Things to Do in Ruidoso
Hiking
These places all offer some nice hiking trails. There are a variety of trails, depending how much time you have and how strenuous a hike you're looking for.
There are several trails here and it's a short drive from the house. There are several trails, so you can choose distance and level (e.g. easy, moderate). Ruidoso is the Smokey Bear district for Lincoln National Forest.
Look for the sign off Mechem Drive
901 Mechem Dr.
Ruidoso, NM 88345
There is also mountain biking on some of the trails.
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Bosque Nacional Lincoln
3463 Las Palomas RdThere are several trails here and it's a short drive from the house. There are several trails, so you can choose distance and level (e.g. easy, moderate). Ruidoso is the Smokey Bear district for Lincoln National Forest.
Look for the sign off Mechem Drive
901 Mechem Dr.
Ruidoso, NM 88345
There is also mountain biking on some of the trails.
There's a hiking trail back behind the lake. Or if you looking for something shorter, you can just walk the loop around the lake. It's a quiet peaceful area.
Please note, if it has been raining, it can be very muddy. It's just a few minutes drive from the house.
https://www.ruidosoparksandrec.com/alto-lake/
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Alto Lake and Recreation Area
854 NM-48There's a hiking trail back behind the lake. Or if you looking for something shorter, you can just walk the loop around the lake. It's a quiet peaceful area.
Please note, if it has been raining, it can be very muddy. It's just a few minutes drive from the house.
https://www.ruidosoparksandrec.com/alto-lake/
Great hiking trails and nice scenery. There are several trails to choose from. Please note, they opened a water park there this summer and we've heard it's been more difficult to find parking. But it's only open during the summer, so it shouldn't be an issue year round.
hhttps://www.discoverruidoso.com/info/grindstone-lake-all-you-need-to-know?rq=grindstone%20lake
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Grindstone Lake
501 Resort DrGreat hiking trails and nice scenery. There are several trails to choose from. Please note, they opened a water park there this summer and we've heard it's been more difficult to find parking. But it's only open during the summer, so it shouldn't be an issue year round.
hhttps://www.discoverruidoso.com/info/grindstone-lake-all-you-need-to-know?rq=grindstone%20lake
This isn't so much of a hike, but it is a great walking trail. It's a 3 mile loop around the golf course. It's also a great place to walk the dog, especially if the trails are muddy.
https://www.discoverruidoso.com/info/the-links-trail
Sierra Blanca Trail
Sierra Blanca TrailThis isn't so much of a hike, but it is a great walking trail. It's a 3 mile loop around the golf course. It's also a great place to walk the dog, especially if the trails are muddy.
https://www.discoverruidoso.com/info/the-links-trail
Food scene
A variety of local restaurants with good food.
Good Italian food. It's small, so you should make reservations.
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Michael J's Italian-American Restaurant
601 Mechem DrGood Italian food. It's small, so you should make reservations.
Really good burgers. They have other food as well, but the burgers are great!
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Hall Of Flame Burgers
2500 Sudderth DrReally good burgers. They have other food as well, but the burgers are great!
It's a short drive from the house. They have a wide variety of food so everyone should be able to find something. They also have a lot of TVs if folks want to watch their favorite team.
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Farley's Food Fun & Pub
1200 Mechem DrIt's a short drive from the house. They have a wide variety of food so everyone should be able to find something. They also have a lot of TVs if folks want to watch their favorite team.
If you're looking for a special occassion place, this is a great option. Great place for a steak and a martini. During key seasons, it can get booked fast, so you should call to make sure they have an open reservation.
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Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
287 Carrizo Canyon RdIf you're looking for a special occassion place, this is a great option. Great place for a steak and a martini. During key seasons, it can get booked fast, so you should call to make sure they have an open reservation.
Great mexican food. It's on Sudderth drive, right before Mechem. It's right next to the Starbucks.
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Grill Caliente
2800 Sudderth DrGreat mexican food. It's on Sudderth drive, right before Mechem. It's right next to the Starbucks.
Sightseeing
Great place if you want to gamble. However even if you don't gamble, this is still worth a visit. The grounds are beautiful . They also have concerts and set off fireworks on occasion, as well as other activities such as zip lining.
