The Rio Bonito is a small river in the Sierra Blanca Mountains of southern New Mexico, USA. The headwaters of the river start in the Lincoln National Forest on the slopes of Sierra Blanca and travel eastward until they merge with the south fork of the Rio Bonito just west of Bonito Lake, a man-made reservoir. After passing through the reservoir, the river continues in a generally eastward direction passing historic Fort Stanton and the home of Billy the Kid in Lincoln, New Mexico. 10 miles (16 km) past Lincoln the Rio Bonito merges with the Rio Ruidoso in the town of Hondo, New Mexico. The two rivers join to form the Rio Hondo which then flows into the Pecos River.
Several fish species live within the waters of the Rio Ruidoso, including: