How high is Ruidoso?

Ruidoso sits at 6,739 ft (2,054 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits above New Mexico’s average of 5,774 ft (1,760 m) — a relatively high spot, with only about 27% of the state higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Ruidoso, New Mexico area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Ruidoso, from our satellite elevation model. Ruidoso is marked at 6,739 ft (2,054 m); the highest ground in view reaches 11,906 ft (3,629 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

The regional view — Ruidoso.

Elevation across Ruidoso

Interactive 3D elevation map of Ruidoso's neighborhoods on real terrain, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model — A fine **23 m** terrain model of Ruidoso. Its relief is gentle, so the vertical scale is **exaggerated ~30×** for legibility — every true elevation is on its marker and in the table below. Highest is Villa Madonna at **8,494 ft (2,589 m)**, lowest Hollywood at **6,516 ft (1,986 m)**. Names from USGS GNIS; elevations from Copernicus GLO-30.

Ruidoso’s neighborhoods span about 1980 ft (about 600 m) — from 6,516 ft (1,986 m) at Hollywood, up to 8,494 ft (2,589 m) at Villa Madonna. Each figure is a Copernicus GLO-30 sample at the neighborhood’s USGS place-name point.

~1980 ftelevation span across 6 neighborhoodsUSGS GNIS names · Copernicus GLO-30

Ruidoso neighborhoods by elevation, highest to lowest, with the city center for reference
Neighborhood	Elevation
Villa Madonnahighest	8,494 ft (2,589 m)
Sierra Vista	7,680 ft (2,341 m)
Sun Valley	7,556 ft (2,303 m)
Alpine Cellars Village	7,438 ft (2,267 m)
Ponderosa Heights	7,021 ft (2,140 m)
Hollywoodlowest	6,516 ft (1,986 m)
Ruidoso (city center)	6,739 ft (2,054 m)

Ruidoso: gateway to Ski Apache and Sierra Blanca

Ruidoso sits at about 6,739 feet (2,054 meters) in south-central New Mexico and is the gateway to Ski Apache on the slopes of Sierra Blanca — the southernmost major ski resort in the continental United States.

Sources: Local Freshies — Ski Apache; Discover Ruidoso — Ski Apache

Ruidoso in New Mexico

Here’s the useful context: Ruidoso, at 6,739 ft (2,054 m), sits roughly 965 ft (294 m) above New Mexico’s average elevation of 5,774 ft (1,760 m). It is one of the higher places in its state — our model puts only about 27% of New Mexico’s land higher.

2,822 ft — New Mexico low▲ Ruidoso 6,739 ft · avg 5,774 ft ┈13,140 ft — New Mexico high

The terrain around Ruidoso

Across this view the land rises toward the east. The western third of the frame averages about 4,915 ft (1,498 m); the eastern third about 6,125 ft (1,867 m) — a climb of roughly 1,211 ft (369 m), topping out near 11,906 ft (3,629 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Ruidoso sits against.

You can read the whole story in the map above — the flatter ground where the city sits, and the way the land gathers into peaks nearby. It’s the difference between where you stand and what you can see from it.

What Ruidoso’s altitude means

At 6,739 ft (2,054 m), Ruidoso is high enough that most visitors feel it, even though it’s still below the ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) line where altitude sickness typically begins. The first day or two can bring shortness of breath, a faster heart rate, trouble sleeping, and quicker dehydration.

The fix is patience: arrive, hydrate hard, go easy on alcohol and hard exertion, and let your body adjust over a day or two. Most people feel normal by the second or third day. If you’re heading higher into the mountains from here, the effects only grow.

How Ruidoso compares

Among New Mexico’s larger cities, Ruidoso is ranked #2 of 11 by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it a bit above Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Santa Fe — 7,008 ft (2,136 m)
Ruidoso — 6,739 ft (2,054 m)
Gallup — 6,512 ft (1,985 m)
Farmington — 5,299 ft (1,615 m)
Albuquerque — 4,967 ft (1,514 m)
Alamogordo — 4,341 ft (1,323 m)
Clovis — 4,272 ft (1,302 m)

Ruidoso elevation FAQ

How high is Ruidoso?: Ruidoso’s elevation is about 6,739 ft (2,054 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Ruidoso high or low for New Mexico?: High. At 6,739 ft (2,054 m) it sits above New Mexico’s average of 5,774 ft (1,760 m), with only about 27% of the state higher.
Does Ruidoso’s altitude affect visitors?: Often, yes. At 6,739 ft (2,054 m) most visitors feel the thinner air for a day or two — shortness of breath, poor sleep, dehydration — before adjusting.

Explore more

↑ New Mexico’s full elevation map — the whole state in interactive 3D, with its high and low points and average elevation.
· Blog: Average Elevation by State — where New Mexico’s 5,774 ft (1,760 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Ruidoso’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the New Mexico figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 201 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Neighborhood and landmark place names are from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS); their elevations are Copernicus GLO-30 samples at each named point. Data as of 2026-08-19.