Trails and Guided Backcountry Tours
Snowshoeing and backcountry skiing provide a unique and fun way to enjoy the outdoors in winter. Enjoy exploring quiet winter trails on a sunny afternoon. Or go on a guided backcountry skiing or snowshoeing tour to experience the beauty of hiking in the winter.
TRAIL UPDATE (November 30, 2023): The higher elevation trails are snow covered but not particularly deep in most places. Boot traction devices are highly recommended.
You can Snowshoe or backcountry ski (skin) up to Williams Lake—a 4-mile round trip hike from The Bavarian. Other options include Gavilan Trail (3.3 miles one way), Italianos Canyon Trail (3.7 miles one way), Bull of the Woods Trail (3 miles one way), Manzanita Canyon Trail (4.2 miles one way) and Yerba Canyon Trail (3.9 miles one way). All of these trails are accessible from Highway 150, the Taos Ski Valley road. Scroll to the bottom of this page for trail maps.
The two most popular trails for snowshoeing are Williams Lake and Bull of The Woods/Wheeler Peak Trail #90. More trails including popular cross country ski trails can be found at Carson National Forest. For groomed cross country ski trails, check out the Enchanted Forest XC Ski Area near Red River.
See all trails in Taos Ski Valley on HikingProject.com – free GPS coordinates, descriptions, photos and other info.
Taos Avalanche Center forecasts, observations, and more information.
Snowshoe Rentals
Snowshoes/poles can be rented at Cottams’s Ski Shop.