The countless things to do in Mescalero, NM, from skiing to hiking, hunting, fishing, events, and relaxing make it easy to plan any type of vacation you wish. Located on the Mescalero Apache Reservation just outside Ruidoso, Mescalero is ideal for travelers wanting a family-friendly, adults-only, or adventure-based vacation that’s as easy as it is exciting.
This guide covers on-property experiences, nearby ski and lake attractions, seasonal events, like Mescalero hunting and the rodeo, to guide your vacation itinerary.
What Is There To Do in Mescalero, NM?
The resort sits along Lake Mescalero, where the day can start quietly with coffee and mountain views before easing into fishing, hiking, ziplining, golfing, or boutique shopping. With culture, history, and modern entertainment, Mescalero is a hub of recreation and activities. The best part is, you won’t need to travel much at all to take in the area’s best sights and adventures.
Your Getaway Starts at Inn of the Mountain Gods
This mountain destination is located in the Sierra Blanca mountains of Mescalero, NM. On top of an impressive 38,000-square-foot casino and luxury accommodations, you’ll find year-round activities for any vacation style.
- Lake Mescalero Adventures: Spend a laid-back day on the water, kayaking, paddle boating, or fishing. It’s as easy as stepping outside. Soak up the fresh mountain air, without a lot of planning.
- Apache Eagle Ziprider: Thrill-seekers, families, and couples love this signature attraction. Soar over Lake Mescalero on a side-by-side zipline for amazing views and a memorable experience worth bragging about.
- Championship Golf: Highly rated by Golf Digest, the resort’s scenic course offers mountain and lake views and challenging play, plus a range to hit balls in the crisp alpine air.
- Spa Reset: Save some downtime for the spa to recharge after outdoor activities.
- Live Events and Entertainment: Catch a concert, comedy show, or cultural event without worrying about driving after dark or finding parking.
- Dine: With the resort’s dining options, staying in will feel like a choice, not a compromise.
Day Trips Near Mescalero
The area around Mescalero offers a lot to explore, and it’s easy to add a nearby outing for a change of pace or different excursions. Two fantastic regional spots are Ruidoso and Silver Lake:
- Ruidoso, NM, is just 15 to 20 minutes from Mescalero and provides an easy itinerary, checking out the local murals, shopping at the trading post, and a wine tasting, just minutes from your suite.
- Silver Lake Mescalero, NM, offers hiking and wildlife viewing, near a historic downtown worth exploring; the lake is open for swimming seasonally, and the on-site store offers sundries and changing facilities.
What Is There to Do With Kids in Mescalero, NM?
From a zipline to fishing and hikes, pool time, and events, the activities in Mescalero offer plenty for kids and teens to do.
Memory-Making Activities
- Ziprider Over Lake Mescalero: Older kids and teens will love this experience—it’s the highlight of many family vacations.
- Fishing and Easy Trails: The lake and surrounding trails create space for easier, low-pressure fun: kids love fishing, short walks, and time outdoors that doesn’t need to be structured.
- Nearby Mescalero Attractions Minutes Away: The free Cultural Center features ancient Apache tools, weapons, and beaded ceremony dresses; St. Joseph Apache Mission is a massive stone church with a castle-like scale kids find fascinating; the Tribal Fish Hatchery allows children to see trout in various stages of growth.
Easy Wins for Families
- A Break for All: Mescalero works especially well for families because it doesn’t demand constant logistics. Activities are close together, and the setting does much of the entertaining on its own.
- Build a Half-Day Plan: Start the morning by the water, take a break in the pool in the afternoon, and settle into an early dinner on-site.
- All-Weather Fun: If the weather turns or temperatures drop, indoor entertainment and dining at the resort keep the day moving without disruption.
Is Mescalero a Good Destination for Couples?
Couples love Mescalero because it offers something often hard to find: a getaway that feels complete without feeling busy, overplanned, or stressful. Days can begin with a walk along the lake or a peaceful morning fishing, and evenings don’t require much thought to turn out perfectly.
A Couple’s Itinerary That Feels Like a Getaway
Whether couples stay a few days or a week, they can plan a romantic, adventurous getaway at a retreat they’ll never need to leave:
- Mornings: The lake is the perfect backdrop for mornings; take a walk with coffee, fish in the quiet, or simply relax with a view before heading to Red Hat Grille for breakfast.
- Days: Try something adventurous and memorable, like the Ziprider or challenge each other to a round of golf, before easing into a slower afternoon. Book a spa appointment, or take a dip in the pool and see where that leads you.
- Evenings: A reservation-style dinner, a show or event, and a drink afterward create a night that moves smoothly and leaves room to let your mood decide.
- Everyday Luxury: Where Mescalero stands out is the combination of luxury and enjoyment; whatever you decide to do, you’ll know you won’t need to go anywhere to enjoy yourselves.
What Is There to Do in Mescalero in the Winter?
Winter in Mescalero centers around the slopes, with Ski Apache nearby. A typical visit blends active days on the mountain with après-ski at the resort.
Plan a Ski + Resort Weekend
Though there are plenty of places to visit nearby in the winter, Ski Apache offers enough skiing, snowboarding, and activities to build a trip around. Spend the day on the slopes, and then head back to the resort for a warm meal, a spa session, or a laid-back evening indoors. The contrast is part of the appeal—high-energy mornings followed by relaxed, comfortable nights.
