Ski Apache / Ruidoso Ski Vacation Guide

Ski Apache overlooks the famous historical White Sands National Monument where the first atomic bomb exploded. On the steep slopes of Ski Apache, you'll find 190 inches of impeccable New Mexico powder.

Ski Levels

Ski Apache is extremely blessed to set in the absolutely perfect local geographical and meteorological conditions that allows some areas in the middle of Apache Bowl to form natural halfpipes known as "the fingers." These features alone are worth seeing, since the level of challenge these natural pipes present is truly spectacular. Intermediates will want to stick to Chino, Capitan, Meadows, or Ambush, but if you're feeling up to a bumpy challenge, then Incredible and The Terrible are the runs on which to play. Beginners and children have a very special learner's area fenced off near Chair 5, so you don't have to worry about some hot dog flying through at warp speed. Once the skills are practiced enough and the confidence level rises, you can try Snowpark and Lower Deep Freeze.

The most famous bear in New Mexico has lent his name to Ski Apache—Smokey's Terrain Park is an intermediate level park with plenty of hits, rails, jumps, and table tops. There are a few features that are suitable for children and beginners, but most of the park is set up for the more advanced skier. Even though the New Mexico resorts are farther south than their Colorado counterparts, you'd never know it by the local climate conditions. The winters are sunny, snappy, and ski-perfect.

Après Ski

There are a great places to eat in the area without having to drive to Ruidoso. Michelena's Italian Restaurant serves up amazing wood-fired oven pizzas, just like you'd have on the Via Caracciolo in Naples. For a greater European variety, try the Cafè Rio, which serves Italian alongside Greek and Portuguese specialties. The kids will love Farley's family restaurant atmosphere and their great fajitas and burgers. For real Old West ambiance, your best choice is Tinnies Silver Dollar. If you're in the spicy Tex Mex mood you can taste amazing New Mexican cuisine at Casa Blanca and Campanario Restaurant. For a healthy greener choice, check out The Green House, which is proud to serve you veggies fresh from its own greenhouse.

The kids will love a visit to nearby Roswell, which is the site of the astounding and still formally unresolved mystery of the flying saucer crash during WWII. If you can tear them away from the UFO quirkiness of Roswell, they will enjoy the wonders of Smokey Bear Historical State Park in Capitan, where they can put a wildflower on the grave of the real Smokey the Bear. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a western movie will love The Hubbard Museum of the American West alongside The Museum of the Horse, which features thousands of historical displays of old carriages, wagons, and a nearly infinite collection of fine horse art.

Ski Apache / Ruidoso Snowboard Vacation Guide

Rider’s Guide

This is an exhilarating New Mexico resort, which happens to be the southernmost ski resort in the United States. The resort has a total of 11 lifts, comprising of two surface lifts, one double chair, five triple chairs, two quad chairs, and one gondola for four people. Enjoy 55 trails where you can snowboard on their longest run of 12,145 feet atop 190 inches of powder. Their trails are rated 20 percent for beginners, 35 percent for intermediates, and 45 percent for advanced.

Parks and Pipes

Due to a local geographical and meteorological phenomena, the slopes at Ski Apache form natural halfpipes known locally as "the fingers" in the middle of Apache Bowl. Look here for some truly awesome natural features for skiing. Smokey’s Terrain Park has more than enough tabletops, rails and jumps to keep you entertained. It’s a bit of an intermediate level so everyone from beginners to experts will find something of interest that suits their particular skill level.

Out of Bounds

You can’t come to this part of New Mexico without taking your own shot at solving the mysterious UFO enigma at Roswell, or visiting the Smokey Bear Historical State Park in Capitan and placing a wildflower on the grave of the real Smokey the Bear. If you’re an equestrian fan, don’t miss The Hubbard Museum of the American West with The Museum of the Horse, featuring thousands of historical displays of old carriages, wagons, and one of the world’s best collections of horse art. However, most of the discovery that you’ll want to do is in the great outdoors. The Ski Apache area is one of the state’s favorite places to get wild and crazy in the powder that never seems to end. You can choose from a selection of pulse-pounding outdoor sports such as rock and ice climbing, snowcatting, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, ice skating, jeeping and off-road driving, cross-country skiing, fishing, sledding, and riding snowmobiles.

Hangout & Hookup

If you want to get totally wild western style, then you would be hard pressed to find a watering hole that will approach the wild-factor of WPS, where you’ll be dancing to the best country music and drinking the coldest suds well into the night. Check out Billy the Kid Casino for great drinks at their huge bar and enormous Vegas-style buffet dinners. Casino Apache is a noted hotspot gambling, drinking, and carousing the night away.

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