8 spots for family-friendly winter activities in New Mexico

Thanks to New Mexico’s mountain ranges and alpine elevations, there’s plenty of powder to play in throughout the Land of Enchantment during the winter.

Skiers and snowboarders eagerly await opening day at New Mexico’s ski areas and resorts, and families pull out tubes, sleds, and saucers for a day of fun in the state’s national forests. Here are a few great destinations for winter activities throughout New Mexico, on and off the slopes.

Ski Apache, on the slopes of 12,000-foot Sierra Blanca, sees some of the first snow in New Mexico. Take a gondola to the top for turns, or sail above the slopes at more than 60 mph on the 8,890-foot-long Apache Wind Rider zip line, which starts at 11,489 feet. Ski and snowboard group lessons for those 7 and older start at $65, and the zip-line tour takes about an hour and a half and costs $150; check online for specials throughout the season.

Cloudcroft is an alpine world come winter, offering views of White Sands National Park below. The Lincoln National Forest has miles of snow-covered trails and sledding areas, such as the Upper Karr Recreation Area.

In the Village of Cloudcroft, families can enjoy open-air ice skating at the covered James Sewell Ice Rink (Cloudcroft Ice Rink), New Mexico’s southernmost ice rink and its only natural one (no electric refrigeration). Ice skates are available for rent, and there are picnic tables, a snack bar, and a warming hut. End your day by roasting marshmallows on a bonfire. Cost is $15 for adults and includes skate rental. Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

In the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque, the Capulin Snow Play Site has 3 runs dedicated to sledding and tubing in the Cibola National Forest. A gentle-slope area is perfect for smaller kids, and facilities include a public fire ring and an open shelter.

The parking area accommodates plenty of vehicles, but beware of ice and snow piles that can trap lower-clearance vehicles. Only inner tubes or all-plastic sleds and saucers are permitted at this area; for safety reasons, no sleds with wood or metal are allowed. Sledders hike up the side of the hill and wait for their turn to launch down the wide slopes.

This family-friendly area is unsupervised, and proper winter clothing and footwear are a necessity; helmets are also recommended. Snow is weather-dependent. The $3 USFS amenity fee can be paid by cash at the parking-area kiosk or purchased and printed online beforehand (Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day are free days).

Take the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway to the top of the Sandia Mountains from the Albuquerque foothills, and snowshoe, ski, or just play in the snow along Ellis and other trails at the top. When conditions permit, the Sandia Ski Area, with plenty of mellow runs, is perfect for families. Warm up with hot chocolate at Ten3 restaurant near the top tram terminal. Round-trip tram tickets are $29 per adult and must be purchased online.

Just miles from the Santa Fe Plaza is Hyde Memorial State Park. Its hill behind Cottam’s Ski Shop makes for great sledding, and Cottam’s sweetens the deal with hot chocolate and a fire pit. Cottam’s sells saucers as well, and sledders are welcome to warm up in this full-service ski and rental shop on the way to Ski Santa Fe.

North of Cottam’s, Aspen Vista Picnic Site has a wide path for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through the aspens, and the surrounding slopes are perfect for family sledding.

Black Canyon Campground is another good spot for sledding, with its kid-friendly mellow grade.

At the top of NM 475, Ski Santa Fe is popular with skiers and boarders of all levels, and its Chipmunk Corner gets kiddos as young as 6 on the slopes. Afterward in town, head for Cowgirl BBQ, which offers a kids’ menu and play area as well as a full bar.

Tubing at Red River Ski Area begins at 4:30 p.m. daily and lasts for an hour ($25 per session). Every Saturday night during ski season, the Red River Torchlight Parade wows spectators with flare-toting skiers and fireworks. Tubing costs $28 per session.

From February 24 to March 1, the annual Red River Mardi Gras in the Mountains includes family-friendly events such as the Main Street Parade and the Children’s Ball. Tickets start at $75.

At Angel Fire Resort, the Polar Coaster has 3–6 tubing lanes serviced by a moving surface lift at the ski area, and the resort’s Nordic Center sledding hill is perfect for adventurous little ones. Don’t miss the Hot Chocolate and S’more Bar. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the ticket office at the base of the mountain or at the Activities Center in the Lodge.

At Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area, cross-country ski lessons are available for ages 6 and up. Guided snowshoeing tours through the woods are also available, as are winter yurt rentals, in which families can snuggle up for a night of camping in the forest with a wood-burning stove. Ski lessons are $42 per session.

Southern New Mexico may have a desert reputation, but it offers plenty of places to play in the snow. At Ruidoso’s Winter Park, 3 magic carpet lifts lead to 11 tubing trails ranging from calm to bomb, with the more extreme runs featuring turns and banks. Snow-making capability means there’s guaranteed snow no matter what Mother Nature is doing.

Daytime tubing tickets are $36.50 for 3 hours, and the $475 Igloo Package includes a heated canopy with tables and chairs, 6 zip-line tickets, unlimited tubing for 6, a pizza from the park’s café, hot chocolate, and s’mores. Penguin Park has 2 runs for little ones up to 42 inches tall. Ski bibs are available for rent for $12, and the on-site store sells gloves, snow pants, and other winter gear.