visit Taos Instagram page, most of their content is sourced from local and tourist photographers documenting their individual experiences through breathtaking images and lenses.
Taos Makers
Rio Grande Gorge
Taos Sign
@nmhikergirl
One of New Mexico’s most influential influencers, this page takes you hiking through every forest trail and canyon run from the hiker’s point of view. There are few better ways to see yourself in a New Mexico hiker’s boots.
Scary Outdoor Story
Scary Outdoor Story 2
Scary Outdoor Story 3
@newmexiconomad
Featuring a blend of local photographers and the best videography you’ll find on this list, this page also provides stories and history nuggets in some of the captions, adding a unique element to its posts.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Fall Confusion on the Bosque
Kiowa National Grassland
@newmexi.co
This page has no shortage of gorgeous landscape shots, all sourced from local and tourist photographers on their New Mexico adventures. Even without a plan to visit, these posts will undoubtedly brighten your feed.
Zozobra
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Jemez
@onlyinnewmexico
Also sourcing its images from a variety of other pages, this is one of many New Mexico traveler pages that you can use to find a myriad of influencers and photographers from all over the world.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
New Mexico Reflection
Wild Horses
Here Comes The Sun
While sleeping in after a long day of adventures at El Pueblo Lodge, it may sound ideal, a “must-see” for any New Mexico visitor, to take in our breathtaking sunrise and sunset. Colors and shades and hues found nowhere else on Earth can be seen almost every morning and night in the American Southwest. Even our own color palette attempts to emulate these unforgettable natural tints.
While the Southwest is known for its unmatched sunsets at dusk, the sunrises fly a bit under the radar when it comes to recognition. We believe it’s because the landscapes here are so beautiful in autumn, it doesn’t matter where the sun is in the sky.
If you’re stopping through Taos on a Southwest road trip, be sure to plan your route and departure along with the sunrise. You won’t regret it. And with the threat of COVID still limiting our range of activities in Taos and New Mexico, watching the sunrise outside (or inside your vehicle) with your favorite people sounds like an unbeatable activity.
South
If you’re heading south towards Santa Fe or Albuquerque, make sure you take Route 68 down. Hovering along the edge of Picuris Peak, the growing sunlight bounces off the mountainside and splashes throughout the New Mexican landscape. Just west of Santa Fe, you’ll find the Bandelier National Monument and Santa Fe National Forest. Both natural wonders are akin to heaven in the early mornings of an autumn day in the Southwest.
Northeast
The road winding from Taos, up through Taos Canyon, across the mountain to Angel Fire, past Red River and parallel to Questa back to Taos is known as the “circle of enchantment.” Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico, shines like it’s under nature’s spotlight when the sun rises each morning. Each surrounding mountain along the route has its own chance to show its true colors every autumn dawn.
Northwest
Arguably the most majestic drive in all of Northern New Mexico is the road from Taos to Chama along Route 64. Crossing over the renowned Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, through the mesmerizing Carson National Forest, around the Rocky Mountains and down the Chama Valley, you can enjoy every type of terrain as the sun begins to rise at your back, illuminating the newly gold Aspen trees and rusted valleys for hours.
Whatever Floats Your Raft
We’ve told you about the trails that lead you to the top of New Mexico, but do you know about the much more exhilarating paths down to the bottom? Northern New Mexico has arguably the most comprehensive rafting options in the country, with rafts for all ages and speeds.
Starting with the fastest, whitest water you can get, the Taos Box rapids wind through canyons and valleys with runs named Dead Car and Pinball. While it is a rush, the beginning and middle of the trip allow for relaxation to get your sea legs under you, stop for lunch and take in the pristine nature views around every meander. Rafters will tell you this might be the greatest full day rafting trip in the country.
The trip with the most name-recognition potential is claimed by the Rio Grande Gorge. The perfect combination of length, adventure, nature, thrills and Rio Grande experience, this full day trip appeals to every age in one way or the other. Wildlife viewing is guaranteed along the way as well as ancient Rio Grande style petroglyph, also known as rock art from earlier civilizations.
The Racecourse Half Day trip is perfect for getting in the whitewater experience in all its glory. This particular one is the most popular rafting trip in New Mexico. For a few hours, groups work together to paddle in and out of currents and boulders for the ideal rafting adrenaline rush. Only a mile away from the New Mexico River Adventures headquarters, look no further than this course for your group of adventurers.
