What Winter Trail Etiquette Applies at Enchanted Forest?

Updated

Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area in Red River, New Mexico, maintains a Winter Trail Etiquette section covering how skiers, snowshoers, and fat-tire bikers should share the trails. The core rules are standard cross-country norms: don't walk on or damage set tracks, yield appropriately, and keep dogs and bikes off groomed ski lanes. However, the area is not operating for the 2026-27 season — the owners announced the closure and the ski area is for sale, so these etiquette rules apply only if a new owner reopens it.

Why trail etiquette matters here

The area sits on 600 acres of Carson National Forest above Red River and has historically supported multiple winter uses on the same terrain:

  • Cross-country skiing (classic and skate)
  • Snowshoeing
  • Fat-tire biking

When trails are groomed for skiing, they're set with specific equipment — the site notes that when there's enough snow (or snow isn't too icy), trails are set for both classic and skate skiing using a Ginzu groomer from West Yellowstone Track Systems. If more than a few inches of snow falls, the crew packs first before setting tracks. That grooming investment is the main reason etiquette rules exist: a single set of footprints or bike ruts can ruin a groomed lane.

The general rules that apply

The site's Winter Trail Etiquette section is the authoritative source, but the standard expectations for a multi-use Nordic area like this are:

On groomed ski tracks

  • Don't walk, snowshoe, or bike on set classic tracks. The parallel grooves are sized for skis; footprints and tire ruts destroy them.
  • Skate skiers use the wide, smooth lane — not the classic tracks.
  • Yield to the downhill skier on descents, and announce yourself when passing from behind.

Snowshoers

  • Stay off groomed ski lanes where possible; snowshoes post-hole and churn up the surface.
  • Use designated snowshoe or multi-use routes if the area marks them.

Fat-tire bikers

  • The site lists a Fat-Tire Bikes heading, indicating bikes are (or were) accommodated — but typically on separate or soft-snow routes, not on groomed ski tracks.
  • Check current signage before riding; bike access on ski trails is usually restricted.

Dogs

  • Most Nordic areas either ban dogs on groomed trails or restrict them to specific routes. Confirm on-site signage.

What to verify before you go

Because the area is closed for 2026-27 and for sale, etiquette rules are only relevant if it reopens. Before any visit:

  1. Check whether the area has reopened under a new owner — the closure notice states there's "real hope" a buyer will reopen it, possibly the same year, but nothing is confirmed.
  2. Read the on-site Winter Trail Etiquette signage — posted rules override general norms and can change with ownership.
  3. Ask about current grooming — the Ginzu grooming described on the site depends on snow conditions and equipment, both of which a new operator would control.

If the area remains closed, the nearest alternatives for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are other trails around Red River and the Carson National Forest; etiquette norms there follow the same principles: protect set tracks, yield on descents, and keep bikes and dogs off groomed ski lanes unless posted otherwise.