Here’s a list of New Mexico attractions near Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero to assist you with your travel plans. For more information on any of these attractions, just click on their titles to link to their official sites.
Skiing
Visit Ski Apache for some of the best skiing and snowboarding in New Mexico. Open Thanksgiving through Easter. (575) 464-3600.
Mescalero Cultural Center
Features photos, artifacts, clothing, crafts, and other exhibits about the history/culture of the Mescalero Apache. Contact (575) 464-4494 for more information.
White Sands National Monument
About a one-hour drive west of Inn of the Mountain Gods, this is one of the most unusual places on earth. It’s a vast landscape of brilliant white sand with huge dunes covering nearly 300 square miles.
Billy the kid scenic byway
This route received a Scenic Historic Byway designation from the Federal Highway Commission in June of 1995. You can take an online “tour” of the communities at the link below.
Dowlin’s Historic Old Mill
This was a Billy the Kid hideout. The oldest building near Inn of the Mountain Gods in New Mexico still has a working flour mill run by a water wheel.
Flying J Ranch
Hubbard Museum of the American West
One of the state’s most respected museums, the Hubbard Museum houses a magnificent collection of carriages, wagons, saddles, fine art and Indian artifacts.
Lincoln National Forest
Located in south-central New Mexico, the Lincoln National Forest is known as the birthplace of the world-famous Smokey Bear, the living symbol of the campaign to prevent forest fires.
Smokey Bear Historical Park
Located on Highway 380 in Capitan, NM, the Smokey Bear Historical Park is the final resting place for the world-famous bear and honors his legacy with exhibits, film showings, educational programs and more. Open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Entry is $2 for adults and $1 for kids
Funtrackers
Entertain the kids with go-carts, water bumper boats, arcade and miniature golf. Open daily from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day, then 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturdays only. Paddleboats open summer months only.
The Valley of Fires Recreation Area
This area of buckled, twisted lava is part of an extensive flow up to 50 meters thick and over 45 miles long. The flow originated from several volcanoes, including one vent now known as Little Black Peak, 9 miles northwest of Carrizozo. The lava flow area is called the Malpais (Spanish for “badlands”), a name also given to several other flows in New Mexico.
Bird Watching
Birds abound in Mescalero New Mexico and the surrounding Lincoln National Forest. The area is close to migratory bird flyways. Polish up your binoculars!
Hiking & Camping
The Lincoln National Forest and two wilderness areas provide opportunities for hiking, backpacking and camping in terrain that ranges from the easily accessible to remote rugged wilderness.
Hunting & Fishing Guides
The area around New Mexico offers some of the best seasonal hunting and fishing in the Southwest. Call (575) 464-9770 for information.
Lincoln County Overland Stage Company, Inc.
Enjoy real overland stagecoach rides for the entire family in historic Lincoln, New Mexico, where Billy the Kid once roamed. Call the Stage Company at (575) 653-4954 for more information.
Mountain Biking
The mountain biking trails around Mescalero New Mexico present a wide range of difficulty for cyclists of all experience levels, including a nationally recognized Top-10 trail near Cloudcroft.
Sleigh & Carriage Rides
Enjoy carriage rides through the beautiful Upper Canyon. Sleigh and Carriage rides are offered Thanksgiving through Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. Call D Lazy 2 stables at (575) 257-7836 for more information.