Ruidoso: Discover Trails, Water and History

Ruidoso offers a diverse mix of trails by the water, active experiences and local history. Around lakes, rivers and recreation areas, you will find various ways to spend a day: by mountain bike, on foot, on horseback or exploring the local culture. When choosing your vacation rental in Ruidoso, it is therefore worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your trip.

Trails Between Lakes and Rivers

The Grindstone Lake Recreation Area and Trails System comprises five trails with a total length of 18 miles. The trails are open to mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. This allows you to experience the landscape in different ways without having to commit to a single activity. Grindstone Lake is also home to Wibit Water Park, a floating, inflatable summer attraction in Ruidoso. It is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and adds a seasonal focus to your trip planning.

The Cedar Creek Recreation Area also offers several options for active days. It has three group campgrounds as well as a trail system with well over 30 miles of multi-use trails for all skill levels. The 1.3-mile fitness trail includes stations for exercises such as pull-ups. If you enjoy varying your activities, you can choose between longer trails and a shorter fitness option here.

Two Rivers Park is located at the confluence of the Ruidoso River and Carrizo Creek. The park includes the 1.25-mile paved Ruidoso River Trail. The trail provides a clearly defined route for an outing along the river, while the park is also characterized by its location at the confluence. Another short option is the scenic hard-packed gravel trail that circles Alto Lake for approximately 0.5 miles. You should take the approximate distance into account when planning your day.

Ruidoso’s History at the Wingfield Heritage House Museum

If you would like to add a cultural dimension to your trip, head to the Wingfield Heritage House Museum. The historic house was built by Ike and Lula Wingfield in the 1920s. Today, the museum presents exhibits on the history of the Wingfield family, early settlers, local culture and Ruidoso’s development from a small mountain community. This provides insight into various chapters of the area’s history, distinct from its nature and recreational offerings.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When choosing accommodation, you can use the type of days you have planned as a guide. Those who mainly want to hike, mountain bike or ride horses can incorporate the various trail options into their itinerary. For an outing involving water, Grindstone Lake, Alto Lake, the Ruidoso River and Carrizo Creek in Two Rivers Park are available options. Culture enthusiasts can include the Wingfield Heritage House Museum as a dedicated stop on their itinerary. A vacation apartment or vacation home in Ruidoso is therefore particularly suitable if you want to divide your days flexibly between nature, activity, water and history.

For further location options, you can also visit the pages for Nogal, Carrizozo, Capitan, Ruidoso Downs and Alto.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lincoln.