Alto, New Mexico
Alto is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States. It sits at about 7,550 feet in the Lincoln National Forest, roughly five miles north of Ruidoso. The name Alto comes from the Spanish word for “high.” In June 2024, residents were ordered to evacuate due to the spread of the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire until the fires were contained.
Alto Lakes is a planned residential and recreational community covering about 1,690 acres along two mountain ridges in Alto. It was conceived and developed by Don Blaugrund beginning in 1967. The heart of the community is the Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club, which features two private 18-hole golf courses, dining, swimming, and tennis. Membership is included with owning a home, townhouse, or lot in the area.
The residential area includes more than 1,150 homes, 83 townhomes, and about 1,000 vacant lots. Alto Lakes is governed by the Alto Lakes Water & Sanitation District and the Alto Lakes Special Zoning District, along with community covenants.
The ZIP code is 88312, and the area code is 575. Alto is in the Mountain Time Zone (UTC-7, with daylight saving time UTC-6).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:43 (CET).