Overlooking the Pecos River Valley, this fascinating park exhibits the varied plant and animal life of the arid Chihuahuan Desert region. Visitors can observe caged animals like snakes, lizards and birds of prey, plus larger animals such as bison and antelope, which are held in pens. Or walk along a nature trail past cacti, agaves, yuccas and other native plant life.See more..
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 to provide "a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife" and to develop wintering grounds for greater sandhill cranes, which were then endangered.Located on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan desert, the 57,331-acre refuge straddles the Rio Grande approximately twenty miles south of Socorro, New Mexico. The heart of the refuge is 8,000 acres of floodplain where the waters of the Rio Grande have been diverted to create extensive wetlands and agricultural lands. The rest of the refuge is made up of arid foothills and mesas, which rise to the Chupadera Mountains to the west and San Pascual Mountains to the east. Most of these arid uplands are preserved in three Wilderness Areas.Bosque del Apache means "woods of the Apache," named for the Apaches that routinely camped in the riverside forest. Today, Bosque del Apache is known as one of the most spectacular refuges in North America. Each autumn, tens of thousands of birds - including sandhill cranes, Arctic geese and ducks - make the refuge their winter home. The air is filled with honking of geese and guttural call of cranes. Flocks of snow geese abandon their feeding grounds when frightened by a stalking coyote or eagle. At dusk, flights of geese and cranes return to roost tin the marshes or on the Rio Grande. In the summer, Bosque del Apache, thought quiet, remains an oasis for diversity of wildlife, both in the riparian areas and surrounding arid uplands.See more..
Known for its expansive high mountain valles, large elk herds, and diverse history, the Preserve is a favorite among the locals when friends and relatives are in town. If you are in New Mexico you do not want to miss this. Bring your camera and enjoy the expansive views. Pet Friendly: Dogs on leashes are welcome at the contact stations, but are prohibited elsewhere on the Preserve. Registered assistance animals are allowed.See more..
4.5Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness(314 reviews) - Toured with navajo group State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
We planned Bisti over spring break. We planned a hike with navajo tours. You support the local guides and economy. You also understand the wilderness and desolation of Bisti. It was easy to book the tour online and also call over the phone. Kialo, our guide gave us gps coordinates to meet us outside the park. We booked the afternoon tour - it ran from 2:30 pm- 7:30 pm. We saw some beautiful colors over the sunset. Wear hiking boots for climbing over crumbling rocks, light jacket, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses. The dessert wind picks up and you definitely feel it in the eyes. Definitely pack water and snacks. There are restrooms at the entrance but not along the hike. We were about 9 in the group and kep a pace to cover a wide area. We enjoyed our tour. Its hard to find the best spots on your own. Definitely recommend a guide. There are no trail markers. A lot of the spots are hidden. The hoodos, petrified wood, layered colors of the rocks make this an amazing place to visit.See more..
4.5Randall Davey Audubon Center(222 reviews) - A perfect place for a quiet picnic close to town but it feels remote Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
This 135-acre nature sanctuary serves as the state office and educational center for the National Audubon Society, which offers education programs and free natural history and birding walks throughout the year.See more..
A 1.5-million-acre park whose elaborate trail system includes La Luz Trail, which climbs over 3,300 feet in nine miles.See more..
5.0Wild Rivers Recreation Area(181 reviews) - Hiked into Rio Grande Gorge from Cebolla Mesa. Nature & Wildlife Areas
Great hike down to the convergence of the Rio Grande and Red Rivers. Wonderful bridge across the Red River. NOTE: Access to the trail, and camping at the edge of the mesa, requires several miles on a dirt road. If there is any rain, I would not take the road to this trail. If it is and has been dry, as it was for us, the road was passable, with care, though there were very deep ruts to be avoided. We had a small SUV. A woman at the campsite had done it in her Prius (very carefully). Big Arsenic Springs Trail will take you to the bottom of the gorge from a different Mesa.See more..
5.0Philmont Scout Ranch(150 reviews) - It's a Scout camp Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas • Ranches
It's a Scouts BSA high adventure camp. If you are not a participant not much to do. You can check out the national scouting museum and the tooth of time trade post and look at the views. You can also tour Phillips old house at certain times. If you are big scouters then it's at least worth it to see. See more..
Home to thousands of migratory birds, deer, bob cats and badgers, visitors to this refuge can view and photgraph wildlife from several observation platforms.See more..