All courses have availability every single day through September, so catch a ride while you can! Visit the website here to plan your trip outdoors this fall. And if rafting doesn’t get you going, a myriad of other options along the river are right at your fingertips, including kayaking, rock climbing, horseback riding and more.
And after a day on the water, there is no greater feeling than melting into a soft bed back at El Pueblo Lodge in Taos and reminiscing on the experience of a lifetime you and your friends and family just experienced. So, come on down! Rapidly or not, there’s something for everyone all year long.
Browse Taos
We’ve always been comfortable being challenged and exploring uncharted territory in Taos. But this past spring and summer has definitely been the most challenging adventure of all. Sometimes, we’ll admit, we wish we had a compass to get us through it.
With tourism halted and emergency public health mandates announced, the year of 2020 will be considered the lost year that everyone remembers in Taos’ very long history. We love travelers and encourage them to “live like a local” amongst us. So, while many visitors’ trips were thwarted this year, there are always opportunities to get a little taste of Taos.
Taos’ downtown plaza and shopping opportunities bring people from all over the country and world to browse and take home some of the most intriguing Southwestern boutique artistry and products. From award-winning jewelry to one-of-a-kind handmade artwear, Taos’ businesses have taken to online markets to provide you what you’ve been missing this year.
Browse the most local Taos accessories and products found nowhere else in the world below:
Stylish and colorful artwear alongside bold accessories that no one else can say they have.
Both local bee hives and honey products around Taos who, of course, are here to #SaveTheBees
Fine works of art, jewelry ceramics and more from and for discerning eyes.
For the adventure-seekers, the wanderers and explorers, giving the people living in and visiting Taos what they need to appreciate all its wonder.
All of these shops are also open operating in downtown Taos. We at El Pueblo are also open and operating here with the most attention to detail in mind when it comes to safety and comfort for all our guests. That’s our promise to you and the lovely people of Taos. Thank you for your interest and support in 2020, the year without a compass.
Taos is Riding High
You’ve probably heard all about the ski resorts surrounding Taos. We’ve talked about them plenty. But did you know they can be as worthwhile in the summer without any snow on the ground?
Taos has arguably the best collection of summer chairlift rides in the country. Whether you’re hiking, mountain biking or just taking in the breezy view, a chairlift ride provides a scenic catalyst or highlight to your active day around Taos. And with all operators taking extra health precautions due to COVID-19, it’s one of the safest activities to plan this summer.
Known for its popularity in the winter months, Taos Ski Valley has plenty to offer when the snow melts. Taos Ski Valley’s chairlift ride takes riders up the backside of the mountain, dropping them off to splendid views of Wheeler and Kachina Peaks at the top. Plenty of picnic tables greet riders at the top for a picturesque lunch before hiking down or taking the lift back.
The chairlift opens July 1, 2020, and operates daily from 10am to 4pm, weather permitting. 2019-20 Taos Season Pass Holders ride for free. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy the summer months in Taos than hiking and enjoying its true nature.
With as high up as you’ll be going, you may meet a few angels. Angel Fire’s chairlift ascends up Moreno Valley to a 10,600-foot peak. Along with the eye-opening views, there are worlds of activities to partake in once you reach the top. Seating to enjoy lunch, trailheads for hiking and mountain biking and an 18-hole disc golf course all welcome you at the summit of the mountain.
Chairlift rides have been operating since May 29, 2020 and run every day through August 16, 2020. Weekend rides are available all the way through November 1, 2020. Rides operate from 9am to 4pm and extend to 5pm on holidays.
At Red River, the way up is almost as fun as the way down. Taking you up 1,600 vertical feet to the summit, Red River’s chairlift ride offers vast views of Carson National Forest. Meeting you at the top is a full 21-hole disc golf course, serene nature trailheads and the best mountain biking trails in the state. If you’re a serious mountain biker, strap your bike to the lift and enjoy the calm before storm on multiple trails ranging from intermediate to advanced.
Chairlift rides operate daily through September 6, 2020 and each Saturday through September 26, 2020. Open from 9am to 4pm from Sunday to Thursday and until 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s plenty of time to enjoy whatever activity brings you to El Pueblo Lodge and Taos this summer.
Have Your Compass
Hiking in New Mexico
We’re all about having no compass at El Pueblo. We pride ourselves in adventure and reacting to whatever nature and people with whom we cross paths. Since you saw us last, nature threw us a curveball and people are still reacting.
