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Chasing the Cool Pines: An Adventurer’s Weekend in Ruidoso, New Mexico

The Southwest is nothing if not wildly diverse. Take, for example, New Mexico, where near White Sands National Park, you’ll find rolling dunes, desert brush and blistering heat shimmering off the highway.  But drive about an hour northeast, and you'll find yourself in the United States' southernmost ski-resort town.

This is Ruidoso—a lush, gorgeous forest and mountain town tucked in the Lincoln National Forest.

As the summer still beats on in the desert in August, Ruidoso is such a haven of a small town with four seasons and so many things to do that visitors tend to start planning to move here. At least, that was the case for co-owner of the outdoor gear store Happy Hiker, Amanda Foster.

Her parents originally intended to retire in Jackson Hole before stopping in Ruidoso during a road trip home to Texas. They stopped in Ruidoso and never left.

Instead, they started the shop in 2016. By 2018 they had sold the shop to another local business owner and opened Midtown Mountain Campground. After COVID, they sold the campground to Amanda and her husband Jerod, who moved to Ruidoso and also bought Happy Hiker back.

“As many weekends as possible, we were coming to Ruidoso,” says Amanda. “We finally decided as a family, let’s just do it. Let’s make it real life.”

Now, Amanda’s family has figured out their favorites, and they’ve become a guide even for those born in Ruidoso. So, here’s how to spend the perfect outdoor weekend in Ruidoso—according to someone who fell in love with the mountains.

Friday | Gear In & Gear Up

The closest major airport is Roswell International Airport, roughly an hour’s drive away that dramatically transforms into towering pines as you enter the town. For a stay close to the action, check into Hotel Ruidoso. A simple, but clean hotel that’s perfectly located near Midtown, meaning you’re just minutes from local breweries, live music, stores and the trails waiting beyond town.

Before doing anything else, stop at Happy Hiker in Midtown. Amanda and her crew are known for steering visitors toward hidden trails, scenic overlooks and the best local eats. The shop has become both a gear hub and unofficial welcome center for adventurous travelers.

“From our shop, within 2 miles, you can get to 30 miles of trails,” she says. “That’s how accessible it is in Ruidoso.”

Afterward, a good carb-load is needed to be ready for the weekend of adventures, and that’s best done at Cafe Rio Pizza. A longtime local favorite known for hearty pizzas and decadent desserts, you may want to save room for the lemon blueberry cake if it’s available—you’ve got hiking ahead.

Saturday | Trails, Lakes & Green Chile Burgers

Start your morning before sunrise with Amanda’s favorite trail recommendation: the Alfred Hill Connector near Grindstone Lake. The morning light filtering through the pines feels almost unreal, and the cooler temperatures make it ideal for families and beginning hikers alike.

Then head to Casita’s Cafe for coffee and breakfast.

“That’s where we would start our day,” Amanda says. “Really nice lattes, açaí bowls and good clean food.” The homemade pastries—made locally from scratch, ranging from croissants to oversized pop tarts—are reason enough to stop.

Next, spend the afternoon exploring Grindstone Lake, where you can rent paddleboards, boats and kayaks. Or, during the summer, there’s the Wibit Water Park obstacle course—a dynamic, wholly inflatable course floating on the lake with slides, trampolines, wiggle bridges and climbing to tackle. Amanda says the area is perfect for squeezing adventure into even the busiest itinerary, with the best part being the wildlife out here.

“Right now, they have nestlings, so you can see these beautiful birds getting food for their little babies. There’s osprey, bald eagles—it’s just awesome,” she says.

Once ready for dry land, head to the Moon Mountain trail system, where forested paths weave around a scenic disc golf course with sweeping mountain views.

For dinner, grab a table at Hall of Flame Burgers for what is known as the town’s best green chile burger. In New Mexico, Hatch green chile isn’t just an ingredient, it’s essentially a way of life. Smoky, earthy and packing just enough heat, the peppers appear on nearly everything statewide, and Hall of Flame is no exception, offering a quarter-pound chile burger locals rave over.

“Whenever we’ve worked up an appetite, that’s where we splurge,” Amanda says.

Sunday | Slow Down & Soak It In

Ease into your final day with a ride on the gondola at Ski Apache for panoramic mountain views stretching all the way toward White Sands on clear days.

If you’re still craving one last hike, Amanda recommends the Argentina Trail near Bonito Lake, aptly named as Amanda explains it by simply saying, “it’s gorgeous.”

Ruidoso has a habit of capturing hearts quickly. Maybe it’s the cool mountain air in the middle of the Southwest desert. Maybe it’s the endless trails or the way locals genuinely want visitors to fall in love with the place.

“Everyone who lives here loves this town,” Amanda says. “If you’re a visitor looking for something, you’re almost guaranteed someone’s invested in the community and wants to help you.” 

Off to the Races in Ruidoso

Ruidoso is the new home to the XTERRA World Championships, recently relocated from the Dolomite region of Italy. This will be the first time the World Championships will be held on the U.S. mainland—prior to locating in Italy, they were held in Hawaii for 25 years. Other races come here, too, including the Ironman 70.3, trail running events, mountain biking events and the John Ashcraft 5k Memorial Run, which is part of the annual Run Ruidoso series.

Did you know?

Ruidoso sits near the heart of Billy the Kid country, where the infamous outlaw rode, hid out and became entangled in the Lincoln County War. Travelers can follow the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway to explore historic towns, museums and landmarks tied to the outlaw’s legend.

Plan your trip at discoverruidoso.com.