4.5Wildlife West Nature Park(100 reviews) - Very nice walk Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
A wildlife preserve and "enhanced zoo" located just 20 minutes from Albuquerque, New Mexico in nearby Edgewood. Conveniently located near Interstate 40 and Route 66. Wildlife West Nature Park provides a very special look into the animals and plants that are part of the ecosystems of New Mexico and the Southwestern United States. All the birds and animals at Wildlife West Nature Park are non-releasable, keeping with our philosophy of bringing education to the public without harming ecological balances in other parts of the region. Our habitats are designed to provide the best possible combination of viewing opportunities and harmonious living for our residents, and our animal enrichment programs ensure that our animals are both physically and mentally healthy.See more..
4.5Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary(88 reviews) - Wolves are COOL! Thursday: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
What a fun and educational experience! I booked the Feeding tour in advance and I took my elementary age grandchildren. Our two guides were extremely knowledgeable about the wolves, wolf dogs, foxes, coyotes, singing dogs, and dingoes. We were fortunate and it was a special feeding day so my grandchildren were able to throw food over the tall fence and watch the animals eat while the guides educated us about the animals. My grandchildren will be talking about this experience for a long time. What great memories!See more..
Perched on a canyon with exceptional views of the Jemez Mountains, the Los Alamos Nature center is the perfect place to start your exploration of the spectacular Pajarito Plateau. The award-winning building is filled with interactive, hands-on exhibits including live animals, a large-scale 3D topo map of the plateau, a Children's Discovery Area, wildlife observation room, information about the formation of the Valles Caldera, a planetarium with star shows and full-dome feature films, and much more! Browse the demonstration gardens, get dirty in the nature play area, climb to the top of the Rotary Treehouse, find your next adventure on the Los Alamos Trails App (for iOS and Android). Explore local nature at the Naturalists' Desk, meet local critters, play on the model Pajarito Plateau for kids, put on a puppet show or cuddle up with a book in the Children's Discovery Area, or just relax on our comfy chairs and admire the breathtaking views from the floor-to-ceiling windows.See more..
5.0Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area(70 reviews) - 20 years of hikes, and its still a marvel - Pure Wilderness! Nature & Wildlife Areas
Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, this wilderness area includes Wheeler Peak, which is the highest point in New Mexico at 13,161 feet in height.See more..
We planned a day trip to the NWR specifically to bird, and were not disappointed! We literally had the entire place to ourselves, and took our time walking the paths, and driving slowly along the roads.... Birds sighted - New to our birding list - Yellow-Headed Blackbird Sage Thrasher Northern Harriers Scaled Quail Brewer's Sparrow Green-Tailed Towhee What a delightful place!See more..
4.5Gila Wilderness Area(51 reviews) - A Treat for the Eye and the Heart! Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is the first designated Wilderness Area in the world and encompasses 558,065 acres with over 700 miles of trails.See more..
4.0Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park(49 reviews) - A Beautiful Hilly Park Along the Rio Grande River Spent 2-3 hours State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
First, its pronounced Mesiya. The park is located on the Rio Grande near NMSU in Las Cruces. Nice Picnic area and trails. You can get a self-guided trail booklet at the Visitors Center, if you luck. Beautiful wildlife , including many birds. Spend a few hours or the day. You won't be disappointed. 2.3 Miles Hiking Interpretive Trails Accessible Trails Visitors have many opportunities to view wildlife in natural surroundings while strolling one of the self-guided nature trails. Enjoy a fun ranger-led tour! Park Elevation 3,879 ftSee more..
Established in 1873 by presidential order, this reservation covers 720 square miles of land in the south central part of New Mexico, where approximately 3,000 tribal members live.See more..
4.5Berg/Animas Trail(44 reviews) - Good any time of the year Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
The trails at Berg Park are a wonderful way to get out and enjoy nature yet it is right in the middle of town. The trails are well marked and used by all ages. Ducks, geese, deer and other wildlife can be seen year round. Stop by the Animal Shelter and sign up to take a shelter dog on a walk through the park.See more..
We stopped at this area just to take a little stretch and walk. Beautiful mountains. Perfect for any photographer. The weather was nice. And it was a delight to take a break from driving and hang out here in nature.See more..
I have passed this area many many times since I’ve lived in New Mexico. The wife and I were looking for a relatively easy hike in the area not too far from Los Lunas. Although the nature center was closed the topography of the area provided lots of inspiration to hike through the ups and downs of this 5 1/2 mile path. I would love to go back once the nature center opens but for now I was very happy to have the experience I did. The path provides plenty of indigenous Fauna and animal life to gaze upon. See more..
4.0Lake Roberts(26 reviews) - Fabulous trout fishing in a relaxing peaceful beautiful lake! Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
Had a wonderful time tooling around the lake in our little fishing boat. This is a very understated lovely area that is serene and peaceful. Caught a couple of delicious trout and there was barely anyone on the lake! Had the whole place to ourselves! Lots of parking, boat ramp, beautiful picnic areas, and multiple campgrounds including one with RV hookups. The community of Lake Roberts has a couple of places with accommodations (Lake Roberts Motel and Lake Roberts Cabins and General Store). Very beautiful area in the mountains!See more..
