Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Amazing bird watching location, even when the cranes aren't around. The visitors center seems focused on children, which is fine, but the gift shop has a fantastic selection of birding and naturalist oriented books, videos, field guides, etc. And you can even rent very decent binoculars for only $5. Very impressive! Leave plenty of time to explore the refuge-- it's huge and each loop trail takes a while of you're looking at birds and wildlife. Best accessed via car/truck-- the gravel roads are also bikeable, but it was hot when we went, and the gravel roads are a little bumpy even with mountain bikes.
5 8 years ago (03-06-2018)

Great place to take your kids! Ours loved looking for all the different animals we told them we might see! The staff at the welcome center are very helpful and friendly! They spent some time teaching our kids about the birds they might see. You can get your passport stamped at the visitor's center! After the visitor's center there is a loop you will follow to see the wildlife. There is a $5 fee to enter the loop. The boardwalk was pretty cool and it was refreshing to see such a large body of water in NM!
5 9 years ago (01-03-2018)

This is a fantastic place to spend a day! We easily spotted so many bird species! I will definitely recommend this refuge and will return! Beautifully kept and beautiful creatures!
5 8 years ago (02-06-2018)

Peaceful and beautiful place to visit. We went in late spring but there was still abundant wildlife to observe. Cant wait to go back in the fall to see all the migrating birds.
5 8 years ago (08-06-2018)

Great desert hiking trail. Nice variety in the canyon and top of the trail. Start and end of the trail loop is sand and moderately difficult to walk in. Glad we went would recommend 2 bottles of water per person.
4 8 years ago (19-05-2018)