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Many people visit Ruidoso to escape the heat and experience the beautiful scenery and wildlife, and what better way to experience that scenery than a hike?
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing hike to take in the mountains or a more rigorous day hike, you’re sure to find a great option!
Even better, they’re all dog friendly, but your dogs must remain on leash.
1) Cedar Creek Loop (Moderate)
Just across the road from Innsbrook Village you’ll find the Cedar Creek Trails. This is a series of trails including easy and moderate trails as well as a couple of biking trails.
This is considered a moderate route that takes you up a ridge that offers a magnificent view of the mountains and back down to finish the loop after roughly an hour and a half hike.
The trails are well marked and easy to follow, but can stay muddy for a few days. The park rangers will adjust signage at the trailhead to show the state of the trail so be sure to check on your way in.
2) Lower Cedar Creek Loop (Easy)
If you’re looking for an easier trail to just take in the mountain air, follow the signs for the Lower Cedar Creek Loop. This trail doesn’t take you quite as high as the previous one, but still offers a great view and only takes about 40 minutes to complete.
3) Eagle Creek Trail and Alto Reserve Loop (Easy)
This one is a local favorite! It’s relatively short at just 2.1 miles long, well marked and maintained, and even has the extra treat of a small waterfall halfway through the trail.
The whole loop will take you roughly 45 minutes, or you can just do an out-and-back to the waterfall if you want something a little shorter.
4) Grindstone Lake Trails (Moderate-Hard)
Grindstone Lake has several trails that offer scenic views of the mountains and lake. The highest rated is the Grindstone Canyon Loop, which is 6.7 miles long and takes an average of 3 hours to hike.
If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, you can tackle the Grindstone Lake Trail Extended, which offers incredible views of the Inn of the Mountain Gods and Grindstone Lake. Come prepared with plenty of water and some good hiking boots though, as it’ll take you about four and a half hours to hike the 11.3 miles.
5) Lookout Mountain via Crest and Scenic Trails (Hard)
The final trail to make the list is another hard one, but with a big pay off! This out-and-back trail takes you to Lookout Mountain and offers breathtaking views both on the way to the lookout and at the top of the mountain itself.
In addition to normal preparations, it’s also recommended to download a navigation map, like those you can find on the AllTrails app, as the trail can be easy to lose in places. The 7 mile trail will take roughly 4 hours to complete.
Most of these great trails are located only minutes from Innsbrook Village, so whether you’re an avid hiker or just want to enjoy the wonderful scenery Ruidoso has to offer, we invite you to stay with us here at Innsbrook!
Feel free to reach out to our staff at 1(800)284-0294 with any questions you may have about your future stay with us.
