SNOWPLAY

Outdoor Adventure Beyond the Chairlifts
Want a little extra adventure in your winter vacation? There's plenty of snow in New Mexico's mountains and lots of ways to enjoy it. More than 45 percent of the state is public land, so grab a tube or rent some snowshoes and go explore.

Information
Many winter activities will take you into National Forest land. It is best to be prepared with maps and information beforehand. For a wealth of information about the outdoors in New Mexico, contact the Public Lands Information Center, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505-438-7542. You can even visit their website at www.publiclands.org and order the publications you need before your trip. It is important to remember that weather conditions can change suddenly in the backcountry and even the most benign mountain can sometimes pose an avalanche risk. Check weather and trail conditions before you set out into even familiar territory.

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
- At Enchanted Forest Cross-Country Ski Area near Red River, ski or snowshoe on more than 26 kilometers of groomed trails. There are special doggie trails so you can bring your best friend—and ever expanding snowshoe terrain. Warming huts throughout the system provide comfortable breaks. Rental equipment and lessons are available. 505-754-2374.
- The Valles Caldera National Preserve offers 7,000 acres for cross country skiing. There are 35 kilometers of maintained track and thousands of acres in which more adventurous skiers can break their own trail. 505-661-3333.
-Cross-country and snowshoe at the Adventure Park at Angel Fire Resort. There are 19 kilometers of terrain for beginners, intermediates and advanced. You can take a break and have a relaxing lunch at the Summit House Restaurant. Equipment rentals are available in the main lodge.
-You can cross-country on hundreds of Forest Service roads and trails near Taos, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Ruidoso, Red River and Albuquerque. Local shops rent equipment.
-The trails and alpine meadows at Cumbres Pass, just north of Chama, are some of the best cross-country terrain anywhere.
-Snowshoeing is easy! Lightweight snowshoes have transformed this sport so that anyone who can walk can do it.
-Snowshoe on cross-country trails, just respect the set cross-country tracks by not walking over them. Many shops rent the shoes and other stuff you need.

Tubing
-Rent a tube and slide all day at the new Tube Zone at Angel Fire Resort. Or, you can tube in the late afternoon on the lower mountain.
-At Taos Ski Valley tube from Wednesday through Saturday from 5-7PM on the beginners hill.  $7 for a tube and all the runs you can make.
-Red River offers two sessions of tubing at the ski area. The first session starts at 4:15 pm and the second at 5:00 pm. The cost is $7.00 and includes tube rental.
-Halfway up the mountain to Ski Santa Fe, you can tube and sled at Hyde Memorial State Park. A shop there rents gear.
-In Ruidoso, tube at the Ruidoso Winter Park or Triple M Snowplay Area.

Snowmobiling
-Even grandmas and toddlers can see the backcountry on a snowmobile. There are groomed trails and warming huts in Red River. Several operators give tours.
-Guides at Angel Fire Resort will take you on a tour of the mountain.
-There are lots of trails and Forest Service roads around Taos and several businesses do tours.
-The area around Chama is famous for snowmobiling and there are several outfitters.

Ice Skating
-Glide on the ice at Outpost Ice Arena and Blades Multiplex Arenas in Albuquerque.
-In Santa Fe, you can skate indoors at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center or outdoors on the pond at Hyde Memorial State Park.
-The rink at the Youth and Family Center in Taos is outdoors, but covered.
-In southern New Mexico, skate at Sewell Pond in Cloudcroft.

Snow Biking
-It looks like a bike except with skis instead of wheels. Try it at Sipapu or Angel Fire Resort—you’ll get a lesson when you rent the bike.