Sierra Club Guided Hikes Planned in Ruidoso Area This April
March 9, 2026 (Ruidoso, NM) — The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club will host two educational outdoor trips in Lincoln County this April, offering participants an opportunity to explore local landscapes while learning about the region’s ecology, geology, and environmental history.
Both events are led by Sierra Club trip leader John Pijawka and are open to the public with advance registration.
Bonito Lake Tour – April 11
The first event, the Bonito Lake Tour, takes place Saturday, April 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Participants will explore the Bonito Lake area, including the abandoned West Lake Campground and the lake’s spillway and dam.
The guided hike will include discussion of the lake’s history, the Bonito pipeline that supplies water to Alamogordo, and the geology of the surrounding landscape. The tour will also include a visit to Blue Hole, a spring located near the Rio Bonito.
The hike covers approximately 3.5 miles with about 300 feet of elevation gain and includes one short scramble near the dam.
A Decade of Forest Fires and Flooding – April 25
The second trip, A Decade of Forest Fires and Flooding – Ruidoso, will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This guided hike along the Cedar Creek trail system will explore how wildfire, drought, and monsoon flooding have shaped the forests around Ruidoso over the past decade. Participants will walk through areas impacted by recent fires while learning about forest ecology, trail recovery, and landscape change in the Smokey Bear Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest.
The hike is approximately 3.5 miles round trip with a gradual elevation gain of about 425 feet and includes several interpretive stops along the trail.
Registration Information
Space for both events is limited, and advance registration is required via https://www.riograndesierraclub.org/calendar/
Participants should bring water, wear appropriate hiking footwear, and dress for changing mountain weather conditions.
Additional details and registration information are available through the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter website riograndesierraclub.org.
