Enchanted Forest closed for 2026-27 season
For decades, the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area has been more than a business to us. It’s been our life’s work and our second home, tucked into 600 acres of the Carson National Forest above Red River. Every season we’ve had the privilege of watching families learn to ski, kids catch their first glimpse of snow-covered pines, and longtime visitors return year after year like they were coming home. That’s what made this place worth everything we put into it.
This season, 2026-27, the Enchanted Forest will not open. That’s a hard sentence to write, and it took us a long time to accept it. We’ve spent years trying to make this work on every front, grooming trails, maintaining equipment, keeping the yurts and the lodge running, and doing everything we could to keep this place alive for the community that loves it. But the time has come for us to let go. Ellen and I will not be operating the ski area this winter.
We want to say, without any hedging, how much we love our customers. You are the reason this place mattered. The regulars who showed up every weekend, the families who made this their tradition, the skiers and snowshoers who trusted us with their winters year after year, you gave this place its heart. Running the Enchanted Forest was never really about the trails or the snow. It was about you, and we will carry that with us.
The ski area is still for sale, and there’s real hope that a new owner will step in and reopen it, maybe even this year. If that happens, we could not be happier to see the Enchanted Forest carry on under someone new. But that person will not be us. Geoff and Ellen Miller Goins are closing this chapter, and we wanted you to hear it from us directly, with the same honesty and gratitude you’ve always gotten from this place.
Thank you for every season. Thank you for trusting us with your winters. We hope to see you out there again someday, on this mountain or another.
With gratitude,
Geoff Goins
Ellen Miller Goins
Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area
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If there is enough snow (or if snow is not too icy) we’ll set for both classic and skate-skiing using a Ginzu from West Yellowstone Track Systems. However, if we get more than a few inches of snow, we’ll pack first using rollers, and we may not use the ginzu until the snow has had time to “set” (e.g. harden). In some case, this may take a day or two.
Grooming is an expensive and labor-intensive project often done in harsh conditions to provide outstanding skiing.
If you’re planning on heading out on packed or groomed trails, it’s best practice to wait at least two hours after grooming to let the snow harden up and establish the right surface consistency.
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First and foremost: always purchase a trail pass and display your pass while skiing or snowshoeing. Maintaining or trails can be an an expensive and labor-intensive project so don’t be “that guy”. By proudly displaying your pass you encourage others to contribute and help support our business. Always give a happy thank you wave to the groomers and stay out of their way while they are doing their thing.
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Whether you need to de-layer or you’re stopping for lunch, make room for others who are passing by.
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Leave No Trace principles are important any time you’re away from civilization.
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A good rule of thumb for all aspects of life, simply respecting others will take you a long way in maintaining harmony with your fellow… travelers. Everyone is out there to have a good time, just like you.
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People traveling downhill always have right-of-way in the tracks because they are likely moving at speed and can’t stop easily. If you are in front of someone faster than you, it’s technically correct to move aside and let them pass. Skiers will often signal with a “Hup!” or “Behind!” to alert others to their presence. In actual practice, more experienced (and therefore faster) skiers are often glad to move around slower beginner skiers who might be uncomfortable getting out of the tracks and will call out to indicate which side they will pass on. Overall, however, right-of-way comes down to common sense. Being polite and conscientious will take you far.
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Falls are inevitable, particularly when you’re just starting out with cross-country or skate skiing. What’s important (aside from getting back up and trying again) is fixing the divot you made when you fell, especially if you disrupted part of the ski track. Other skiers rely on those tracks and a missing segment may cause others to crash and burn as well. Use the loose snow from your fall to fill in the hole and smooth the surface as much as possible. If the divot is in the tracks, use your skis to press down the loose snow and reform the track walls.
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When you see a groomed cross-country ski tracks (two parallel groves set on one side of the ski trail), avoid walking in these lanes. Skis and boards rely on regular traction and smooth forward motion to get into a mile-eating rhythm.
As soon as a snowshoe hits the trail, that even plane is disrupted, ruining the terrain for the users to come. With the exception of the “Dog Friendly Trails”, which are used by both skiers and snowshoers, Enchanted Forest offers dedicated snowshoe trails for you to use. On shared trails, it’s best practice to stay as far to one side of the groomed track as possible and walk single-file to minimize impact on the corduroy.
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Uphill travelers the have right-of-way, just like on hiking trails. Make sure to move aside to enjoy a snack or take a break. If you’re on a multiuse trail, make sure to keep an ear out for snowmobiles.
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Avoid wandering around without your snowshoes on; you could inadvertently disrupt a trail with postholes that can be dangerous for other users.
Fat-Tire Bikes
Enchanted Forest asks fat bike users to use FR488, which is a multiple-use road not within our ski area boundaries. We have rentals!
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Always adjust tire pressure to the snow conditions so your tires have maximum traction with minimum impact. Generally, the softer the snow the lower the pressure should be. Start with 4–5 psi for soft conditions and air down as needed, and 6–8 psi for harder surfaces. Learn more about adjusting your tire pressure here.
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If you’re riding on groomed cross-country trails where fat-tire bikes are permitted, stay in the middle of the open groomed run and never ride across the ski tracks.
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Groomed trails need time to set up, and sometimes the snow is just too soft for a good ride. If you’ve lowered your tire pressure but you’re still sinking, head home and try again another day. In a similar vein, avoid post-holing or walking through deep snow on the trail in your boots.
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Ride with lights and reflectors, particularly when you’re on trails frequented by snowmobilers and skiers. These fast-moving users need all the time they can get to see you and adjust their positions if necessary.
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Fat-tire bikes should yield to all other users on multi-use trails, similar to the etiquette for bikes on summer hiking trails.
Snowmobiles should slow down when passing non-motorized travelers. Be sure to give them plenty of room to do that, though. You will likely hear them coming long before they can see you. If there’s more than one snowmobiler, the lead rider will often hold up fingers indicating the number of machines behind them. The last rider with signal with a closed fist to indicate the coast is clear.
Our founders….
John and Judy Miller both passed away Thanksgiving week in 2022. Read their story here!
John & Judy are gone…
It is with heavy hearts that we report founders John and Judy Miller both passed away Thanksgiving week. The entire Enchanted Forest community is saddened by their passing. They both skied and snowshoed as long as they could, and even visited the area in their last few years.