Southwest alpine recreation and local businesses in Red River - Taos Valley
Formerly a gold mining area, Red River - Taos Valley is a nature-oriented community centered around ski resorts in the southwestern alpine mountains. This skiing village has a population of about 450 people, and its Main Street thrives with locally owned shops, restaurants and community festivals. As the seasons change, the skiing trails become scenic summer hikes, and Red-River Taos Valley offers all kinds of outdoor recreation in the heart of northern New Mexico. "It used to be primarily a ski resort town, but now we get most of our guests in the summertime," says Lindsey Casali, an area native and qualifying broker at Casali Real Estate. "People can enjoy hiking, horseback riding and fly fishing. We also have ATV trails so people can bring all their toys."
1980s cabin-style homes surrounded by mountains
In Red River, houses sit just beyond the downtown area, on small lots near the banks of the mountain. Closer to Taos, they sit in the alpine hills along dirt roads. This area has Craftsman and cabin-style homes built in the 1980s. Home prices range from $300,000 to $3 million. Most single-family houses go for $300,000 to $1 million, although larger homes closer to Taos Ski Village cost between $1 million and $3 million. Condos fall approximately between $100,000 and $900,000. Many properties double as vacation homes. "It makes it much more intriguing for buyers when homes can also be investment properties," Casali says. Red River—Taos Valley has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. Due to the area's rough terrain and heavy snowfall, residents will likely need a vehicle with all-wheel drive. Some properties are at risk of flooding from the Red River and nearby creeks.
Warm-weather activities and multiple ski resorts
In the warmer months, Red River – Taos Valley becomes a summer habitat, as the snow melts to reveal alpine forests and activities, such as rock climbing, whitewater rafting and mountain biking trails. A 16-mile trail network reaches Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico, with mountainous views at 13,000 feet. The area's recreational centerpiece is the Taos Ski Valley Resort, which has 110 ski trails and 1,300 acres of skiable terrain. Also nearby, the Red River Ski Area is known for its novice-friendly terrain parks and slopes, while the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area has snowshoeing trails and dog-friendly areas. Many parks also have OHV capabilities for off-roading through the woods.
Main Street eateries and locally owned markets
Red River's Main Street features gift shops, outdoor apparel stores and around 24 restaurants. The Red River Brewing Company and Distillery serves burgers and homemade root beer in a pub reminiscent of a log cabin. In Taos Ski Valley, the Bavarian Restaurant is a European-style eatery serving soft pretzels, bratwurst and German beer on a wood-deck patio with mountain views. Cid's Mountain Market is a convenience store with snacks and a hot-food deli in Taos Ski Valley. Der Markt Food Store is a locally owned supermarket in Red River. While many ski villages have a variety of commercial retail, Red River - Taos Ski Valley has a thriving community of locally owned retail. "We want to keep businesses with the mom-and-pop family feel," Casali says. "We have some hotels, but everything else is locally owned and operated."
Oktoberfest and Mardi Gras in the Mountains
Several annual events unite the Red River - Taos Valley community, including the 8750 BBQ & Music Festival, which features live music and a chili cookoff over three days in August. Mardi Gras in the Mountains is a week-long festival celebrating Cajun traditions, with a Main Street parade and a grand ball at the end of February. Oktoberfest is a family friendly celebration with craft beer, food vendors and entertainment in October.
Taos Municipal Schools and Questa Independent Schools
With about 2,200 students, the Taos Municipal Schools district works closely with the Taos Pueblo Tribe and offers the Indian Education Program, which includes after-school enrichment and remote learning software. Arroyo del Norte Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche. Taos Middle School has a B-minus. Taos High School also receives a B-minus and has technology-oriented coursework in subjects like coding and robotics.
Shuttle transportation and the convenient Taos Regional Airport
The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) provides public transportation with a shuttle service through the valley. Red River and Taos Ski Valley are about 40 miles apart on state Route 38. Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico, is approximately 110 miles south on U.S. Highway 285. Taos has the closest emergency room in Holy Cross Medical Center, around 30 miles southwest. One significant benefit to the community is the Taos Regional Airport (TSM), roughly 35 miles southwest, with flights to Denver, Dallas and Austin.
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Was this overview helpful?
Agents Specializing in this Area
Cyndi Gonzalez
Responds Quickly
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Taos Real Estate 2
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Whether you're on the hunt for your next savvy investment opportunity or looking for a property where you can grow your business, take advantage of this incredible offer in Taos Ski Valley! Spanning 3 stories, Al's Run – named after the iconic run at the top of Lift 1 - is a thriving commercial building generating $5,000 in monthly revenue. While it needs a few updates, it currently houses 3
Cyndi Gonzalez
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Taos Real Estate 2
Situated in the heart of Taos Ski Valley, this one-of-a-kind Contemporary Modern Mountain Home redefines alpine luxury. Set on a rare corner lot spanning over one-third of an acre, the property is graced with more than 150 feet of the Rio Hondo River, flowing beneath two custom-built bridges that provide direct ski-in/ski-out access. Just a short walk to the base area's two main lifts, the
Daniel ClementsBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Taos Real Estate
This beautiful unit has recently been upgraded with fresh paint, new carpet in the bedrooms and luxury vinyl flooring in the common areas. The first floor features a living, dining and kitchen area with a 1/2 bath. The second floor has 3 bedrooms and a full bath. All rooms are tastefully decorated and one bedroom has a small barn door that had hung in a Roger Staubach family member's house! There
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cyndi Gonzalez,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
440
Median Age
53
Population under 18
15.2%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
31.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$66,853
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$69,683
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.7%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
29.9%
Advanced Degrees
16.1%
% Population in Labor Force
51.7%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
23''
Average Winter Low Temperature
6°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
73''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
9/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
4/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
