Thank you Village of Ruidoso for sponsoring this post. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Are you looking to escape the summer heat? Ruidoso, New Mexico is a mountain village that is off the beaten path but has great activities to enjoy all year long, including summer. The village is especially appealing for those who are adventurous.
Ruidoso is located about 3 hours southeast of Albuquerque and was originally settled by the Mescalero Apache. It is deeply rooted in Native American culture and influenced by the early Spanish settlers.
Let’s check out all the amazing activities you can do in the mountains of New Mexico.
Horseback Riding
There are many great horseback riding trails in Ruidoso including guided trail rides at Grindstone Stables. The trails are safe for all ages and children under 5 can ride with an adult at no extra charge.
Photo credit: Village of Ruidoso
Ski Apache
While popular during the winter months for their more than 750 skiable acres, during the summer, Ski Apache is also the place to be. From biking to ziplining to hiking there is tons to do at Ski Apache during the summer months. Be sure to take a Gondola Ride for amazing views of Sierra Blanca, White Sands, and Valley of the Fires, as well as cooler temperatures at the summit. For even more fun, rent a mountain bike, take it up the mountain in the gondola, and then ride it down.
Photo credit: Village of Ruidoso
Have you ever wanted to fly? The closest you’ll ever get is on the Windrider at Ski Apache. At 11,500 feet, it’s the highest launch point in the world for a zip line and it gets even better. The first line is a full mile long, which makes it the longest zip line in the lower 48 states. You will finish the track in about a minute and 15 seconds which means you can reach speeds up to 75 mph.
Photo credit: Village of Ruidoso
Great American West
At Flying J Ranch, families can enjoy panning for gold, roping “cattle” dummies, a pony express ride, pistol shooting, gunfight show, Chuckwagon dinner, and a western show. It’s a great way to connect to the heritage of the Great American West.
Hiking
Photo credit: Village of Ruidoso
Fishing
Mountain views and world class fishing? Sounds like an amazing combination! Grindstone Lake is just 5 minutes from Ruidoso’s midtown shopping district and offers both!
Boating
If you’d like to spend some time out on the water, you can rent kayaks, canoeing, and paddleboarding at Grindstone Lake. The scenery is beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.
Photo credit: Village of Ruidoso
Sledding at White Sands National Monument is what childhood memories are made of. The powdery sand dunes not only look like snow but also behaves like it. The best sleds to use are the ones that can be purchased at the park gift shop. Then it’s off to this exhilarating activity of sledding down the face of the dunes anywhere in the loop portion away from the road where there is no vegetation.
Ruidoso, New Mexico is a great getaway for an adventure-filled vacation! Have you visited Ruidoso? What activities would your family choose to do?