Ruidoso Golfing
The Links at Sierra Blanca is Ruidoso’s municipal facility, and boasts a world class, 18-hole course. Designed by PGA Senior Professional, Jim Colbert, the Scottish style course is designed to be both challenging for the experienced golfer and fun for the novice.

Cree Meadows Gold Course is the areas oldest and most established course. You can play 18 holes on its beautiful, well-kept fairways and greens. The view from every hole on this course is breathtaking. Cree Meadows is a public golf course that includes a restaurant and lounge.

The Inn of the Mountain Gods Golf Course winds around a man-made lake as well as through a myriad of forested canyons. It's not unusual to see an eagle soaring overhead or hear a bull elk bugling in the distance. The course is ranked among the top 20 resort golf courses in the United States and this 18-hole course boasts an island fairway. Come prepared to putt!

Ski Ruidoso at Ski Apache
Located minutes away from Ruidoso, Ski Apache’s is to provide the best ski experience for all ages and abilities. Skiers and snowboarders of all levels will find a perfect variety of terrain on 55 trails served by 11 lifts, including New Mexico’s only gondola. Ski Apache’s huge lift capacity allows more time for skiing, so lines are rare. Top quality grooming, snowmaking and our temperate climate all enhance the visit here. High elevations between 9,600’ and 11,500’ provide abundant snowfall, yet sunny days are plentiful. Be sure to check out the views from the top of the gondola or Apache Bowl – they’re spectacular on a clear day. Visit the Ski Apache web site.

Fishing In and Around Ruidoso
For the avid angler, local streams and lakes are stocked at different times of the year with rainbow trout. A variety of fishing opportunities exists in the beautiful Ruidoso area. State and Federal fishing waters include Alto Lake, Bonito Lake, Carrizo Creek, Eagle Creek, Grindstone Lake, Rio Ruidoso, and Tularosa Creek. The Mescalero Reservation Fishing Waters include Mescalero Lake, Eagle Lake, Rio Ruidoso, and Silver Lake. Permits are available at these locations.

Ruidoso Area Birding
Ruidoso and Lincoln County New Mexico is blessed with a wide range of habitats and over 200 species of birds. Lincoln County contains two wilderness areas. Elevations run from 5,400 feet (1696 meters) to 11,400 feet (3474 meters) and habitats vary from semi-desert through conifer forests to high-elevation grasses and forbs. A drive to San Antonio, NM on the Rio Grande (about 1 and 1/2 hours) will take you to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, one of the best birding experiences in America.

Enjoy Ruidoso’s Wildlife
Thanks to Lincoln County’s greatly varying landforms and climates, over 300 different species can survive and be maintained. Included are over 200 different types of birds, including a wide variety of owls as well as hawks, nuthatches, and vireos jays which can be seen quite often meandering through the forest. Other wildlife includes elk, deer and turkey, but alas, Lincoln County may be most well known for its world-renowned black bear-nicknamed Smokey Bear when he was rescued as a cub after a brutal forest fire.

Horseback Riding in Ruidoso
A wide variety of horseback riding opportunities are available in the Ruidoso area. Riding choices range from 30-minute to 1-hour rides through the pines around the edge of town to full-day excursions into the wilderness areas of the Lincoln National Forest. The shorter rides near town are geared toward novice riders and families. Half-day and full-day rides into the wilderness provide opportunities to see the magnificent backcountry that will appeal to adults and older children. Regardless of experience, there is a horseback adventure awaiting you in Ruidoso.