Ruidoso, New Mexico Vacation - Hiking
There is nothing like a hike to get some exercise
and truly enjoy the natural beauty of the great outdoors during your
New Mexico vacation. Why sit on a stationary bicycle in a workout
room, when you can take pleasure in every calorie that you burn,
walking in the woods? In the Lincoln National Forest there are over
50,000 acres of terrain that are designated as Wilderness Area.
There is no mechanized equipment allowed of any kind, including
mountain bikes. To explore this as any wilderness area you go by
foot or on horseback. This preserves the peace and integrity of the
environment. You will find over 200 miles of established trails in
the immediate Ruidoso area, so there is plenty of choice and variety
of difficulty.
Sometimes you just feel like getting out to stretch your legs
without committing yourself to a long outing. Grindstone Lake just 2
miles from downtown offers a well established path around the lake,
which is also a popular fishing spot. Keep your eyes tuned to the
sky as it is not uncommon to spy osprey, golden eagles or even bald
eagles doing some fishing of their own. Just a mile up Cedar Creek
Drive the “spaghetti bowl” has its base at the picnic area. Many
trails zigzag up the foothills in this location. The walking path
around the Links Golf Course is paved and the most popular walking
spot close to town.
Pack a knapsack with your basic needs and find dozens of routes for
half day to even overnight hikes. Always bring an extra layer of
clothing as temperatures vary with elevation and weather changes – a
summer hail storm can cool things off over 30 degrees in a few
minutes. Check in at the Smokey Bear Ranger Station on Mechem Drive
for maps and information about current fire restrictions. The most
popular trails are accessed from Hwy. 532 to Ski Apache or off Hwy.
37 from the road to Bonito Lake. You may stay along creeks under the
tall pines in the canyons or find your way to over 21 miles of the
famous Crest Trail on the spine of the Sacramento Mountains with
spectacular panoramic views.
Click
here for specific details on many
popular trails in the Lincoln National Forest.
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