If you’re like us, that summer feeling is getting more and more real each day. We’re itching to responsibly get outside and cooperate with the new normal that awaits all of us. But just because our rules are changing doesn’t mean our adventurous spirit has to also.
This summer, with many activities, attractions and events in question or canceled, the majestic New Mexico wilderness is calling your name. Hiking on northern New Mexico’s serene southwest trails provides the perfect excuse to scratch that outdoor itch while remaining in small groups and staying as socially distant as it gets. Here are a few of our favorite trails open right now.
Winsor Trail, Santa Fe
Starting with a moderate-level hike, the Winsor Trail is challenging with a beautiful payoff.
The 10-mile hike sees a steady incline all the way to 11,000 feet in elevation. Crossing creeks and meadows and passing through ridges and passes, you’ll get the full New Mexico topographical experience.
With views of scenic Lake Katherine and lush forests, this hike can be enjoyed in one day or two. Camping is allowed, as we encourage you to get your weekend stay fix before stopping by El Pueblo and telling us about it.
Wheeler Peak, Taos Ski Valley
A more challenging hike, the Wheeler Peak Trail completes a 19-mile loop over a variety of elevation and terrain. Normally done in a couple days, this trail offers camping opportunities at elevations you’ve never camped before.
With elevation changes of almost 3,000 feet, this hike climbs two separate peaks over 13,000 feet above sea level. When you’ve reached both summits, take in the expansive views of aspen and pine trees throughout the Wheeler Peak wilderness.
Another recommended stop on your journey is the can’t-miss Horseshoe Lake, a beautiful body of water over 10,000 feet above sea level. No matter where you stop on your hike, we would love to hear about it right down the mountain from the Taos Ski Valley.
Trampas Lake Trail, Taos County
If you want even more high-elevation lake experiences, the Trampas Lake Trail is right down your alley. With snowy peaks well into summer, the Trampas Lakes glisten year-round.
Maybe the most picturesque of the trails we’ve mentioned, Trampas Lake Trail features three separate lake basins at the base of high mountain ridges and jagged rocky peaks. A moderately challenging hike, about halfway through at the 6-mile mark, taking the west path at the fork leads to Hidden Lake.
You can’t go wrong with visiting any of the three Trampas Lakes. You also can’t go wrong hiking any trail closer to us at El Pueblo in our Camino Real Ranger District. Take your pick from dozens of options for a day hiking trip here before you head back to rest at the lodge. We look forward to hearing all your stories and seeing all your faces this summer in Taos.
Historic Women of Taos
With so much happening in the world today, we wanted to take a moment to turn your attention to something else. If you didn’t know, March is Women’s History Month and Taos has more than its fair share of Women’s History around every turn. We’re highlighting a few women who have graced Taos’s past and elevated it to the cultural and artistic slice of heaven we know it as today.
Marjorie Eaton
An early 20th century painter, photographer and actress Marjorie Eaton broke ground for women for her modernist paintings as well as her role in the original Mary Poppins. Eaton first arrived in Taos in 1928 and is quoted saying “I realized I had found my soul when I arrived in Taos.” Her exhibit Marjorie Eaton: A Life In Pictures is on display at the Fechin House through March 29, 2020 in Taos.
Mabel Dodge Luhan
A patron of the arts and a legendary hostess, Mabel Dodge Luhan turned Taos into an “international salon,” persuading notable authors and artists like Aldous Huxley and Georgia O’Keefe to visit (and stay.) Her house is a brilliant display of history and character and is a visitor’s favorite in Taos.
Agnes Martin
A tremendously respected abstract expressionist and minimalist, Agnes Martin released some of her most coveted work while in Taos. While living in Taos from 1952-57, her work reflected an abstractionist tone, exhibited today at the Harwood Museum of Art. She returned to Taos in 1973 where she lived until passing in 2004.
Millicent Rogers (as seen in this photo above, Rogers poses with one of her numerous dachshunds in the living room of her apartment at 14 East 68th Street in New York City in December 1944)
A socialite, philanthropist, art collector, fashion icon, standard oil heiress and mother, Millicent Rogers was one of the most influential and eclectic women to ever call Taos home. Her home, known as Turtle Walk, contained over two-thousand Spanish colonial and Native American artifacts. Celebrated in Taos, she has a museum dedicated to her that is as interesting as she was.
You’ve Come to the Right (Fire) Place
After a day of traveling and exploring everything Taos has to offer in the chilly winter weather, there’s no better feeling than a warm room and cozy bed. El Pueblo Lodge not only has guest rooms with real wood-burning fireplaces, but kiva fireplaces, in true New Mexico fashion.
Here’s the 101 on everything Kiva. These distinguishable fireplaces have become a signature design element in southwestern architecture. The origin of the word “kiva” comes from Pueblo cultures dating back to the 8th century. Kivas were circular underground meeting places used for religious and spiritual ceremonies as well as other important gatherings. This style, along with countless other architectural designs, was adopted into contemporary use.
Kiva fireplaces are built deliberately for style and practicality. The broad base of the fireplace allows more heat to radiate around the bottom, heating the room longer and more efficiently. The narrow flume consolidates smoke for quicker ventilation. Traditional kivas, like the ones featured in many of our rooms, contain a nicho, a recessed mantle cut into the wall used for decorations, and a banco, a bench around the base of the fireplace.
The difference in heat distribution from kiva fireplaces is very noticeable from other modern fireplace options. The southwest history and design just add to its allure. We promise a warm welcome and an even warmer stay at El Pueblo Lodge.
Let the Wine Flow
Need another reason to celebrate Taos? There couldn’t be a better time than now, in the peak of ski season. From January 30 – February 2, Taos will be the center of the wine world, as the 34th Annual Taos Winter Wine Festival will be underway in the Taos Ski Valley. Featuring more than 150 unique wines from 40 different wineries and a dozen of the finest Taos chefs providing paired meals, this is the weekend to be in Taos.
Get to know some of our favorite wineries in this year’s Grand Tasting events!
Bodegas Protos first vintages both won gold medals at the Universal Exposition of Barcelona in 1929 and most recently won “Best Young Wine in Spain” for its Protos Verdejo in 2019.
Bartholomew Broadbent has been named in the top fifty most influential people in the wine world multiple times, displaying his vast impact on the planet’s wine culture.
The Frank Family’s iconic Larkmead building appears on the National Register of Historical Places and is listed as a Point of Historical Interest in California for its symbolism of the state’s heralded Napa Valley wine country.
Founder Frederick S. Wildman, Sr. developed such a deep love for French wines while serving as first lieutenant in the Second Division of the U.S. Army in World War I that after Armistice Day on November 11, 1918, he stayed in France for six more months to learn as much about vineyards as possible before his discharge.
José Pastor Selections have an impressive portfolio of reviving endangered grapes and growing techniques from the Iberian Peninsula as well as even the forgotten Canary Islands.
Scot Bilbro’s Marietta Cellars is a second-generation vineyard with almost every worker having 10 years under their belt at the winery.
René and Laurence Schlatter, members of the proprietor family, grew up in the same small town in Switzerland but somehow never met until Laurence’s brother introduced them at the Merryvale tasting room.
Once & Future’s Zinfandel is crafted from the 128-year-old vines planted by George Hearst, the same pioneer of Bedrock Wine Co.’s roots, also run by the same family.
Bob Sinskey, founder of Robert Sinskey Vineyards, was in the midst of developing his vineyard land when one of his inventions from his career in medicine exploded on the scene and he had to put wine on hold until opening the winery four years later in 1988.
The original name for Sean Minor Wines was “Four Bears” because when the founders were tasting their favorite and least favorite aspects of different wines around the dinner table, their four children likened this practice to Goldilocks searching for just the right bottle.
Curious about the full schedule of events happening? Check this page out.
Travel Global, Shop Local
Have you ever wanted to take something home from a trip but didn’t want to overpay or end up with something less than meaningful? We know how you feel. That’s why we’re so proud to introduce Shop Local Taos!, the community’s annual campaign encouraging shoppers to show support for local businesses during the holiday season.
From November 29 to your last-minute holiday shopping on December 24, dozens of local businesses and hundreds of community members pitch in with great discounts while enjoying Taos’s unbreakable community comradery. Pick up a free Shop Local Taos! tote bag any time to receive at least a 10% discount on all things Taos!
You know about Small Business Saturday, but we do everything a little bit bigger in Taos. Especially when it comes to recognizing local artists and vendors. That’s why we dedicated a whole month to show our pride, teamwork and artist’s work. Whether it’s Southwestern ceramics from the John Dunn Shops or 3D paintings from Bent Street, your holiday shopping just got a little more interesting. To check out more campaign click here.
