Mountain Layout—Skiing

Ski Santa Fe sits 16 miles north of the city. Though the mountain is known as a day-area destination for Santa Fe and Albuquerque skiers, out-of-town visitors will find a surprising amount of terrain. All the mountain amenities such as restaurants, ski rentals, child care, ski school and ticket sales are at the base of the mountain just a few steps from the parking lot.

Here's a larger trail map.

Expert, Advanced: For the most part, the mountain's expert terrain is to the left of the Tesuque Peak chair. With fresh snow, locals go first to Columbine, Big Rocks and Wizard. These runs all check in as very steep and are for advanced skiers only. Roadrunner is the expert bump run directly under the Tesuque chair. Tequila Sunrise and Easter Bowl have the best glade skiing. On the far side of the mountain, reached by the Santa Fe Super Chief quad, Muerte and Desafio have isolated trail skiing for advanced skiers. The Big Tesuque Bowl attracts the intrepid, who enter this area via Cornice. (Once skiers leave Cornice, they are outside the ski area's permitted boundary.) Big Tesuque skiers find natural powder, bowl skiing and trees. The bowls empty onto the area's entrance road, three miles below the base area, leaving you to hitchhike back up. First-timers should go with a local who knows this area: It's genuine backcountry, it's big and people occasionally get lost. [TOP]

Intermediate: On a fresh powder day (once a week on average), local intermediates and advanced skiers head straight for the Tesuque Peak triple chair, up to 12,000 feet and the top of the mountain. To the right of the lift (as the trail map reads) is Gayway, a glorious, groomed pitch with several spicy turns that gives new meaning to the term "spectacular scenery." On a clear day, you almost get the feeling of flying, thanks to the 150-mile vista as the trail drops away. Parachute, which parallels Gayway, is a groomed black diamond with a somewhat steeper pitch. On the far side of the mountain, reached by the Santa Fe Super Chief quad, Middle and Lower Broadway have isolated trail skiing for intermediate skiers. [TOP]

Beginner, First-timer: Beginners will be happiest on the lower part of the mountain, on the wide boulevard of Easy Street. Advanced-beginners will find more challenges and a slightly steeper pitch on Open Slope and Upper and Lower Midland. If you're feeling adventurous, try Lower Burro for an exhilarating, winding trip through the trees on a mild pitch. First-timers will find good terrain at the mountain's base served by the Pine Flats lift; it's protected by snowfences. For children Chipmunk Corner lift provides a tucked-away learning area. [TOP]