Ruiz Peak was the first of five mountains I would do this day in the Jemez Mountains. The mountain was the site of a massive forest fire and is typical of New Mexico mountains recovering from fire, heavy brush has taken over including New Mexico Locust. It's often an early colonizer and is the bane of hikers willing to hike through it; it's a thorny bush. You're warned, unless you don armor you're going to get bloodied hiking this mountain. Ruiz Peak is a benchmark peak but to find it you will likely have to move brush and forest litter out of the way. Nice views. Getting to the mountain: From NM-4 just past the Jemez Pueblo turn onto NM-290 towards Ponderosa. NM-290 eventually turns into forest road 10. At a signed junction turn off FR-10 onto FR-266. On first appearance 266 appears to be a nice wide road, that ends after a few miles and a high clearance vehicle will be required.