Tournament T-shirt
A custom 2nd Annual Pickleball in the Clouds T-shirt is included with your registration fee. Pick it up at the registration tent on tournament day, even if you've already signed in via the PickleballDen app.
The 2nd Annual Pickleball in the Clouds is a community-run fundraiser tournament at the Cloudcroft Village Courts — high-elevation play, three doubles brackets, and a weekend designed to feed Cloudcroft Bear Basketball.
How to register
It's easy — register at PickleballDen.com
The tournament is hosted on the PickleballDen platform. Three quick steps:
- Go to PickleballDen.com
- Search for "Cloudcroft"
- Select 2nd Annual Pickleball in the Clouds and complete your registration
Even if you sign in via the app on tournament day, please stop by the registration tent to pick up your T-shirt — it's included with your registration fee.
Format
Brackets & play
Three doubles brackets across two skill levels. Saturday and Sunday play at the Cloudcroft Village Courts.
| Bracket | Level | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Men's doubles | Intermediate & advanced | Pickleball |
| Women's doubles | Intermediate & advanced | Pickleball |
| Mixed doubles | Intermediate & advanced | Pickleball |
Why we play
It's a true FUNdraiser
100% of profits go straight to Cloudcroft kids. This year's proceeds support Cloudcroft Bear Basketball — middle school and high school, boys and girls — through the We Love Cloudcroft foundation.
Where the money goes
Proceeds support We Love Cloudcroft, a charity organization that financially supports local youth sports. This year's tournament has a special interest in Cloudcroft Bear Basketball — middle-school and high-school programs, boys and girls.
We are still accepting sponsors for this event. If you or your business is interested in partnering with us financially, please let us know — we will send a student your way ASAP. We also have a few spaces available for food vendors.
A note to competitive players: The Cloudcroft Village Courts have some dead spots that can affect play. Please keep in mind that this is a FUNdraiser for Cloudcroft-area youth — the spirit of the event is community, fun, and supporting our Bears.
With your registration
What's included
The registration fee covers more than your bracket entry. Here's what to expect on tournament weekend at the Cloudcroft Village Courts.
Awesome swag bags
Each player gets a swag bag from local sponsors and businesses — a piece of Cloudcroft to take home with the tournament memories.
Food trucks on site
Food trucks will be parked at the courts so you and your team can refuel between matches without leaving the venue. Vendor lineup confirmed closer to the date.
FREE Saturday melodrama
For Saturday-evening entertainment, head to the FREE Melodrama in the park at 7:30 PM. Bring a jacket — temperatures drop in the evening at 8,676 feet.
Make a weekend of it
Plan your tournament weekend
Cloudcroft is a cool-summer escape at 8,676 feet. Stay over, eat through the village, and unwind after your matches. The full sub-guides cover everything beyond the courts.
Stay
Cabins, Airbnbs, historic hotels, and motels — book early for tournament weekend, June rooms fill fast.
Eat
Local restaurants, mountain coffee, the brewery, the winery — fuel between matches and celebrate after the trophy ceremony.
Shop & stroll
Burro Avenue's compact shopping district is steps from the courts — galleries, boutiques, gift shops, and outdoor gear.
Pickleball year-round
Six free outdoor courts at Zenith Park with drop-in club play Tue/Thu/Sat mornings — the home of pickleball at altitude.
Practical notes
Pack for high-elevation play
The Cloudcroft Village Courts sit at 8,676 feet. Plan for stronger UV, drier air, and faster breath fatigue than you'd see at lower-elevation tournaments. Hydrate the day before, bring sunscreen, and don't be surprised if your first match feels harder than your usual rating.
Bring a jacket for Saturday evening — temperatures drop fast after sunset, even in June.
Saturday melodrama in the park
For Saturday evening entertainment, the FREE Melodrama in the Park starts at 7:30 PM. It's a community tradition — easy walk from the courts and a good way to recover between play days.
Court conditions & the FUNdraiser tone
The Cloudcroft Village Courts have some dead spots that can affect play and frustrate competitive players. The tournament organizers ask players to keep in mind that this is a FUNdraiser for Cloudcroft-area youth — the goal is community, fun, and supporting Cloudcroft Bear Basketball.
Sponsors & food vendors
The tournament is still accepting sponsors and food vendors for the 2026 event. Sponsorship helps the proceeds reach more Cloudcroft kids; food vendors help keep players on-site between matches. If you or your business is interested, contact tournament director Samantha Odom or the We Love Cloudcroft team.
Funding & community partners
Paid in part by the Cloudcroft Lodger's Tax. Tournament proceeds benefit We Love Cloudcroft — 100% to Cloudcroft Bear Basketball (MS & HS, boys and girls).
Weather & what to confirm before driving up
June in Cloudcroft is typically mild and clear, but mountain weather can shift. Check the National Weather Service Cloudcroft forecast and NMRoads before driving up. See the visitor FAQ for fire restrictions, water conservation, and other current notices.
Editor's take
"The 2nd Annual Pickleball in the Clouds is the right kind of summer-mountain weekend — a fundraiser run by people who actually live in the village, on courts that play harder than they look at altitude, with the trophy money going straight to the Cloudcroft Bears. Bring your A-game if you've got one, but bring your B-game and a jacket either way. The point isn't winning. It's showing up for the kids."
Plan the rest of the trip.
Pickleball in the Clouds anchors the weekend — these guides cover everything else.