3.0Sandia Lakes Recreation Area(24 reviews) - Closed until further notice for Restoration. Thursday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Decided to visit Sandia Lakes today February 17th 2020. Arrived only to find it closed until further notice for Restoration. Should have really checked this out on the website before visiting!See more..
As a volunteer, I lived onsite for 3-6months over the last 2 yrs. This is a wonderful place for birding, fishing,biking and camping. This is a place that caters to wildlife and there is an opportunity to view wildlife at every turn. The staff is very knowledgable and will give you a map to follow on foot, biking or in your car to view wildlife. I had the privilege to beable to acess the back areas where farming is done and was able to document animal/ bird sightings that have not been seen in years. The public will be able to view prairie dogs from the new viewing site and walk on a path to a blind to view sandhill cranes in the fall.There is a 3 nite 4 day camping area by the lake and boat launching ramp nearby. I encourage the public to take in this wonderland of nature and enjoy the solitude it offers.See more..
3.5Bill Evans Lake Wildlife Area(10 reviews) - Great for boating & fishing Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
We hiked on a few trails, enjoyed viewing the poppies and other wild plants, and went on a rafting venture. Lovely area for campers.See more..
4.5Ojito Wilderness(9 reviews) - Such a Cool Place! Nature & Wildlife Areas
We absolutely LOVED our drive & hike through the Ojito Wilderness! HooDoo Trail is super cool! You have to venture down about 10 miles of dirt road, & “high clearance vehicles” are encouraged, but it’s totally doable in a regular car (if the weather permits). We drove it in our MINI, & did fine. The hike is about 2.5 miles round trip, with multiple stopping points to look at these mesmerizing rock formations. The scenery is amazing! So glad we found this spot. Its quite the wonder! It’s Bureau of Land Management land, & free to access. Easy to moderate hike. Our toddler was fine with it. See more..
4.5Mimbres River Preserve(8 reviews) - Wonderful place to stop and picnic, but entrance rough on smaller car Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Directions in a previous review are great, and this is a wonderful spot to enjoy the river and explore the ruins of a small house. However, Oursmall car had a hard time going up the steep, rutted gravel driveway to get back to 35.See more..
4.0Two Rivers Fairy Trail(7 reviews) - Nice easy walk and fairy hunt Spent < 1 hour Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
We enjoyed this easy paved walk along the river. A young friend told us that in addition to the map at the front gate there was a fairy star on the sidewalk near each of the fairiesSee more..
4.5Bernardo Wildlife Area(6 reviews) - Great place to view cranes and snow geese Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is a free drive through fields where the cranes and snow geese migrate to. We saw thousands of birds. If the birds aren't in Bosque they are usually here. Well worth the drive through. It is just a few miles north of Socorro.See more..
5.0Windrush Alpacas(6 reviews) - Charming little farm and hosts! Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
We parked our travel trailer for one night on our way from Austin to Grand Canyon. Rosemary was very communicative to arrange for our arrival and greeted us with goodie bags for the kids to feed the alpacas, and cookies for them! We had such a great stay, and enjoyed Rosemary so much, we booked again for our return trip. Quiet property and conveniently located not too far from the highway.See more..
We discovered this from a Roswell brochure in out hotel room. We were looking for a nice place to walk and read about the one half mile trail within this bird sanctuary. We came with our dog which is allowed and discovered the trail connects to a paved city trail which surrounds a beautiful golf course and goes into more park land. We followed the trail going almost 2 miles before returning the start. We met lots of local residents who enjoy this trail daily. Lots of trees provide good shade. In the bird sanctuary part there are bird feeders and bird blinds and other observation areas. This is really an incredible asset for Roswell and if you are into birds or want a nice paved walking/bike trail this is for you.See more..
Located inside the Santa Fe National Forest, this beautiful park sits at an average elevation of 10,000 feet.See more..
5.0New Mexico Wildlife Center(5 reviews) - Close views and encounter with New Mexico's wildlife Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
New Mexico Wildlife Center is a great place to visit to see and learn about native wildlife. Located only 20 minutes from Santa Fe, you can see hawks, owls, bobcats, turtles, and other animals up close. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the view and gardens as well. Live animal programs available at certain times of the year; call for more information or to schedule a program/tour for a large group.See more..
