Ruidoso · 2026
An illustrated scrapbook of the family's Ruidoso mountain week

Our family trip

Our Ruidoso Mountain Week

Four nights with Owen and Harold while Sloane and Luke were at camp. We hiked, shopped, watched all four Men in Black movies, and spent a lot of time on the porch.

July 19 to 23, 2026Ryan, Molly, Owen & HaroldRain Dance Retreat
4nights in Ruidoso
2lake hikes
22°cooler than Austin by day
4Men in Black movies

How it happened

A trip planned in less than a week

We came up with the idea on Monday, just after Sloane and Luke left for two weeks at Laity Lodge summer camp. Owen could have gone to day camp, but a few days in the mountains sounded better. By Sunday we were on the road.

Sloane and Luke were at camp, so we checked the Laity Lodge photos every day and sent them bunk notes from Ruidoso.

While Sloane and Luke were at camp

Camp photos and bunk notes every dayOne of our daily routines in Ruidoso.

Austin to Ruidoso

The drive was part of the trip

Map of the drive from Austin through Roswell to Ruidoso
Route based on our drive. Map data from OpenStreetMap.

The Escalade covered about 573 miles each way. Super Cruise handled most of the long highway stretches, so the drive felt easier than we expected. We stopped only twice on the way out, including Roswell, and watched the World Cup final in the car. By the last stretch, West Texas had given way to high desert and then pine-covered mountains.

573 miAustin to Ruidoso
About 9 hrbehind the wheel
+6,400 ftelevation change
22°Fcooler by day
Ryan, Molly, Owen, and Harold loaded into the Escalade in Austin
Loaded up in Austin and ready to head west.
The World Cup final playing on a laptop in the Escalade
The World Cup final played on the laptop while the miles went by.
Molly driving the Escalade on the highway with the dashboard and laptop visible
Super Cruise covered most of the highway miles.

Ruidoso and Austin

The cooler weather was the point

From Sunday through Wednesday, Ruidoso's daily highs averaged about 79°F. Austin averaged about 101°F over the same four days. Nights in Ruidoso averaged about 58°F, compared with roughly 77°F back home.

About 22°F cooler during the day and 19°F cooler at night

We had sun for the morning hikes, afternoon clouds, and a couple of quick mountain storms. Rain paused the zipline on Monday, then cooled the porch on Wednesday.

Average daytime high

Ruidoso79°F
Austin101°F

Average overnight low

Ruidoso58°F
Austin77°F
Daily weather data from Open-Meteo
The red wraparound porch at Rain Dance Retreat overlooking the mountains
Thursday morning at Rain Dance Retreat

Rain Dance Retreat

High above the trees

The steep driveway paid off once we reached the house. The red wraparound deck sat above the treetops with a wide view of the mountains. We ate outside, watched storms move through, used the hot tub, and let the porch become our default place to hang out.

That Thursday morning view made the steep driveway worth it.

July 19 to 23, 2026

What we did

Five days in order, including the details we kept talking about afterward.

  1. Up the mountain

    We made the drive from Austin, stopped twice, and settled into Rain Dance Retreat.

    • Roswell was one of the stops, complete with the town's alien theme.
    • Unpacked at the house and got our first look at the view from the wraparound porch.
    • Started Men in Black that night and watched the first half before bed.
  2. Coaster day

    Ruidoso Winter Park gave us the first big outing of the trip and a reason to return the next day.

    • Rode the mountain coaster. Molly liked it enough to want another turn.
    • The zipline went on a rain hold.
    • Finished the first Men in Black Monday afternoon.
    • Watched Men in Black II Monday night.
  3. Lake, Midtown, and a second run

    Tuesday mixed a lake loop, shopping with Owen, another Winter Park visit, and steak night at the house.

    • Walked the full Alto Lake loop, just over two miles together. Harold led most of the way.
    • Browsed Midtown, including the Christmas store. Owen picked a new book, and we added a milkshake, fudge, and a grocery stop.
    • Came home for lunch, the hot tub, and a quiet afternoon.
    • Returned to Winter Park. Ryan and Owen did the zipline, while Molly and Owen rode the mountain coaster again.
    • Cooked steaks at Rain Dance Retreat.
    • Watched Men in Black 3 that night.
  4. Boba, souvenirs, and rain on the porch

    Our last full day was less scheduled and probably the most like the trip we had pictured.

    • Hiked Grindstone Lake to Winchester Road, about two miles out and back. Harold led the way again.
    • Owen finally got the boba tea he had been craving. Molly got matcha, and Dad got a haircut at the barbershop.
    • Stopped for souvenirs. Owen chose a small Remington fixed-blade knife with a leather sheath, Molly found a basket, and Dad picked a refrigerator magnet for his office.
    • The store attendant nicked her finger on the knife while trying to wrap it.
    • Back at the house, Owen and Mom read. Dad and Owen picked a stick and started whittling it with the new knife.
    • A rainstorm brought cool air across the porch, and we fit in one last hot tub.
    • Made dinner at home and watched Men in Black: International.
  5. Homeward

    We woke early, packed the Escalade, and were back on the road by 8:30 in the morning.

