Eagle Creek Trail

We wanted to get out and experience Ruidoso by taking in an easy hike and my app called ALLTRAILS said that the Eagle Creek Trail just north of the city would be a nice easy, family friendly hike where we could see waterfalls and possibly wildlife.  Off we went, only a quick 15 minute drive from the campground.  Lots of folks enjoying the beautiful day, fishing along the banks, kayaking out on Alto Lake.

Man-made lake from damming up the Eagle Creek, stocked with fish

Lots of families

Very serene

The trail is 2 miles long, very easy walking on hard packed dirt, wide.  We started out along the trail along the lake, seeing families with children fishing.  Very cute.  Saw a huge caterpillar and later found out it is called a Hummingbird Moth which looks and acts like a hummingbird but it has clear wings and it also emits the same humming sounds of the hummer.  Never saw anything as big (6" long).

Morphs into a Hummingbird Moth

Could see returning trail across the way

Vegetation at treeline bare because of deer or snow pack?

And the waterfall, the sound was pleasant

Huge home right behind sign

Walked a bit, took pictures, strolling along Eagle Creek.  We felt eyes watching us, said that deer and elk are in the area and when we started out, a posting that bears had been seen.  We felt that there were too many people in the area making noise that the likelihood of seeing a bear was very minimal.

Waterfall unclose, nice

In this area we saw new elk poop - I knew we were being watched!

Found the falls, very pretty.  Nice day walking in the forest.  The smell of the pines, the eagles flying over head, ravens cawing, nice pleasant day walking. We did see evidence of deer poop and also very new elk poop - very wet, just happened.  We felt the eyes on us all the time we walked.

And back to the beginning

We especially wanted to do some kind of hike to try to get used to walking/hiking in elevation over 7000 feet.  We did really well.