Sports and Recreation With four gentle season and 350 days of sunshine a year, its impossible not to enjoy the outdoors in Las Cruces. Our city is located in the perfect location with an ideal climate for year round outdoor activities. Whether in the City, or in any direction you travel, you will find nationally recognized parks, for hiking, camping, hunting, off roading in  beautiful, unspoiled natural settings. There are lakes providing the full range of water sports, and the mountains provide great skiing.  Golf is a year round activity with Four championship golf courses in the City, and many more just minutes away. There is all this and much more. Las Cruces Sports and Recreation Department provides three pools (including a year-round indoor pool), four lighted tennis courts, six recreation centers, and numerous parks with every kind of sports facility provide the perfect atmosphere for you and your family to live a fun and active lifestyle. Listed below are just some of the more popular outdoor locations and activities in the area.  To see our detailed article about all the Sports and Recreational opportunities  in the Las Cruces area, including parks, activity centers, sports complexes, water sports, hiking, camping, fishing, and more.  Please use this link  to visit our main website for a comprensive look at all of the recreational activities that are available. We have selected only a few representative areas and activities there is so much more for you to explore. Dripping Springs BLM Natural Area 10 mi East of Las Cruces via Dripping Spring Rd. Offering hiking, picnicking at mountain camp ruins. Overlooking Las Cruces from the east this is a haven for hikers and adventure seekers alike. This picturesque area of rocky peaks, narrow canyons and open woodlands shelters the Dripping Springs Natural Area, noted for its "weeping walls." Formerly known as the Cox Ranch, this area encompasses a wealth of habitats containing great biological diversity.   Elephant Butte State Park The largest and most popular lake in New Mexico, Elephant Butte Lake State Park provides a setting for every imaginable water sport including boating, water-skiing, fishing, scuba diving, and canoeing.  The lake has sandy beaches, and quiet little coves. The mild climate of the area makes this park a year-round destination. There is plenty of water and plenty of beach. The Land Area is 24,500 acres and the Lake Surface is 35,000 acres. This 40 mile long reservoir is New Mexico's main water sports destination, and it is New Mexico's largest State Park. Late May through early October are the prime season for playing in the water.  The water temperatures are usually in the 70's to low 80's. Although most visitors wouldn't want to play IN the water during winter months because of lower temperatures, the lake is still a great place to play ON when the weather gets a bit colder. Various Organizations, Elephant Butte State Park, the City of Elephant Butte, and the City of Truth or Consequences sponsor events on the lake year round. Ski Apache Resort Located just 2.5 hours north of Las Cruces in the friendly town of Ruidoso is New Mexicos most popular and well-equipped winter play land. Every year approximately 180 inches of fresh powder falls on the 11,400 ft mountainside of the Sierra Blanca, including the adrenaline pumping 1800 ft drops. Ski Apache offers every service imaginable for your next ski vacation. Start your journey at the Ski Apache Website.  This site is everything the Ski Apache and Ruidoso Winter visitor needs to plan a carefree winter getaway! There is complete information on the weather, snow conditions, trails, lifts, lift tickets, ski and board lessons, ski packages, the Ski Apache special events calendar and a complete description of Mountain amenities. Use this site to plan a visit this ski season.                                                                                             Sonoma Ranch Golf Course For great golf in the Southern New Mexico desert, there is one top course to play -- Sonoma Ranch. Opened in 2000, this spanking new course offers challenging golf and spectacular scenery amidst the mesquite and brush covered desert. It won a Best New Course nomination from Golf Digest in 2000 and holds a 3-1/2 star ranking in its Places to Play list. "Incredible views ... tough greens ... every hole a challenge," Golf Digest says. Designed by Cal Olsen, an internationally-known architect with courses from Singapore to Canada, the Sonoma Ranch Golf Course is a longish course with rolling hills, strewn with bunkers and best know for its undulating bent grass greens. With five tee boxes, it offers a stimulating challenge for all levels of golfer. Nestled in the heart of the Mesilla Valley, adjacent to the Organ Mountains, there are exceptional views from the tops of the hills. You may even see coyote, doves and other desert wildlife while you play.