4.0Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area(4 reviews) - Great Place to enjoy wetland habitat Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Had the pleasure of discovering this wildlife area yesterday with my sister in law. It is a very nice area to observe birds, wildlife and flora in their habitat wetland habitat very close to the Rio Grande. The easy walking trail is about a mile long taking you along several ponds and through a cottonwood and Russian olive Bosque. We observed waterbirds, songbirds and hummingbirds. We were blessed by a perfect, partly cloudy sky which made it pleasantly cool with a breeze. Suggestion: sunscreen, hat (unless you are lucky to hit a cloudy day), mosquito repellant, close-toed shoes and water. The visitor/education center is WELL WORTH at least a half hour visit with interesting displays, reference library and a small gift shop. Friendly and helpful representatives. Will definitely go back and visit at different seasons. Recommended.See more..
We were traveling from Santa Fe up to Farmington. In the Cuba area we saw this beautiful landscape. Some places looked almost like the painted desert & others the black mountains. If you get a chance don’t pass this by!!See more..
5.0Mescalero Lake(3 reviews) - Absolutely beautiful! Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Beautifully situated next to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino. The lake water was clean and park allowed for lots of activities including hiking, fishing, water retrieving (on a long leaf) for our dog. Convenient parking and no entry fee.See more..
3.5Lybrook Badlands(3 reviews) - Badlands - Not South Dakota Nature & Wildlife Areas
The badlands are along the road that you are traveling from Chaco to Albuquerque. Pull off on the side and take a look at the colors in the rock that changes. Won't take long but it is better to stop than to take a photo at 65 MPH.See more..
Nice lake for fishing. The area also has hiking trails. Make sure you have a fishing license if you plan on fishingSee more..
4.5Paliza Canyon Goblin Colony(2 reviews) - Unusual geological formations in the Santa Fe National Forest Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
There is an interesting and large formation of hoodoos, locally called goblins, just north of Ponderosa, on Highway 290. It is possible to hike to the goblin colony along Valecito Creek, starting at the turnoff to the Ponderosa Christian Camp on Forest Road 10 (a gravel continuation of Highway 290). The trail follows Valecito Creek, and comes up to the goblins from below. But it is also possible to drive there on Forest Road 10. Travel 2.2 miles beyond the bridge just beyond the Paliza Family Campground. At this point, you will have just passed large sandstone cylinders, about a foot in diameter, running up the embankment on your right, and will see two pine trees and the stump of a third on your left, one with a large swath of bark skinned away. Park here, and climb over the embankment on your right. The goblins will be visible down to your right almost immediately. You can climb down and walk among them, but they are crumbly, and should not be climbed. They extend for several hundred yards. On the drive up, stop at the pull-off at the S-shaped curve as you climb up from the bridge, and walk a few yards left from the road for an excellent viewpoint. You will immediately see "Dog Head Rock". We named it, but it could be called nothing else! The road may be closed at a gate above the campground, because the road is not cleared in winter. In this case, assuming the snow is long gone, the road serves as a way to take an easy hike--and there won't be any traffic!See more..
5.0Clear Creek Campground(2 reviews) - Quiet and clean spot for RV/Tent combo camping. Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests Excellent spot for RV/Tent combo camping. Cleanest campsite outhouse I have ever used! (Didn't even smell!) Water spigot available. Quiet. Great place for families with children. All campers respectful of noise and hours for generators. Privacy and good space between camp sites. Creek is just a trickle but it brings beautiful hummingbirds, butterflies, and robins near the campsite. You'll need your car to get to nearby trailhead #51 and San Gregorio lake (low water right now, but the hike in and around the lake is beautiful). You can also take a scenic drive through Jemez (I'd recommend taking a picnic lunch to take a break and enjoy the sites). We enjoyed our time and the quiet peacefulness of this campground. The camp hosts were friendly, checked on all sites regularly, and provided information on area hikes and attractions. Highly recommend.See more..
5.0Sundancer Alpacas(2 reviews) - "An awesome Alpaca experience for kids and adults" Nature & Wildlife Areas
See, touch and feed the alpacas. Feel the wonderful fiber. We have some product for sale. See what you can do with alpaca fiber.See more..
4.0Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge(1 review) - Nice Natural Area Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas We love National Wildlife Refuges. At the right time of the year we are able to see all sorts of wildlife. Particularly migrating birds. But more. Sometimes elk, deer, bison. This is a hidden Refuge. And relatively new (deeded to the US [you and me] in 2012). It's pretty special. From the Interstate, the surrounding is high grassy meadows. Then the land rises slightly with a connifer forest. Then there is quite a canyon cut by the Rio Mora. Simply beautiful. The road into the Refuge descends into the canyon. A bit steep at times. At the bottom is the old ranch with numerous buildings. It is really quite lovely. We hope to return soon.See more..
