Kachina Peak Lift
If you are an expert skier, this is the lift you need to take.
The Kachina Peak Lift is located on the western side of Taos Ski Valley, providing access to some of the most challenging terrain in the resort.
Because it faces the western side, as time goes by the snow gets softer with the sun beaming down on a bluebird day.
The runs are all double blacks here and if you are not an expert skier I would not recommend it.
Also, when it gets pretty windy or when the visibility is low, Kachina Peak Lift will stay closed.
at minute 2:22, you can see me going up on the Kachina Lift, which rarely opens.
Elevation Gain
We can’t skip this part. Although the lift feels fairly old, and certainly is a slow one, it starts at around 11,819ft and arrives at 12,450ft. Once you get to the summit of Kachina Peak, you can see the flags that are mounted at the top of the peak.
Access
The Kachina Peak Lift provides you access to some of the steepest and iconic runs at Taos Ski Valley. I won’t name all of them but I certainly enjoyed K2, and K3. There are more advanced runs in the West Basin area. One time we were looking down K2 trying to decide if we wanted to do it, my friend John accidentally dropped his pole down the slope so we were forced to do the run haha.
Terrain
Kachina Peak is famous for its steep and challenging terrain, welcoming expert skiers and snowboarders. My friend JJ told me Taos is just a 4-letter word for ‘steep’. He wasn’t lying. The runs from the Kachina Peak Lift offer steep chutes, moguls that could be the size of a human, glades, and massively wide-open bowls. Taos never disappoints when it comes to having thrilling experiences for the expert skiers.
Scenery
The panoramic views of the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains are spectacular. On a sunny day, you can see all of the ridges around you, and we were lucky enough to be greeted by 6 long horn sheep. Also, if you do a 10 second hike to take a picture in front of the flags, you can also see the sign with information about the scenery.
Weather and Safety
Because it’s the highest peak of Taos Ski Valley, and weather exposure, the conditions at the summit of Kachina Peak can change rapidly. The terrain can be subject to avalanche danger. Skiers and snowboarders are warned to right as you get off the lift to be aware of the conditions that day. But please, be sure to check the weather forecasts, and avalanche conditions, and listen to ski patrol advisories before going on your double-black journey.
Overall, the Kachina Peak Lift offers access to some of the most challenging and spectacular terrains you will find at Taos Ski Valley, making it a favorite lift among advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders seeing a thrilling Taos Ski Valley experience.