OPEN DAILY
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT*
!EXTENDED SEASON NOW THROUGH MARCH 26th!
(*We stop selling passes at 3 p.m.)
March 18, 2023
It’s Spring! That can mean great snow, and it has! We have received over 24 inches of new snow in the last 3 days, and 60 inches for the last 5 weeks, so we have good coverage most everywhere and are going to stay open an extra week. As a result of the 2021 huge wind event, however, there are still a few sections that have thin spots or obstacles. Check back here or call us at 575-754-6112 for the latest snow conditions.
‘Dog Days’ — Thursday, March 16, through Sunday, March 26th — mean you can ski on any open trail at Enchanted Forest with your fur baby (please remove poo packages by flicking them off the trail).
From today (Sunday, March 12) through closing day (Sunday, March 26) Enchanted Forest is selling everything in the retail store at 20% Off! SALE includes new snowshoes, sweatshirts, technical shirts, T-shirts, hats, gloves and accessories.
We are also selling USED Rental Boots and Skis on a first-come, first-served basis (same-day holds are fine). Due to a limited number of ski poles, full packages may not be possible.
Get Your Indy Pass Soon!
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 the last 2 years.
View detailed snow forecast for Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area at:
snow-forecast.com
Windstorm update
All but a few lesser-used trails in the system are cleared! a large section of the Yuki-onna snowshoe trail will remain uncleared for the season. We need the logging crew to remove the heavy tree fall in that area in the spring. Also, one Dog Trail (Upper Kitty Corner) is still blocked.
The Midway Yurt is repaired and ready for those needing a break or a lunch spot this winter and the Little John Yurt is repaired and open again for overnight rentals year-’round.
Sadly, there is still work to do and financial obligations we must meet after this devastating windstorm. The lack of snow and cold temperatures for fall 2022 has made it that much harder to finish recovery.
Help rebuild Enchanted Forest
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, brought 60-130 mph winds to the Red River area. As a result, 95% of the Enchanted Forests trails were impassable with downed trees and debris. Whole swathes of forest were flattened, and several buildings were destroyed or damaged. Mike Ritterhouse, our longtime general manager, estimated “200 acres of our permit zone are 98% flattened, another 200 acres are 60% flattened.”
If you would like to contribute to our rebuilding, please visit our GoFundMe page
Thank you so much to those who have already helped! Without you we could not have gotten to this point and may have closed forever.
Special thanks go out to several volunteers who went above and beyond – Ham, Corey, Nort, Andy Lang, Ron and Dina Burnham, Ed Hampton and the many volunteers from Faith Mountain Fellowship, Bill MacDonald, and Richard Holmes among many others. Also, the field leadership provided by our chief snowshoe guide, Shane Clawson and the coordination efforts of longtime staff member Bob Blair have been essential. Many of you know Larry McConnell who was able to come in the afternoons and early evenings to sharpen and maintain the chainsaws as well as our spirits.
Much of our food was provided at a significant discount and occasional donation from Old Tymers in Red River. Thanks to Carolyn Housley-Baños, Abbi, and all the crew at Old Tymers!
Donations through GoFundMe stand at $32,878 of our $100,000 goal. So far funds have gone toward buying forestry equipment and other supplies, chainsaw repairs, paying a core group of staff during our clearing efforts, buying lunch for volunteers, paying bills (such as our umbrella insurance and workers’ comp insurance, rental gear and other commitments made well before the disaster.)
Future funds will go toward trail improvements such as snow fencing to create wind breaks so we can hold the snow.
First Cross Country Ski Lesson
“Beautiful area to learn how to ski cross country… Bob was our instructor, he was great, really took the time with us newbies.”
Candice M. via TripAdvisor
It Really Is Enchanting!
“My friend and I went for the Christmas night luminaria trail and stayed in the Little John yurt. It was amazing… Toasty warm with everything we needed. This is my new Christmas tradition.”
Jolene M. via TripAdvisor
Magical Forest
“This place is awesome! It was out first time show shoeing and what a great experience. The trails are nicely groomed… Even our youngest did great and enjoyed it.”
Joe M. via TripAdvisor
Contact Info
29 Sangre de Cristo Drive
Red River, NM 87558