Alto · Sierra Blanca · Ski area and scenic gondola
Ski Apache
New Mexico’s southernmost ski resort, owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, with 55 trails, an 8-passenger gondola to 11,500 feet, and kids 12 and under skiing free with a paying adult.
Opens Ski Apache’s 2026–27 lift ticket page. Buying online saves $10 on an adult full-day ticket on non-holiday days.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Ski area
Plus summer gondola rides, ZipTour and trails
Admission
$165–$195 day tickets
Adult, 2026–27. Kids 12 & under free with an adult
Hours
Lifts 9–4 · Weekends
2026–27 opening day not yet announced
Time needed
3+ hours
Tripadvisor’s estimate; most skiers stay all day
Parking
Base-area lots
No RV rules posted; steep 12-mi climb on NM-532
Gondola top
11,500 ft
New Mexico’s only 8-passenger gondola
What you’ll see
Southern New Mexico’s big mountain
Ski Apache is a winter ski area first, with a scenic gondola, a ZipTour and trails on summer weekends.
Photo: Jonathan Cutrer on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Start here
A ski day on Sierra Blanca
Ski Apache spreads 55 trails over more than 750 acres between a 9,600-foot base and 11,400 feet, and 60 percent of the terrain is rated intermediate. An 8-passenger gondola, the only one of its size in New Mexico, climbs to 11,500 feet, and snowmaking reaches all the way to the summit.
RV tip: rent skis or a snowboard in town at the Ski Apache Ski Shop on Mechem Drive for $49.99 a day (Thursday through the weekend), then return the gear on the mountain at the end of the day. On the mountain, rentals are $65 a day after December 18.
More to see
- Scenic gondola ridesNon-skiers can ride the gondola in winter for $55 online or $60 at the window (adults). There are no facilities at the top, so dress warm.
- Apache Wind Rider ZipTourThree zip lines totaling 8,890 feet drop 1,584 vertical feet from near the summit at speeds over 60 mph. It runs Friday to Sunday in summer for $110, and riders must be at least 10.
- Summer hiking and bikingHiking is free, and hikers can ride the gondola down free. Mountain bikers ride the gondola up to beginner and advanced trails.
- Kids ski freeChildren 12 and under ski free with a paying adult, except on holiday blackout dates.
- Lessons and adaptive skiingGroup lessons start at $80 and private lessons at $160, and Ski Apache Adaptive Sports works with skiers who have permanent disabilities.
Why go
A Native-owned mountain with a long history
Oilman Robert O. Anderson opened Sierra Blanca Ski Resort at Christmas 1961, and its 1962 gondola was the first mono-cable four-passenger gondola in North America. The Mescalero Apache Tribe bought the resort in 1963 and renamed it Ski Apache in the 1984–85 season, and today it is one of the few Native-owned ski resorts in the country.
The mountain means more than skiing here. Sierra Blanca, the White Mountain, is one of four sacred mountains in Mescalero Apache tradition, and its 11,981-foot summit towers over Ruidoso. The resort is about 17 miles and 40 minutes from town, the last 12 miles up NM-532, a steep, winding mountain road, so leave the rig at camp and drive up in the tow vehicle.
Winter usually opens in late November and runs to late March, weather permitting; last season opened November 29, 2025, and the 2026–27 date had not been announced on October 29, 2026. Summer weekends bring the gondola, ZipTour and trails from about late May to mid-September.
Photo: Jonathan Cutrer on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Why it made our list
- New Mexico’s only 8-passenger gondola, to 11,500 feet
- 55 trails on more than 750 acres
- Kids 12 and under ski free with a paying adult
- Owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe since 1963
- About 40 minutes from Ruidoso
For RVers
Getting the tow car up Ski Run Road
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Drive up in the tow vehicle
NM-532 climbs about 12 miles from NM-48 with steep grades and sharp curves, and the Forest Service warns of heavy braking on the way down. Ski Apache publishes no RV or trailer parking rules, so leave the rig at camp. A shuttle from Inn of the Mountain Gods costs $40 a person round trip, with a reservation.
Carry chains in winter
The Forest Service says chains may be required in winter, and the resort recommends winter tires and chains. Check the road panel on Ski Apache’s driving page and NMRoads before you go; a 2026 NMDOT drainage project on Ski Run Road used one-lane closures.
Dogs on a leash
Ski Apache allows leashed dogs, but not on the mountain bike trails. The top of the gondola has no facilities, so bring water for both of you in summer, and never leave a pet in a hot vehicle.
Plan around weekends and holidays
Ski Apache’s FAQ lists the mountain as open Saturdays and Sundays, while its 2026–27 price tables cover Thursday to Sunday, so check the calendar before you go. Holiday periods (December 19, 2026 to January 4, 2027, plus MLK and Presidents’ Day weekends) cost more and are blackout dates for the kids-ski-free deal.
What visitors say about Ski Apache
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 29, 2026.
one of the few Native-owned resorts in the entire United States
Ski Apache, on its ownership · skiapache.com
What visitors often mention
Popular mentions on Tripadvisor
Zip liningSnowEquipment
Tripadvisor’s popular mentions for Ski Apache include zip lining, snow, safety and equipment; it shows no counts. Checked October 29, 2026.
How high you’ll go
Base, terrain and gondola elevations from Ski Apache; the summit figure is Sierra Blanca’s surveyed height. The air is thin up top, so drink water and wear sunscreen.
Good to know
Adult full day$165–$195 2026–27, online
Kids 12 & underFree with a paying adult
Winter gondola only$55–$60 adult
Summer weekendsGondola $50ZipTour $110Hiking free
Prices from Ski Apache’s 2026–27 winter ticket page and its 2026 summer pages, checked October 29, 2026, before tax. Adult window tickets cost $10 more than online on non-holiday days, and all sales are final. The site calls parking free with a lift ticket in one place and lists $15–$25 in another, so ask when you buy.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Ski Apache
- Address1286 Ski Run Rd., Alto, NM 88312
- HoursLifts 9–4 · Weekends
2026–27 opening day not yet announced - Phone(575) 464-3600
- TicketsBuy online, at the kiosk or at the ticket window
- Getting thereFrom Ruidoso, take NM-48 north about 4 miles, turn left on NM-532 (Ski Run Road) and follow it about 12 miles to the end.
- ParkingLots at the base area. No RV or trailer rules are published, so bring the tow vehicle.
Ski Apache had not announced its 2026–27 opening day when we checked. Look at the website and the road-conditions panel before you head up, or call (575) 464-3600.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Ski Apache
These are the Ruidoso-area parks we have visited and written up. Every route to Ski Apache ends with the climb up NM-532, so allow extra time in winter.
Eagle Creek RV Resort
Gated, seasonal RV resort in the pines right on Ski Run Road, the closest park we cover to the slopes.
Little Creek RV Park Resort
Quiet, highly rated seasonal park on open acres along NM-220 in Alto. Check its season before a winter trip.
Midtown Mountain Campground
Small, tidy park under tall pines, a short walk from Midtown shops, restaurants and the ski shop on Mechem Drive.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Weekends · Lifts 9 am–4 pm
Ready to ski Sierra Blanca?
Buy tickets online, leave the rig at camp, and give yourself time for the climb up Ski Run Road.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Jonathan Cutrer on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); the images were resized. Video: Van Life Thru a Lens on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Ski Apache unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the resort’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the resort and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Ski Apache at skiapache.com or (575) 464-3600. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.