Winter Packing and Planning
Planning helps, especially during peak weekends with fresh powder:
- Inquire early about the resort shuttle to Ski Apache
- If you drive yourself, check road conditions with the NMDOT first.
- Reserve ski rentals or lessons in advance, or shop in Ruidoso to avoid morning lines on the mountain.
- Take advantage of the free kids ticket program (children under 12 ski free with a paying adult)
What to Do in Mescalero in the Summer?
Long, open-ended summer days are ideal for hiking, swimming, fishing, and relaxing. Your focus will be on the lake and surrounding trails, perfect for challenging yourself or renewing your spirit in nature, or a little of both.
- The Ziprider: Soaring over the resort’s lake is especially popular in clear weather. Fit it in between a morning outdoors and an evening meal. It’s one of the can’t-miss things to do in Mescalero that parents and kids agree on.
- Silver Lake: Extend your time outdoors at this favorite local lake. Silver Lake in Mescalero, NM, is stocked with trout, and the elevation makes it a prime spot for wildlife viewing and stargazing; plan for fishing permits and seasonal access for the smoothest experience.
Mescalero Rodeo
Each summer, the Mescalero rodeo brings a different kind of energy to the area. These typically happen around July 4th and Labor Day weekends, but watch the Apache Tribe news for the official announcement.
Why You Should Plan For It
Rooted in tradition and community, the rodeos in Mescalero are more than events; they are ceremonial. The entertainment lineup includes something for everyone, such as a parade, horse races and rides, traditional Apache dances, arts and crafts, and food vendors. This makes day outings easy and tees up an evening of relaxing. Use these tips for a seamless time:
- Plan to arrive with enough time to park and find a prime seat.
- Dress for the elements; the altitude can cause quick weather changes.
- Consider bringing a lawn chair or cushion (bleacher seating) for added comfort.
- Bring cash if you’re interested in local vendors; not all accept cards.
Feeling inspired? Nearby Ruidoso has specialized shops with western wear, and the resort offers horseback riding with a view.
Mescalero Hunting
For a different kind of outdoor experience, Mescalero Hunts offers guided experiences on tribal land, known for its big game and carefully managed access. The hunts change seasonally and by year; some past opportunities include bear, cow elk, bull elk, and turkey.
Planning a Mescalero hunting trip is more involved than a typical visit, so start preparing well before the season:
- Applications must be submitted with each individual in your party; minors must also submit additional hunter safety certification.
- Each hunt has a closing deadline, and applicants must be drawn to qualify to purchase a permit.
- Coordination with official tribal resources and guides is also part of the process.
Those who prepare early create a memorable experience not available everywhere. After a long day’s hunt or early morning setup, you’ll appreciate the comfort and amenities of the resort.
Mescalero Restaurants
When dining in this region, you’ll find high-end steakhouses and traditional fry bread tacos, plus signature flavors of the Southwest. The advantage of staying in Mescalero is having loads of things to do, surrounded by just as many places to eat.
Dining at the Resort
Visiting on-property restaurants at Inn of the Mountain Gods means there’s no need to drive after a full day outdoors. Meals here naturally fit into your itinerary with minimal interruption (and no complaints):
- Market at the Mountain: A collection of fast, delicious eats, from tacos to pizza and rice bowls, for when everyone wants something different.
- Wendell’s Steak & Seafood: Elevated, reservation-worthy dining and sweeping mountain views.
- Broken Arrow Tap House: A laid-back gastropub with craft beer, comfort food, and a casual atmosphere.
- Big Game Sports Bar: A lively casino-side bar and grill for burgers and drinks or game day entertainment.
- Apache Tee: With grab-and-go options and hearty meals, this golf course restaurant is made for easy meals between activities.
- Red Hat Grille: Try a Southwest-inspired breakfast, lunch, or dinner in this family-friendly restaurant.
Authentic Local Eats
OK, foodies. If you’re looking to explore local cuisine at Mescalero restaurants beyond the resort, head to nearby Ruidoso. You’ll find spots known for regional chili sauces, menudo, and Indian tacos. When you return, swing by Wendell’s Lounge for an after-dinner cocktail on the patio.
What’s Your Mescalero Trip Style?
If all these things to do in Mescalero, NM sound appealing, you might be stuck in a decision standstill. If you’re undecided between a family ski trip, an adults-only getaway, and another trip, use this grid to review the highlights of each vacation.
| Trip Type | Best Season | Best For Activities | Can’t-Miss Experience |
| Family Adventure | Summer, shoulder seasons | Lake time, fishing/hiking, Ziprider, on-site events | Apache Eagle Ziprider over Lake Mescalero |
| Couple’s Getaway | Year-round | Spa, dining, and entertainment (golf and lake strolls) | In-spa massage or facial; nighttime entertainment and shows |
| Winter Sports Weekend | Winter | Ski Apache and après-ski at the resort | When a ski vacation turns into a spa retreat |
| Outdoors and Hunting Focus | Seasonal | Guided hunts and downtime at the resort, including clay pigeons | Big-game Mescalero hunting |
| Holiday Event Weekends | July 4th or Labor Day (timing varies) | Rodeo and parade by day, resort base camp by night | Mescalero Rodeo events and parade |
Experience Mescalero, Your Way
Ready to experience it for yourself? Explore upcoming events, browse on-property activities, and book your stay at Inn of the Mountain Gods to start planning your Mescalero getaway.