Ruidoso
Around Ruidoso
Photo: Beatnik Photos · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · New Mexico · 20k people
Ruidoso
Pine-scented mountain air and the thunder of hooves.
Pine Forest GreenSunset Rust
Welcome to Ruidoso, where the mountains meet the high desert. Whether you're here for the ski season or the summer races, you'll find a friendly town that loves the outdoors. Grab a green chile stew and enjoy the fresh air.
Clubs for Ruidoso
No clubs for Ruidoso yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Ruidoso. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Ruidoso. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Hubbard Museum of the American West Showcases horse racing and Western art and history.
- Smokey Bear Historical Park Museum and memorial in Capitan, birthplace of Smokey Bear.
- Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Home of the All American Futurity, the world's richest quarter horse race.
- Ski Apache The main ski resort on Sierra Blanca, operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
- Lincoln National Forest Surrounds Ruidoso with trails, camping, and mountain scenery.
- Grindstone Lake Popular for fishing, kayaking, and picnics just outside town.
- Outdoors Skiing and snowboarding at Ski Apache
- Outdoors Hiking in Lincoln National Forest
- With kids Visit Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan
- With kids Explore the Hubbard Museum of the American West
- Evenings Live music at local bars and breweries
- Evenings Gaming and shows at Inn of the Mountain Gods
- Locals love Ski slopes
- Locals love Horse racing tracks
Through the year
- All American Futurity Labor Day weekend The world's richest quarter horse race at Ruidoso Downs.
- Ruidoso Downs racing season May through September Thoroughbred and quarter horse racing throughout the summer.
- AspenFest September Celebrates fall colors with arts, music, and outdoor activities.
- Smokey Bear Days May Capitan's annual festival honoring the famous bear with a parade and events.
- Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium October Western heritage, music, and cowboy poetry in Ruidoso.
Ruidoso has a high-desert mountain climate with mild summers and snowy winters. Best: Summer and early fall are ideal for hiking and festivals; winter brings skiing.
Talk like a local
- “The mountain”
- Sierra Blanca or Ski Apache area.
- “The track”
- Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.
- “Up the hill”
- Going to Ski Apache.
- “The Ruidoso”
- The Ruidoso River.
Getaways
- White Sands National Park Dazzling white gypsum dunes, a short drive away.
- Roswell UFO sights Explore the International UFO Museum and Research Center.
- Old Mesilla and Las Cruces Historic plaza, shops, and Mexican food in the Mesilla Valley.
- Carlsbad Caverns World-famous limestone caves with guided tours.
Local flavour
Teams
- Ruidoso Osos Pecos League
Eat and drink
- Green chile stew A New Mexico staple, made with roasted Hatch green chile and pork.
- Enchiladas with red or green chile
- Sopapillas with honey Puffy fried dough served as a side or dessert, drizzled with honey.
- Frito pie A New Mexico–Texas border favorite, served in a bag of Fritos with chile, cheese, and onions.
Where people go
- Mountain ski areas Ski Apache and other slopes on Sierra Blanca, offering winter sports and summer hiking.
- Horse racing tracks Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, famous for quarter horse racing and the All American Futurity.
- Lincoln National Forest Expanses of pine forest with trails, camping, and wildlife, a defining feature of the area.
Heritage and traditions
Ruidoso is proud of its mountain resort charm, cowboy and Billy the Kid history, and its status as the home of the world's richest quarter horse race, all set against the Sierra Blanca.
This time of year in Ruidoso
- Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium October Cowboy poetry, music, and chuckwagon cooking in the historic West.
Say it like a local: “Bueno” — Good or fine.
Festivals
- AspenFest September Fall celebration of the golden aspen leaves with music and crafts.
- Smokey Bear Days May Honors the famous bear with a parade and forest fire prevention activities.
- Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium October Cowboy poetry, music, and chuckwagon cooking in the historic West.
- Ruidoso Art Festival July Juried art show featuring regional artists.
- All American Futurity Labor Day The world's richest quarter horse race, held at Ruidoso Downs.
- Mescalero Apache Ceremonial July Traditional dances and ceremonies on the nearby Mescalero Apache Reservation.
Landmarks with a story
- Lincoln Historic Site Preserved town from the Lincoln County War, with the old courthouse and stores.
- Fort Stanton Historic Site A frontier military post that later served as a hospital and prison.
- Smokey Bear Historical Park The grave of the real Smokey Bear, plus a museum on wildfire prevention.
- Hubbard Museum of the American West Exhibits on horse racing, Western art, and regional history.
- Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Historic quarter horse track hosting the All American Futurity.
- Ski Apache Ski resort owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, with stunning views of Sierra Blanca.
Food traditions
- Green chile stew A hearty pork and green chile soup, a New Mexico staple.
- Enchiladas with red or green chile Stacked or rolled, covered in chile sauce and cheese.
- Sopapillas with honey Fried pastry pillows, often served with honey as a dessert or side.
- Frito pie A bag of Fritos topped with chile, cheese, and onions, a football and fair favorite.
- Carne adovada Pork slow-cooked in red chile, a tender and spicy dish.
Music and arts
- Country and western music Live music at local bars and the Cowboy Symposium.
- Cowboy poetry Oral tradition celebrated at the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium.
- Native American crafts Pottery, beadwork, and jewelry from the Mescalero Apache.
- Western art at the Hubbard Museum Paintings and sculptures of the American West.
A little history
- 1878 Lincoln County War
- 1950 Smokey Bear found in Capitan
- 1961 Ski Apache opened by the Mescalero Apache
- 1959 First All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs
- 1880s Carrizozo founded as a railroad town
- Game day Horse racing at Ruidoso Downs
- Game day Ski racing at Ski Apache
- Outdoors Skiing and snowboarding at Ski Apache
- Outdoors Hiking in Lincoln National Forest
- With kids Visit Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan
- With kids Explore the Hubbard Museum of the American West
Locals speak with a Southwestern drawl, mixing English with Spanish words like 'bueno' and 'chile'. You'll hear 'y'all' and cowboy slang, with a relaxed, friendly tone.
Only here
- The grave of Smokey Bear in Capitan.
- The All American Futurity, the world's richest quarter horse race.
- Ski Apache, owned and operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
- The Hubbard Museum's collection of horse racing memorabilia.
New here? A few tips
- Drink plenty of water to acclimate to the altitude (over 6,900 feet).
- Be prepared for sudden weather changes, especially in the mountains.
- Learn to love green chile – it's on everything.
- Traffic can be heavy during horse racing season and ski season.
- Explore the surrounding forest and mountains.
Make this page better
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Nearby
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Ruidoso, NM. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.