What to do and see in New Mexico, United States: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

June 16, 2021 Joeann Galban

With its rich cultural heritage from Native American and Spanish settlers, New Mexico has been both a Spanish colony and a Mexican colony, and still retains a strong individual identity within the United States. The landscape is breathtaking, the food incredible, and there is a thriving cultural scene, all of which makes New Mexico, and Santa Fe in particular, a great place all year long.
Restaurants in New Mexico

1. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

1001 State Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87801 +1 505-835-1828 [email protected] http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/
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5.0 based on 525 reviews

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

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.

Reviewed By Tiffy_Bird - La Plata, United States

I spent three days at Bosque del Apache NWR during the Festival of the Cranes. The refuge is a stunning landscape that is managed specifically for the wintering birds. I'm thankful to all those who work and volunteer to make this a wonderful place to experience wildlife. Most come for the Sandhill Cranes, which are fascinating to watch, particularly in the early morning, when they leave their communal roosts in shallow water, and in the evening, when they return. There are so many other reasons to visit though: hiking trails, hawks and eagles, geese, owls, deer, bobcat, coyotes, and others. Visitor Center has two good films about the refuge and an excellent gift shop with lots of books and high quality merchandise. Can't recommend Bosque del Apache enough!

2. Latir Peak Wilderness Area

Questa, NM
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Latir Peak Wilderness Area

This 20,000-acre remote area in New Mexico's high country features three peaks exceeding 12,500 feet in elevation.

3. J. Kenneth Smith Bird Sanctuary & Nature Center

401 N. Sycamore, Roswell, NM 88201 [email protected] http://www.roswellbirds.org
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

J. Kenneth Smith Bird Sanctuary & Nature Center

4. Philmont Scout Ranch

Route 1, Cimarron, NM 87714-0035 +1 575-376-2281 http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/ptc.aspx
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5.0 based on 147 reviews

Philmont Scout Ranch

Reviewed By kawosa

Philmont is the premire high adventure site for those who are involved in Boy Scouting, However everyone is welcome. They have a wonderful museum and store. Lastly, you can travel across the property and take some amzing pictures of the landscape and wildlife.

5. Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area

NM
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5.0 based on 70 reviews

Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area

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.

6. Wild Rivers Recreation Area

Rio Grande Gorge Cerro, NM, Taos, NM http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/taos/wild_rivers_rec_area.html
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5.0 based on 174 reviews

Wild Rivers Recreation Area

Reviewed By cavers2

Want to visit a beautiful, scenic area without the crowds you'd find at a national park? This is the place. You're on a high plataeu above the Rio Grande Gorge with plenty of camping, hiking, rafting, & biking options. The remoteness of the area allows for amazing night skies so camping out is highly recommended.The campgrounds at Wild Rivers are first come, first served so try to arrive early in the day to secure your site. A favortie hike of ours is the Arsenic Springs trail to the river and petroglyph viewing - try it!

7. Windrush Alpacas

770 County Road M, Clovis, NM 88101 +1 575-683-5177 http://www.windrushalpacas.com/
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

Windrush Alpacas

Reviewed By Pioneer737605

We stayed at Windrush Alpacas in Clovis NM at the end of Sept 2019. Rosemary and her husband were charming hosts. Rosemary brought us out a package of cookies when we arrived late in the day. We got to help feed all the animals which was fun and she told us all about her animals including some rescues. Thank you for being Harvest Hosts!

8. Randall Davey Audubon Center

Upper Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87501 +1 505-983-4609 http://randalldavey.audubon.org
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4.5 based on 213 reviews

Randall Davey Audubon Center

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.

Reviewed By OneOrchidLover - South Pole, null

Being a local, I went here for the first time and wished I’d come sooner. The short trail behind the Audubon center was excellent- well-maintained and full of birds to identify. I will be back to enjoy the solitude and natural beauty.

9. Cibola National Forest

Albuquerque, NM http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola
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4.5 based on 183 reviews

Cibola National Forest

A 1.5-million-acre park whose elaborate trail system includes La Luz Trail, which climbs over 3,300 feet in nine miles.

Reviewed By sentimentalnomad - Albuquerque, United States

We love the Cibola Forest bordering the Sandia Mountains! As one person reported, it’s “hiking galore!” There are so many wonderful hikes in this area. Must go at sunset on the “Watermelon” mountains! Hikes range from easy to hard, great for toddlers, true hikers, bikers, & climbers. A little something for everyone!

10. Pecos Wilderness Area

1474 Rodeo Road, NM 87505 +1 505-438-7840
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4.5 based on 24 reviews

Pecos Wilderness Area

Scenic wilderness area located at the southernmost end of the thousand-mile-long U.S. Rocky Mountains.

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