- Skier Soaks up Views at Durango Mountain Resort - Brandon Mathis
The southern Rocky Mountains offer some of the best skiing in the United States. A mild climate, heavy snows and natural terrain make for incredible vacations, or prolonged visits, keeping many visitors around all season long. Here are four world-class resorts that will have skiers and snowboarders wondering if they could take next year off and stick around a while.
Taos Ski Valley, Taos, New Mexico
Believe it. Taos is perhaps the steepest lift served terrain this side of the Alps, without the crowds, long lines and high prices. It’s hard to remember it’s New Mexico, but here in the Land of Enchantment, skiers, and snowboarders will be very enchanted with the 107 trails on 1,300 acres with over 300 inches of snowfall every season. The thirteen lifts serve a vertical drop of over 2,600 feet at this legendary mountain, and for those who aren’t high enough, there is plenty of hiking up Kachina Peak for side country turns and deep powder conditions.
Adult Lift Tickets: $69
Durango Mountain Resort, Durango, Colorado
Voted repeatedly for the best family ski destination, DMR has its fair share of gnarly terrain for the extreme members of the family. At 1700acres accessed by nine chairs, this sunny mountain has enough secret stashes to keep powder hounds busy for days after the storm. New expansions opened up the coveted trees off of Chair 8 for the 2009/10 season, adding to an already impressive amount of glades and hidden favorites. With abundant sunshine following huge dumps, this mountain has a vertical drop of over 2,000 feet and surprises many with natural fall lines and easily accessible steeps right off the front side.
Over one week in January 2010, DMR received nearly five feet of snow.
New lodging and guest accommodations make the resort even better.
Adult Lift Tickets: $65
Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride Colorado
The big daddy, Telluride is a place you can have it all. Eighteen lifts, 120 trails and a vertical drop of almost 4000 feet, this giant is full of everything skiers and snowboarders love. Hike on to side country terrain like Palmyra Peak, Black Iron Bowl or the Gold Hill Chutes. Head to Revelation Bowl for lift served bowl skiing that’s out of this world. Enjoy groomers four miles long and take in the views of the majestic San Juan Mountains that crown the resort. In town, choose from crepe carts and hot dog stands to world-class gourmet options at award winning restaurants. Like all of these mountains, one day is not enough. Spend a few days exploring the trees, the bowls and the hike to terrain at one of America’s most impressive resorts.
Adult Lift Tickets: $92
Wolf Creek, Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Fact: Wolf Creek gets the most snow in Colorado. Annual snowfall: A whopping 465 inches. This family owned gem is known throughout the region for huge dumps, no crowds and bottomless powder. Situated on the continental divide, it is the highest ski area in the state; with a base elevation of 10,300 feet. With wide-open groomers to the heavenly Waterfall area, hike up to Alberta Peak, Montezuma Bowl or Prospector and literally catch air dropping in off the great divide. This adventurous mountain is a must do for skiers and snowboarders looking for the best the Rockies have to offer. Seven lifts serve the 1,600 acres of natural terrain.
Adult Lift Ticket: $52
The best part? All of these resorts are a scenic drive form one another, making the four corners region a great place to hit for incredible skiing/snowboarding in all directions. Check out these enchanting resorts and see what it 's all about to ski the southwest in Colorado and New Mexico.
Brandon Mathis - Brandon Mathis is a freelance writer/photographer in Durango, Colorado. After nearly a decade of odd jobs at ski resorts bar tending and ...