    • Finished the cabin sweep and packed Harold's crate with the rest of the gear.
    • Left Rain Dance Retreat ahead of schedule and started the drive back to Texas.

The places behind the stories

Around Ruidoso

Real photos from the attractions and trails we visited.

Ruidoso Winter Park

Ruidoso Winter Park

The mountain coaster was a hit. We came back Tuesday so Ryan and Owen could do the zipline and Molly and Owen could take another coaster ride.

Photo: Family photo
Alto Lake

Alto Lake

Our first lake hike was the full loop, a little over two miles with Harold out front.

Photo: Family photo
Midtown Ruidoso

Midtown Ruidoso

Books, Christmas ornaments, milkshakes, fudge, boba, matcha, a haircut, and the souvenirs we carried home.

Photo: Family photo
Grindstone Lake

Grindstone Lake

The second hike was an easy out-and-back with lake views, gradual climbs, and Harold leading again.

Photo: Family photo

Wednesday's trail

Grindstone Lake to Winchester Road

This was the shorter lakeside section of the Grindstone Canyon trail system. It had gentle climbs, open views across the water, and enough trail for a good walk without taking over the day.

AllTrails distance
1.9 miles
Our walk
A little over 2 miles
Elevation gain
246 feet
Route
Easy, Out and back
See the trail on AllTrails
Grindstone Lake seen from the trail under a blue New Mexico skyGrindstone Lake
Harold looking into the camera on the Grindstone Lake trail

Trail leader
porch floofer

Harold came too

Harold's first mountain trip

Harold was a trooper. He came on both lake hikes and spent most of each one at the front, as if he had picked the route himself. He joined us for Midtown shopping and handled the busy days better than we expected.

Back at the house, he would stretch out on the outdoor porch and start "floofing" after a full day of hiking and excitement. He seemed completely at home in the cool air and pine trees.

Harold at Grindstone Lake, where he spent most of the hike out front.

Midtown finds

Souvenirs we brought home

Owen's new whittling knife

A small Remington fixed blade in a leather sheath. It is different from his pocket knife and camping utility knife, and it went to work on a carefully selected stick that afternoon.

Molly's basket

A basket she found during the last Midtown shopping trip.

Dad's office magnet

A small Ruidoso magnet for the refrigerator in his office.

Owen's mountain book

Picked out during the first Midtown walk and read during the quiet afternoons at the house.

What we watched at the house

The Men in Black run

We did not plan a movie marathon, but we somehow watched all four.

Men in Black theatrical poster01

1997

Men in Black

Sunday night and Monday afternoon
Men in Black II theatrical poster02

2002

Men in Black II

Monday night
Men in Black 3 theatrical poster03

2012

Men in Black 3

Tuesday night
Men in Black: International theatrical poster04

2019

Men in Black: International

Wednesday night

Poster artwork © Sony Pictures. Used here as part of our personal trip scrapbook.

A few more details

Things we want to remember

  • 01Checking the Laity Lodge camp photos for Sloane and Luke.
  • 02Writing bunk notes from the mountains.
  • 03Owen finally getting his boba tea.
  • 04Harold leading both hikes.
  • 05Reading at the house with nowhere else to be.
  • 06Cool rain moving across the red porch.
  • 07Whittling a stick with the new knife.
  • 08Four nights of Men in Black.

From our camera roll

Pictures from the week

The camera roll has the big outings and the parts in between: breakfast on the red porch, Owen reading in the morning, Harold out front on the trails, and one last family photo before we loaded the car.

Ruidoso, July 19 to 23, 2026
Ryan, Molly, Owen, and Harold taking a family selfie on the porch
ThursdayOne last porch photo before loading the Escalade.
Ryan and Owen eating breakfast with Harold on the red porch
MondayBreakfast outside, with Harold checking on everyone.
Molly starting a ride on the Ruidoso Winter Park mountain coaster
MondayMolly liked the coaster enough to come back for another ride.
Owen starting his zipline ride at Ruidoso Winter Park
TuesdayThe zipline reopened Tuesday, so Owen and Dad went back.
Molly holding Harold next to a green alien figure in Midtown Ruidoso
MondayHarold came shopping too. The alien was less impressed.
Ryan, Owen, and Harold walking the trail above Grindstone Lake
WednesdayThe Grindstone trail, with Harold a few steps ahead.
A group of horses grazing beside the road in Ruidoso
WednesdayA Ruidoso traffic jam on the way back from the lake.
Owen reading his new book in a chair on the porch
MondayOwen started the book he found in Midtown.
Ryan and Owen in the hot tub with mountain views behind them
SundayFirst-night hot tub, before the Men in Black marathon took over.
Harold lying on the red porch after a day out
WednesdayHarold floofing on the porch after a full day.