Skiing & Snowboarding Season in Albuquerque, NM 2024-2025

The Albuquerque area performs as the perfect destination for your winter outdoor recreation. It's famously known as a mile-high city with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 6,000 ft (1,500 to 1,800 m). In a good snow year, Albuquerque's winter offers gorgeous conditions for New Mexico skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and other winter activities. Only a 40-minute drive from Albuquerque's downtown, the famous Sandia Peak Ski Area provides skiers and snowboarders an excellent place to get their slide on.

Ski Season & Best Time

Although Albuquerque is spectacular all year round, the skiing season in Sandia Peak Ski Area runs from late November through early April with the best snow conditions between mid-December and mid-March. This year, the resort is set to open its doors in late December.

Sandia Peak Ski Area

Situated right in Albuquerque's backyard, Sandia Peak crests at 10,378 ft (3,163 m) in elevation. Its area owns some of the state's most extended cruising terrain, a large trail system for cross-country skiing, and a snowboarding terrain park. The unbelievably scenic drive to the east side of the mountain will bring you from downtown to the ski area in about half an hour. If you have your own equipment, you can drive straight to the Sandia Mountain base at the city's eastern edge, ride the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world's longest aerial tramway at 2.7 mile (4.3 km), and ski down the mountains' eastern slope just from the summit.

The resort boasts 35 trails and 4 lifts. You have a perfect opportunity to take a lesson, learn to ski, or sharpen your skills, as Sandia Peak Ski Area has a top-notch rental shop and a certified ski school. This mid-sized resort is also perfect for advanced or intermediate riders. It is also very popular with Nordic skiers, as several miles of groomed trails can be found here.

Opening Hours

The resort is open on Saturdays and Sundays during the early season and starting from December 21st, starts operating daily from 9-10 am until 4 pm.

Tickets & Season Passes

Lift tickets vary around $19-29, but prices might change during the peak of ski season. Children 12 and under and seniors over 75 can ski for free at Sandia Peak with the Power Kids Pass and a Free Super Senior Pass. Weekday Power Pass costs $275 for one day and gives you access to Sandia Peak and eight other mountains on all days except for weekends and holidays.

Power Pass Core ranges from $399 to $499, with unlimited access to Sandia Peak and limited skiing at other resorts and ski areas. Power Pass Select varies around $449-799, while Sandia Peak Weekday Pass costs $199 for one day per week. Prices are due to increase on November 1st.