Plan your
Ruidoso
Trip!
From lake days and ski adventures to dog-friendly patios and easy family activities, explore Ruidoso with experiences tailored to the kind of trip you have in mind.
season
days
for two
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flavor
Tap a portrait for the local favorites our team actually recommends to guests.
View local picks
View local picks
View local picks
View local picks
Winter in Ruidoso
Winter Park
Easy winter fun for all ages
Sessions: 3 hours Drive: ~10 min from Midtown
Tickets:
$38+ Season: Nov 27–Mar 22
Families • Friend groups • Easy snow day
Big tubing hills and a small-kid zone, with magic-carpet lifts—so you spend more time sliding than hiking. They are always making snow, so it's a dependable choice for winter activities.
GOOD TO KNOW
- 3-hour blocks: Your session starts at check in
- Online tickets: reserved even at capacity
- Height-based lanes: lanes vary by height
Cozy Cabins Tip: Holiday weekends are busiest—arrive early to avoid long waits.
Ski Apache
Ruidoso's mountain resort for skiing, snowboarding & scenic gondola rides.
Time needed: 2-6 hours
Drive: ~40 min from Midtown
Tickets:
pricing varies, gondola is ~$50/person
Intermediate cruisers • First-timers • Big views
Southern New Mexico's go-to ski destination with a mix of beginner terrain and steeper runs. On clear days, views can stretch for miles across the desert. For non-skiers, the gondola and lodge are a great way to get the alpine experience without committing to a full day on the slopes.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Rentals: Rentals are in town—grab gear before you drive up
- Lessons: Call Ski Apache to book—reserve early on weekends.
- Parking:
Budget for paid parking ($15-$25)
Cozy Cabins Tip: From a low altitude? Hydrate well the day before and pace yourself in the first hour.
Ice Skating at Wingfield Park
A Hallmark-worthy winter night, right in Midtown.
Time needed: 1–2 hours Location: Wingfield Park
Season: Nov 29, 2025 – Feb 16, 2026
Tickets:
$20 with skate rental • card only
Families • Date Night • Right in Midtown
Enjoy our outdoor ice rink in Midtown! Spend 45 to 75 minutes skating, perfect for beginners. Afterward, explore Midtown's shops and festive lights while warming up with the many food options. It's an evening in Ruidoso that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie!
GOOD TO KNOW
- Payment: card-only on site
- Beginners: skating aids are available
- Hours:
Weekends 11–8 • Weekdays 5–8
Cozy Cabins Tip: Bring gloves and thin wool socks—thick socks may make rental skates feel tight and cause blisters.
For the Adventure Seekers
White Sands National Park
An iconic landscape of the southwest
Time Needed: half to full day Drive Time: ~1.5 hours
Entry Fee:
$25/vehicle for a day pass, or free with a national park annual pass
Day Trippers • Families • Photographers
An endless expanse of white gypsum dunes—easy to explore, wildly beautiful, and surprisingly peaceful once you’re out on the sand. The park is dog-friendly and has covered picnic areas with grills, making it a great half- or full-day trip. Stay through sunset for that unreal golden hour glow.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Dog policy: Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed
- Navigation: Dunes look the same, drop a pin in Maps to easily find your car later.
- Bring: Sunglasses, sunscreen, plenty of water (it's very bright + dry)
Cozy Cabins Tip: Want to try sand sledding? Ask us about free sled loans (limited; first come, first served).
Ski Apache-ZipTour
Three zip lines, huge views—New Mexico's highest-altitude ZipTour
Time needed: 2 hours
Drive: ~40 minutes from Midtown
Tickets: ZipTour $110
+ gondola ticket required (sold separately)
Thrill-Seekers • Families (10+) • "We did THAT!" moments
Glide through the Sierra Blanca treetops on a three zip-line ziptour with optional side-by-side cables—soaring over 60 mph and starting above 11,000 ft. Dress for it to feel cooler and windier up top, and bring water + sunscreen.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Check-in: Plan extra time for waivers + harness fitting
- Requirements: 10+ • 50–260 lb • 52–80 in • lace-up closed-toe shoes
- Conditions: Wind/fog can pause tours—check status (or live cam) before you drive up.
Cozy Cabins Tip: New to 11,000 ft? Hydrate + eat a real snack beforehand—altitude + adrenaline can sneak up on you.
Off-Road Experiences
Choose your ride, take the scenic way, and finish with a story.
