Cedar Creek recreation area

Important Alert: Cedar Creek Trails Recreation Area CLOSED

Due to significant damage caused by the South Fork fire, the Cedar Creek Trails Recreation Area is currently closed to all visitors. Safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding as we work to assess and repair the affected areas.

For the most up-to-date information and additional details, please visit the official Lincoln National Forest Alerts and Notices.

Open space, picnic area, and campground

Conveniently located just off Mechem Drive (Hwy 48), Cedar Creek is one of Ruidoso's popular recreation areas. With a picnic shelter and three group campsites, the recreation area is ideal for an outing in Lincoln National Forest.

Hiking and biking are among the most popular activities here, with options like the T90 Fitness Trail and the T121 and T121A biking trails. The fitness trail extends for 1.3 miles and includes exercise stations where visitors can do pull-ups and similar workouts.

The group picnic shelter offers drinking water and accessible vault toilets. Non-sheltered picnic tables are open to the general public.

National Forest campgrounds range from 60 to 100 person capacities and the group picnic shelter fits up to 40 people. Each site comes with accessible picnic shelters, campfire rings, drinking water vault toilets and grills.

Well over 30 miles of multi-use trails for all skill levels are located within this trail system.