RUIDOSO, NM – June 16, 2020 – In an effort to preserve our natural resources and manage visitor capacity, the Village of Ruidoso will require reservations to access Grindstone Lake on the weekends, as outlined in Executive Order 2020-10, subject to change as conditions or impacts develop. Effective immediately, visitation to Grindstone Lake will be kept at 300 vehicles per day through Labor Day.
“We’ve had tremendous interest in Grindstone and Alto Lakes this spring and summer as folks want to get out of the house and out of the heat,” said Mayor Lynn Crawford. “We want to make sure visiting the lake is an enjoyable experience for our residents, second homeowners and visitors without harming our natural resources or jeopardizing public safety.”
Reservations will need to be made to access Grindstone Lake for day-use from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Monday – Thursday and from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday – Sunday. Entrance to Grindstone Lake will remain free of charge before 8:00 AM Monday – Thursday and every day after 6:00 PM. Residents of the Village of Ruidoso and second homeowners within the Village will have first priority to make reservations on Monday – Wednesday of each week. Visitors will then have the ability to make a reservation starting on Thursday for the upcoming weekend. Once the reservations have reached capacity limits, the lake will be closed to drop-in, day-use visitors. No refunds or rain checks will be issued.
“You’ll have to make a reservation in advance to access Grindstone Lake. We know this will be a different experience for our residents and guests, but we want to make sure we’re not overwhelming the lake, are able to practice social distancing and are managing traffic in the area around the lake,” said Crawford. “We will be hosting a free day on Friday, July 3 for the residents of the Village of Ruidoso to enjoy a day at the lake at no cost.”
Reservations are now open for the residents of the Village of Ruidoso at https://www.ruidosoparksandrec.com/permits-reservations. The first step is to create an account or log in, if you have an existing account. If a resident has purchased a season parking pass, please call the Parks and Recreation Office at 575-257-5030 for access to the reservation system.
Parking is $5 a day or $20 for an annual pass for residents of the Village. Parking is charged from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM on Monday – Thursday and from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM on Friday – Sunday. Entrance to Grindstone Lake will remain free of charge before 8:00 AM Monday – Thursday and every day after 6:00 PM.
Trails are open for hiking, biking, disc golf and horseback riding. There will be only one designated entry point into Grindstone Lake. Additional access points to the lake area will be closed and monitored. Parking on Grindstone Canyon Road from Carrizo Canyon Road to Resort Drive is prohibited on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Access to Grindstone Stables will remain open.
Campfires, charcoal grills and alcohol are prohibited at the lake. Please help us Keep Ruidoso Beautiful and remove any trash you bring to the lake. For more information please visit Ruidoso-NM.gov.