Winter in Ruidoso: A Cozy Guide to Culinary, Scenic, and Cinematic Delights
Alto Lake with Sierra Blanca in the distance. Photo by Mark Stambaugh.
Winter in Ruidoso invites you to slow down and enjoy the season. Crisp mountain mornings, snow-dusted evergreens, cozy meals, scenic trails, local favorites, and fireside evenings give a winter getaway here its own easy rhythm.
For a different take on a Ruidoso winter day, we’ve paired five cozy experiences: something inspired by New Mexico to make, a seasonal adventure to enjoy, a local place to eat, a scenic place to stroll, and a movie filmed right here in Ruidoso to watch when you’re ready to settle in for the evening.
Something to Make: New Mexico Green Chile Stew
Warm up with a bowl of New Mexico green chile stew, a comforting favorite for a winter day.
Green Chile Stew
Servings: 8
Be warned: it’s not your average stew. This dish will bring the unique and bold flavors of New Mexico right to your kitchen table. Serve it with a warmed stack of flour tortillas or homemade cornbread.
“...A bowl of comfort, green chile stew always strikes us as much greater than the sum of its humble parts.”
Ingredients
1½ to 1¾ pounds beef chuck or pork butt (shoulder), cut into ½-inch cubes
2 medium onions, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 to 1¼ pounds red waxy potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, and diced
5 cups beef or chicken stock
1½ tablespoons salt or more to taste
3 cups 505 Southwestern brand Hatch Valley Roasted Green Chile sauce
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen, 1 cup carrot chunks, or 1 diced red bell pepper, optional.
Directions
Sear the meat in a Dutch oven or large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until it browns and the liquid accumulated from the meat mostly evaporates.
Stir in the onions and garlic and cook for several minutes, until the onions become translucent. Pour in the stock and scrape the mixture up from the bottom to loosen browned bits.
Sprinkle in the salt, reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cook uncovered for 1¼ hours.
Stir in the chile and any of the optional ingredients and continue cooking for another 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the meat is quite tender, the vegetables are soft, and the flavors have blended together.
Ladle into bowls and serve hot.
Something to Do: Take a Winter Sleigh Ride
A horse-drawn sleigh ride brings holiday-season charm to a winter evening in Ruidoso.
During the holiday season, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through Ruidoso’s historic Upper Canyon offers a memorable way to experience a winter evening in the mountains. Bundle up beneath a blanket and enjoy the crisp air, holiday lights, and sound of sleigh bells as you travel through one of Ruidoso’s oldest neighborhoods.
Sleigh rides are seasonal and offered on select dates. Check current availability and reservation information when planning your visit.
Somewhere to Eat: Warm Up with a Local Favorite
Pizza dough takes flight at Cafe Rio, a longtime local favorite in Midtown Ruidoso.
After a winter adventure, head into Midtown for something warm and satisfying. Cafe Rio is a longtime Ruidoso favorite known for pizza, including its Kitchen Sink pizza loaded with toppings and a distinctly New Mexico addition: green chile.
It’s the kind of casual, welcoming stop that fits naturally into a winter day—especially when everyone is ready to warm up, relax, and share a meal.
Somewhere to Stroll: Grindstone Lake
Snow transforms Grindstone Lake into a quiet winter landscape just minutes from Midtown Ruidoso.
Just minutes from Midtown Ruidoso, Grindstone Lake offers a peaceful change of pace from the bustle of town. Winter brings a quieter character to the lake and surrounding forest, with mountain scenery, crisp air, wildlife-viewing opportunities, and trails to explore when conditions allow.
Take your time, enjoy the views, and remember that mountain weather and trail conditions can change quickly during winter. Dress for the conditions and check current weather before heading out.
Something to Watch: The Christmas Classic
When you’re ready to settle in for a cozy evening, make the movie part of the Ruidoso experience. The Christmas Classic, a 2023 holiday feature film, was filmed in and around Ruidoso, bringing familiar local scenery to the screen.
Curl up by the fire, pour something warm, and see how many Ruidoso locations you recognize.
Plan Your Ruidoso Winter Getaway
Ready to experience winter in the mountains? Explore more seasonal activities, trip ideas, current events, weather resources, and practical information for planning your stay.
Explore Ruidoso Winter Trip Ideas
Looking for a cozy cabin, hotel, resort, vacation rental, or other place to stay?