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Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
287 Carrizo Canyon RdGreat place if you want to gamble. However even if you don't gamble, this is still worth a visit. The grounds are beautiful . They also have concerts and set off fireworks on occasion, as well as other activities such as zip lining.
We have not had the pleasure of attending a concert or show here, however the place is beautiful. They currently do guided tours on Tues and Thurs and the tours are free. Even there isn't a concert or show while you're in town, you should consider doing the tour. It's a really unique place and not too far from the house.
https://www.spencertheater.com/
Please call the box office to make tour reservations at (888) 818-7872 or at (575) 336-4800. The tours are free. The theater is located on Airport Highway 220 in Alto, you can order tickets by phone toll free . First time visitors can googlemap "Spencer Theater, Alto, NM" to get directions. Most automotive navigation systems do not map in rural areas (totally ignore Mapquest) and cell phone service is spotty at best in Lincoln County (part of the 3% of America that AT&T doesn't cover).
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Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts
108 Spencer RdWe have not had the pleasure of attending a concert or show here, however the place is beautiful. They currently do guided tours on Tues and Thurs and the tours are free. Even there isn't a concert or show while you're in town, you should consider doing the tour. It's a really unique place and not too far from the house.
https://www.spencertheater.com/
Please call the box office to make tour reservations at (888) 818-7872 or at (575) 336-4800. The tours are free. The theater is located on Airport Highway 220 in Alto, you can order tickets by phone toll free . First time visitors can googlemap "Spencer Theater, Alto, NM" to get directions. Most automotive navigation systems do not map in rural areas (totally ignore Mapquest) and cell phone service is spotty at best in Lincoln County (part of the 3% of America that AT&T doesn't cover).
We have personally never been, but it looks like it would be a fun experience. They have shows and dinners. It is seasonal, so make sure you call to see if they are open before you go.
https://flyingjranch.com/
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Flying J Ranch
1028 NM-48We have personally never been, but it looks like it would be a fun experience. They have shows and dinners. It is seasonal, so make sure you call to see if they are open before you go.
https://flyingjranch.com/
There are all kinds of shops in midtown, (not just this Midtown Market) everything from soaps. to jewlery, to gifts and a Christmas shop that's open year round. It's a short strip on Sudderth that's easily walkable from one end to the other. There is parking along the street, which is typically full during busy times, but there are also free public parking lots behind a lot of the shops.
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Midtown Market
Sudderth DriveThere are all kinds of shops in midtown, (not just this Midtown Market) everything from soaps. to jewlery, to gifts and a Christmas shop that's open year round. It's a short strip on Sudderth that's easily walkable from one end to the other. There is parking along the street, which is typically full during busy times, but there are also free public parking lots behind a lot of the shops.
If you're in to historical places, this is a must.
https://www.fortstanton.org/
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Fort Stanton
If you're in to historical places, this is a must.
https://www.fortstanton.org/
This is the ski mountain in Ruidoso. The based of the mountain is just a few minutes from the house, but it's a long drive up. If you're not a skier, it's worth a drive up to some of the scenic lookout points. Although it might be crowded during ski season.
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Ski Apache
1286 Ski Run RoadThis is the ski mountain in Ruidoso. The based of the mountain is just a few minutes from the house, but it's a long drive up. If you're not a skier, it's worth a drive up to some of the scenic lookout points. Although it might be crowded during ski season.
If you want to see some horse races, this is the place to do it. Horse racing is seasonal.
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Hipódromo de Ruidoso Downs
26225 US-70If you want to see some horse races, this is the place to do it. Horse racing is seasonal.
Day Trips
If you are staying long enough to spend a day outside Ruidoso, these are worth a trip. They're all just an hour or two away.
It is at an even higher elevation than Ruidoso. Cloudcroft is a small village (not a single stop light) that sits in Lincoln National Forest. It offers great hiking and lookout points. While there you have to visit the shops on Burro Avenue. Even if you don't buy anything, Burro Avenue is worth a stop. It looks like a movie set from an old western.
