Ruidoso offers a unique experience for watching wildlife with the chance for a responsible wildlife encounter with deer, elk, free-roaming horses, and more. Just remember to keep your distance for your safety and the animals, too—no touching, no feeding, no harassing.

From dazzling night skies to snow-capped peaks and evergreen forests, here are five reasons to make a Ruidoso mountain vacation your next adventure.

Ruidoso’s abundant wildlife is one of its great visitor thrills. Yet it’s important to remember to treat wildlife with proper caution and respect. When you follow safe wildlife watching practices, you protect the health of the wildlife—and yourself. Here are some tips to help you enjoy watching Ruidoso wildlife responsibly.

Discover everything you need to know about Grindstone Lake, one of Ruidoso's most popular recreation areas located just minutes from downtown Ruidoso.

Do your part to keep Ruidoso safe by keeping these wildfire prevention tips in mind before you leave home as well as on the trail to make for an enjoyable and safe outdoor experience in Ruidoso.

Download these nature apps before your next Ruidoso outdoor vacation. Whether helping you to identify trees, flowers, birds, bugs, and stars, use these handy nature apps to inspire and inform your time outdoors in Ruidoso.

Hike with your dog. Camp with your cat. Ruidoso loves pets and is the perfect place to explore the great outdoors with your furry family members. Learn the where, what, and how to responsibly enjoy the outdoors with your pets in Ruidoso.

With your help, we can work together to safeguard nature, tackle litter, and give back to this beautiful village that fuels our passions and explorations.

Looking for a place to hike in Ruidoso? AllTrails has 20 great hiking trails, trail running trails, forest trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers.

“If you haven’t heard about the wild horses of Lincoln County…hang onto your saddles…This is the wild side of Ruidoso. Free to roam. Free to graze. Free to romp and frolic. The wild horses of Alto have been a welcome sight for tourists and locals, alike.” - FocusNM.com

Climb Sierra Blanca, hike through alpine meadows, alongside the Rio Ruidoso, explore a forest on horseback? You decide! Thanks to over a million acres of National Forest and wilderness areas, virtually every corner of Ruidoso is waiting to be discovered. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails are plentiful.