Taos Ski Valley: New Gondola, more approved

Even non-skiers have reasons to be stoked for the planned upgrades at Taos Ski Valley that were recently given the OK.

Significant upgrades, improvements and new recreation opportunities have been approved for the Carson National Forest within the Taos Ski Valley special use permit area. The upgrades include the addition of hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails, faster and more efficient lifts, and a gondola to better send users to the skier’s right side of the mountain.

“The projects will modernize and improve visitor movement and amenities within the ski area while balancing the needs of nearby communities and area traditional uses,” the U.S. Forest Service wrote on Facebook last week announcing James Duran, Forest Service supervisor, had approved the work.

Lifts 2 and 8, on the skier’s left side of the mountain, will be replaced with newer lifts to make it faster and more efficient to access some of Taos’ expert and hike-to terrain.

The new trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking will be at Lift 4.

The base-to-base gondola will give users a quicker way to access the Kachina Basin and lifts 4 and 7. The gondola will also alleviate traffic on Twining and Kachina roads.

A new water tank and booster station will be installed to make snow making more efficient.

On-mountain restaurant seating will be increased by relocating the Whistlestop Café from the base of Lift 2 to another site with more space, and food service will be added to the top of Lift 7.

“I’m proud that we’ve arrived at the conclusion of this process after extensive public feedback and look forward to continued engagement as we prepare for implementation,” Duran said in a Forest Service news release. “We must increase opportunities to benefit local communities while balancing that access with potential impacts for neighbors, both adjacent and downstream in the watershed.”

The approval process has been ongoing for six years, he said.

The renovations and upgrades should be a boon for the ski area, as well as its users, said John Kelly, Taos Ski Valley chief operating officer.

“We appreciate the thorough work by the USFS and everyone involved in this comprehensive process over the last six years, especially the input from community members who care deeply for this unique and special place,” Kelly said. “We remain committed to continuing to listen, learn, and have open conversations with the community on a wide range of topics well beyond this decision.”

Taos Ski Valley officials are still reviewing the approval’s language and are working on an implementation game plan.

“We’re still reviewing the final decision and have not made any specific plans for initial next steps,” Kelly said. “When we have made strategic decisions about priorities and expected timing, we will share those details.”