If you are staying long enough to allow time for a day trip, this is a great one!
Please Note: Even though it's only about 30-40 miles from Ruidoso, it takes over an hour to get there due to the elevation. Also if you are in town during the winter and there's snow you may want to check road conditions before making the drive up. During other times of the year, it can be a pretty scenic drive.
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Cloudcroft
It is at an even higher elevation than Ruidoso. Cloudcroft is a small village (not a single stop light) that sits in Lincoln National Forest. It offers great hiking and lookout points. While there you have to visit the shops on Burro Avenue. Even if you don't buy anything, Burro Avenue is worth a stop. It looks like a movie set from an old western.
If you are staying long enough to allow time for a day trip, this is a great one!
Please Note: Even though it's only about 30-40 miles from Ruidoso, it takes over an hour to get there due to the elevation. Also if you are in town during the winter and there's snow you may want to check road conditions before making the drive up. During other times of the year, it can be a pretty scenic drive.
It's just campy! It's very touristy but still fun. If you go, you have to check out the UFO musuem. It's about 1.5 - 2 hours from Ruidoso.
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Roswell
It's just campy! It's very touristy but still fun. If you go, you have to check out the UFO musuem. It's about 1.5 - 2 hours from Ruidoso.
This is about an hour from Ruidiso . It's miles of white sand dunes. If you have enough time during your stay, this is a really cool place to visit. The road can be closed for a couple of hours if they are doing any missile testing, so check to make sure the road is open before you go to avoid a potential long wait.
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White Sands
This is about an hour from Ruidiso . It's miles of white sand dunes. If you have enough time during your stay, this is a really cool place to visit. The road can be closed for a couple of hours if they are doing any missile testing, so check to make sure the road is open before you go to avoid a potential long wait.
Wine Tasting
These are places where you can try some of the local wines, such us a green chili white, a pistachio rose, and a spicy red chili red.
If you want to try some local wine, this is a great place to do it. There's a tasting room on Sudderth in mid-town.
The actual winery is in Alto. Check the link below for events they have at "The Barn."
https://www.noisywaterwinery.com/Events
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Noisy Water Winery
2331 Sudderth DrIf you want to try some local wine, this is a great place to do it. There's a tasting room on Sudderth in mid-town.
The actual winery is in Alto. Check the link below for events they have at "The Barn."
https://www.noisywaterwinery.com/Events
This is a great little shop with unique gifts, including olive oils, and wine tasting.
https://www.thecorkandkettle.com/
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The Cork and Kettle
2801 Sudderth DrThis is a great little shop with unique gifts, including olive oils, and wine tasting.
https://www.thecorkandkettle.com/
Pets
If you've brought your dog(s), these are some places you might need.
In case you need to board your dog while in Ruidoso. They also do baths/grooming. A bath might be needed if you're taken the dogs on a muddy trail.
http://www.thunderingpaws.com/
Thundering Paws Pet Resort
114 Lone Mesa CtIn case you need to board your dog while in Ruidoso. They also do baths/grooming. A bath might be needed if you're taken the dogs on a muddy trail.
http://www.thunderingpaws.com/
If you're looking for a dog park, this one is not too far from the house.
https://www.ruidosoparksandrec.com/ruidoso-dog-park
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Ruidoso
If you're looking for a dog park, this one is not too far from the house.
https://www.ruidosoparksandrec.com/ruidoso-dog-park
Adventure
If you're interested in zip lining
https://www.skiapache.com/ziptour/
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Ski Apache
1286 Ski Run RoadIf you're interested in zip lining
https://www.skiapache.com/ziptour/
Another zip lining opportunity
https://innofthemountaingods.com/outdoor/apache-eagle-ziprider/
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Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
287 Carrizo Canyon RdAnother zip lining opportunity
https://innofthemountaingods.com/outdoor/apache-eagle-ziprider/
Horse back riding. They also offer sleigh rides during the holidays.
https://www.grindstonestables.com/the-corral
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Grindstone Lake
501 Resort DrHorse back riding. They also offer sleigh rides during the holidays.
https://www.grindstonestables.com/the-corral