We will be driving to Angel fire soon in a 2WD minivan. I don't drive in snow, so I don't know if I should get snow chains or not. I can't decide if it is worth spending the $80-$100 for a set.

What are your experiences? Opinions?

Get a $40 set from WalMart and return them if you don't use them.

I've done this when flying into Denver and never used them but forgot when I drove to Pagosa and had to spend $120 on chains to drive to Wolf Creek.

As someone whose family had a cabin in Angel Fire for over 25 years I would say that we have never needed chains for that area. Wolf Creek in Colorado is a different story but for Angel Fire you should always be ok. only suggestion would be to avoid 434 from Mora to Angel Fire in bad weather.

JimmyHouston said:

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As someone whose family had a cabin in Angel Fire for over 25 years I would say that we have never needed chains for that area. Wolf Creek in Colorado is a different story but for Angel Fire you should always be ok. only suggestion would be to avoid 434 from Mora to Angel Fire in bad weather.

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So, you would go around if there had recently been bad weather? Maybe take 64 or 518 up to Taos and then drive over? Those highways should be better?

For us 434 has almost always been ok - it is a narrow road though so if pulling a trailer I would certainly take 518 to Taos. Only a few time have we been up there when Taos Canyon Road (64) was closed between Toas & Angel Fire, but it was opened pretty quickly...a lot of folks live in Taos and work in AF during the winter so that road is very important. In super extreme weather times we have been forced to leave the area via Cimarron to go home as not so high mountain passes in that direction. Like I said earlier 99 times out of 100 Angel Fire area is easy driving.

https://www.nmroads.com/mapIndex.html

If you're staying somewhere in the valley, you will likely be ok. If you're renting a house up higher, especially on the ski mountain side of the valley, you could have problems with a good snow. During the Christmas storms this year, there were people stuck all over that part of the area. Don't know where you're coming from, but Mora generally gets much less snow than Angel Fire. I haven't had much trouble through the canyon there, although the 4 miles or so that's still one lane is alwaysinteresting. When you come out of the little canyon, the problem this year has been blowing snow and whiteouts for the first few miles in the south end of the valley. To be fair, with the big storm several days ago, that was also the problem between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire.

Short answer: depending on where you are staying and what the weather is doing, you might need chains.

wildcat08 said:

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If you're staying somewhere in the valley, you will likely be ok. If you're renting a house up higher, especially on the ski mountain side of the valley, you could have problems with a good snow. During the Christmas storms this year, there people stuck all over that part of the area. Don't know where you're coming from, but Mora generally gets much less snow than Angel Fire. I haven't had much trouble through the canyon there, although the 4 miles or so that's still one lane is alwaysinteresting. When you come out of the little canyon, the problem this year has been blowing snow and whiteouts for the first few miles in the south end of the valley. To be fair, with the big storm several days ago, that was also the problem between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire.

Short answer: depending on where you are staying and what the weather is doing, you might need chains.

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We have friends in Amarillo and will be stopping there on the way. Looks like it might be best to drive up to clayton and then across to Eagles Nest and then down to Angel Fire. This would probably give up the best roads as well. We will be staying in a condo, so I do not know what the roads will be like at the complex.

Yeah, I would come through Cimarron. Better road, more traffic. If you are staying in a condo, odds are good you are very close to the ski area. You should probably be fine. As someone noted, buying a pair of chains can't hurt. If you need them you have them, and if you don't you can take them back.

In 20 years of driving to AF, I have only needed chains once. During a heavy storm, I followed a snow plow out of Las Vegas, and half way to Mora, he turned around and headed back (said it was the end of his district). I followed him back to Las Vegas, the only room was in the No Country for Old Men Motel, bought chains in the morning, and finished the trip. The other 19 times I didn't even consider needing chains. Have fun!

Thanks everyone for the tips! Driving in the snow is just something I have no experience with since I grew up in Houston and now live in central Texas. I think I will get a set in case as that would make me feel much safer since I don't want to get stuck. Sounds like I probably won't need them though.

I got stuck in between Taos and Angel Fire for 1.5 hrs over Christmas break. They usually keep the roads salted and plowed regularly. You will likely be fine but it may be a good idea to have snow chains/cables on hand just in case. You can always return them if not used.

When driving, just keep your tires on the brown, salted areas and you'll be fine!

CAUTION!!!

The first time I drove to Angel Fire, just a couple of years ago, Apple Maps took me on a dirt road the last 40 miles, and they DEFINITELY needed chains in most situations. It was close but we made it, and it was NOT a snowy year. This year has been a lot more snow, so if you ended up on that road, you'd be in trouble without chains.

I just did a directions search and tried to find that road and I couldn't quickly recall the route number or see it on my map, but you might want to verify your going on a paved road, and then I agree with others that you should be fine without chains.

EDIT: Found it, it's NM 120. If your map tells you to go that route, don't do it in the winter!

That reminds me of this family from Texas that was rescued this past year.

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/texas-family-found-after-spending-a-day-trapped-in-san-juan-mountains

Yet another reason to not use Apple Maps.