Every spring and fall, Taos Ski Valley transforms from alpine retreat to dynamic gathering spot for Mountainfilm on Tour, where the spirit of adventure meets compelling stories on screen. Located in northern New Mexico, this event offers more than just films—it invites the outdoor enthusiast to connect with the fierce character of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains while engaging in conversations about conservation, exploration, and human resilience.

Mountainfilm on Tour is an extension of the renowned Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, tailored for communities that share a deep connection to the outdoors. Taos Ski Valley, with its soaring peaks and rugged terrain, provides a fitting backdrop. Think of this event as a bridge: between gripping documentary footage and real-world experience. The screenings here are carefully curated to highlight environmental challenges, epic journeys, and cultural narratives that echo the rawness surrounding the valley.

Beyond the theater, Taos Ski Valley offers terrain that demands respect. Trails unspool through dense forests of Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir, climbing steadily to reveal vistas of the Rio Grande Gorge and the distant Sangre de Cristo range. Expect elevation gains around 1,000 feet over moderate distances (3-6 miles), with rocky, sometimes uneven surfaces that test your balance and focus. The land is fiercely itself, inviting hikers to move deliberately, to listen to the wind stirring the high alpine meadows and to sense the river daring you to cross.

Attend Mountainfilm on Tour in the late afternoon and follow your day with a hike or a guided climb nearby. Hiking boots with good ankle support are necessary; the terrain rewards steady footing. Hydration remains critical, especially at altitudes surpassing 9,000 feet, where thinner air demands more from your lungs and muscles. Starting hikes early in the morning or late afternoon also helps avoid midday sun and afternoon mountain storms, a trademark of the region.

While Mountainfilm on Tour provides inspiration and community, the valley itself offers an equally compelling challenge. The trails ask you to respect both the land and your limits, rewarding with expansive views that stretch for miles, snow-capped peaks paling in the golden light of dusk, and the quiet pulse of the mountains behind and beneath you. For adventurers of all skill levels, this is more than a weekend event—it's an invitation to engage with a landscape that is honest, demanding, and profoundly alive.