How to Escape the Heat in New Mexico – Discover the Mountains of Ruidoso

I remember visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico and being surprised to see that there are mountains in New Mexico. We all know that it can get hot in New Mexico, so heading to the mountains is a great way to escape the heat. Ruidoso, New Mexico is mountain village that has great activities to enjoy any season of the year, including the summer. This post has been sponsored by Discover Ruidoso.

Ruidoso was first settled by the Mescalero Apache. The area was named Rio Ruidoso by the Spanish, which literally means “Noisy River.” It is deeply rooted in Native American culture and influenced by the early Spanish settlers. The town continues to maintain its rich history, in addition to offering mountain resort amenities. Located about 3 hours southeast of Albuquerque, check out all these great activities you can do in the mountains of New Mexico.

Ski Apache

Of course during the winter and some shoulder season months, Ski Apache is the place to be. With 55 trails, 11 lifts, a snow-making operation, and more than 750 skiable acres, Ski Apache will have you hitting the slopes in New Mexico of all places.

Summer Activities at Ski Apache

But it’s not just the winter months that makes Ski Apache the place to be. In the summer months you can hit the slopes for biking, ziplining, and lots of hiking. You can even take a gondola ride for great views of Ruidoso.

Ziplining is very popular at Ski Apache. The ziptour is a three span adventure that rises above 11,000 feet. It is also complete with parallel cables so riders can glide down the mountain side-by-side. For real adrenaline junkies, check out the nighttime Wind Rider Dark tour.

Horseback Riding and Horse Racing

Ruidoso features a lot of great horseback riding trails in their area parks. You can use a horseback riding operator to ride into Lincoln National Park. Or if you have your own horses, you can look at using BLM land around Fort Stanton for riding.

If you’d rather bet on horses, Ruidoso has something for you there, too. Ruidoso Downs Race Track features some of the world’s fastest quarter horses racing every weekend during the summer. Make a bet and cheer on your favorite steed. I’m all for picking your horse based on it’s name, race horses have the best names!

Golfing & Disc Golf

You can hit the links in Ruidoso. If you’re a traditional golfer, Ruidoso features four spectacular area golf courses. Each course is situated against breathtaking mountain backdrops with its own personality and challenges.

Disc Golf is one of my favorite new sports. It’s easy to travel or rent discs for playing, and the cost to play is often free or very low. Much different than traditional and golf green fees. Grindstone Disc Golf Course is located near Ruidoso’s Midtown. It is a 27 hole, 81 par heavily wooded course. It sounds like it’s a challenging course, so perhaps not ideal for beginners, but still a fun way to get outdoors.

Wildlife

You’ll definitely want to pack a pair of binoculars if you’re heading to Ruidoso. The area is home to elk herds, bears, and wild horses. One of my favorite hiking resources, AllTrails.com, has even made a list of the best trails for spotting wildlife.

There are many great adventures to discover in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Escape the heat and head to the mountains for a beautiful family vacation. It’s a year round destination with something to do in every season.

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