Backcountry Attitudes offers two very different ways to experience the Ruidoso area — and first-timers often aren’t sure which one to pick. Both are unforgettable. Both will have you grinning by the end. But they’re built for different moods, different groups, and different kinds of adventure.
Here’s a straightforward breakdown to help you decide.
The UTV: Built for the Backcountry
The self-guided UTV (side-by-side) tour is your ticket into the actual wilderness. You’re leaving pavement behind, climbing into Lincoln County’s open terrain, and navigating dirt trails through pine forest, meadows, and mountain landscape.
It’s a raw, immersive outdoor experience. The vehicle is rugged, the trails are real, and the scenery is the kind you can’t see from a road.
Best for:
- Families with kids
- Groups who want off-road adventure
- People who want to explore at their own pace
- Anyone who wants to genuinely get away from civilization for a few hours
Available in 2-hour, 3-hour, and 4-hour options so you can match the adventure to your group’s energy.
The Slingshot: Built for the Open Road
The Polaris Slingshot is a three-wheeled roadster — open air, low to the ground, and built to make every stretch of highway feel like a racetrack. You’re not going off-road here. You’re cruising scenic routes through Ruidoso and the surrounding area with the wind in your face and nothing between you and the landscape.
The Slingshot routes take you past some genuinely iconic stops — the Smokey Bear Museum, the historic town of Lincoln where Billy the Kid made his name, the mountain village of Cloudcroft, and the windy switchbacks up to Sierra Blanca’s high point. It’s a road trip, just without the car.
Best for:
- Couples looking for a scenic, memorable ride
- Anyone who wants the open-air experience without off-road terrain
- People who enjoy driving as the activity itself
- Groups who want to cover more ground and hit specific landmarks
The Key Differences at a Glance
Terrain — UTV goes off-road into the backcountry. Slingshot stays on paved scenic routes.
Experience — UTV is rugged and exploratory. Slingshot is smooth, fast, and road-trip style.
Group size — UTVs fit families comfortably. Slingshots are better suited for one or two riders.
Landmarks — UTV highlights natural wilderness scenery. Slingshot routes hit historic and cultural stops.
Pace — UTV is fully self-guided at your own speed. Slingshot follows curated scenic road routes.
Still Can’t Decide?
Honestly, the right answer for a lot of visitors is both — on different days or even back to back. Ruidoso is the kind of place where you’ve got enough to fill a long weekend, and doing one adventure per day is a perfectly reasonable plan.
If you’re only here for one day and have to pick just one, here’s a simple rule: bring kids or want to go off-road, choose the UTV. Travelling as a couple or want to see specific landmarks, go Slingshot.
Either way, you won’t leave disappointed.
Book Your Adventure
Both experiences are available through Backcountry Attitudes, conveniently located on Sudderth Drive in Ruidoso. Check availability and lock in your booking at backcountryattitudes.com before your visit — especially on weekends, slots fill up fast.