Time needed: 2-5 hours
Routes: Slingshot scenic cruises • self-guided OHV backcountry
Cost: Slingshots from ~$206 • OHV adventures from ~$281 (varies by route)
Notes: guided + self-guided options
Scenic cruisers • Adventure seekers • History buffs
Pick your pace: cruise paved roads in a Slingshot (Midtown loops or a quick run up to Windy Point), or go “adventure mode” with a self-guided side-by-side into the forest for big overlooks. Either way, you can pair the ride with a little local history—whether that’s Billy the Kid country, Fort Stanton, or the 1936 Monjeau Lookout up on Sierra Blanca (when routes are open).
Cozy Cabins Tip: Bring eye protection + a bandana, and windproof layers—dust + wind feels intense once you’re moving.
Couple's Getaway Ideas
Enchanted Vine
The tasting barn at Noisy Water Winery
Time needed: 1-3 hours
Drive: ~40 minutes from Midtown
Tickets:
ZipTour $110
+ gondola ticket required
(sold separately)
Quick stats
- Drive time: ~40 minutes from Midtown Ruidoso
- Time needed: 1-3 hours
- Season:
- Summer (gondola, hiking, ZipTour, biking)
- Winter (skiing, gondola, ZipTour)
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Blue Lotus Day Spa
Noisey water winery's tasting barn
Quick stats
- Time needed: 1-2 hours
- Cost: $225+ for a two-person massage
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Midtown Tasting Stroll
Noisey water winery's tasting barn
Quick stats
- Drive time: ~40 minutes from Midtown Ruidoso
- Time needed: 2-6 hours
- Season:
- Summer (gondola, hiking, ZipTour, biking)
- Winter (skiing, gondola, ZipTour)
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Family-Fun Activities
Pillow’s Funtrackers
Ride the gondola to the top—then choose your adventure.
Quick stats
- Drive time: ~40 minutes from Midtown Ruidoso
- Time needed: 2-6 hours
- Season:
- Summer (gondola, hiking, ZipTour, biking)
- Winter (skiing, gondola, ZipTour)
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Grindstone Lake
Ride the gondola to the top—then choose your adventure.
Quick stats
- Drive time: ~40 minutes from Midtown Ruidoso
- Time needed: 2-6 hours
- Season:
- Summer (gondola, hiking, ZipTour, biking)
- Winter (skiing, gondola, ZipTour)
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Grindstone Stables
Ride the gondola to the top—then choose your adventure.
Quick stats
- Drive time: ~40 minutes from Midtown Ruidoso
- Time needed: 2-6 hours
- Season:
- Summer (gondola, hiking, ZipTour, biking)
- Winter (skiing, gondola, ZipTour)
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Flying J Ranch
Ride the gondola to the top—then choose your adventure.
Quick stats
- Drive time: ~40 minutes from Midtown Ruidoso
- Time needed: 2-6 hours
- Season:
- Summer (gondola, hiking, ZipTour, biking)
- Winter (skiing, gondola, ZipTour)
- Tickets: pricing varies by activity, gondola is ~$50/person
Many people come to ski, but Ski Apache is fun year-round. Take the gondola up for big views, then pick your pace: hike the trails, ride the mountain, or book the ZipTour (the highest zipline in the U.S. ) for an adrenaline rush. There’s a lodge and restaurant for a quick break, and well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome.
Ice Skating at Wingfield Park
A Hallmark-worthy winter night, right in Midtown.
Time needed: 1–2 hours Location: Wingfield Park
Season: Nov 29, 2025 – Feb 16, 2026
Tickets:
$20 with skate rental • card only
Families • Date Night • Right in Midtown
Enjoy our outdoor ice rink in Midtown! Spend 45 to 75 minutes skating, perfect for beginners. Afterward, explore Midtown's shops and festive lights while warming up with the many food options. It's an evening in Ruidoso that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie!
GOOD TO KNOW
- Payment: card-only on site
- Beginners: skating aids are available
- Hours:
Weekends 11–8 • Weekdays 5–8
Cozy Cabins Tip: Bring gloves and thin wool socks—thick socks may make rental skates feel tight and cause blisters.
Ruidoso Food & Drink
White Sands National Park
An endless stretch of white sand dunes, blurring the line between reality and dreams.
Time Needed: half to full day Drive Time: ~1.5 hours
Entry Fee:
$25/vehicle for a day pass, or free with a national park annual pass
Day Trippers • Families • Photographers
An endless field of white gypsum dunes—easy to explore, wildly beautiful, and especially magical at golden hour. The park is dog-friendly and has covered picnic spots with grills, so it’s great for a day trip and the perfect backdrop for Instagram-worthy vacation moments.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome, but must be on leash
- Safety: Don't get lost! Drop a pin in Maps to save your parking spot
- Be Prepared: Bring sunglasses, spf, and plenty of water
Cozy Cabins Tip: Don’t miss the excitement of sand sledding!
Cozy Cabins offers a limited number of sleds to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
