Bosque del Apache is my favorite wildlife refuge I’ve ever visited! We saw so many birds and mammals – which is not always guaranteed when you explore a refuge. Migration patterns, time of year, and local climate impacts what wildlife are in the area. For reference, we visited in mid-January.
Named for the Apache tribes that camped in the forests along the Rio Grande River, Bosque del Apache is Spanish for “woods of the Apache.” It is located between the Chupadera and San Pascual Mountains.
A 12-mile auto tour runs through the refuge. The loop road has two sections – North Loop and South Loop – split by a two-way lane, making it almost a figure eight. The rest of the drive is one-way roads. Keep to the posted speed limits for the safety of wildlife and to protect the landscape.
There are 12 nature trails in the refuge which allow people to enjoy quiet mashes and vistas while encountering wildlife. The paths vary in accessibility and difficulty.
Birds’ Paradise
Bosque del Apache is well-known for the thousands of migrating waterfowl. The refuge was established in 1939 to provide a critical stopover point. According to eBird, 393 bird species have been observed here as of 2023.
Every year there is a Festival of Cranes to celebrate the return of thousands of sandhill cranes to the refuge. In 2023, the festival starts on December 6.
In addition to cranes and geese, ducks flock to the refuge by the dozens. Ducks can be split into two groups: dabblers and divers. Diving ducks feed mainly by diving underwater, using their feet to swim. Dabbling ducks feed at the surface and on land. Dabblers can often be seen with their head underwater and their bottom in the air looking for food.
Our Visit
Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge
2023 Price: Free due to my Annual Pass (Fee would have been $5 per vehicle for day use)
Immediately after entering the auto road, we saw a huge group of snow geese to the right of the two-way road. The cacophony of their calls was incredible! Northern pintails and American coots added little dots of color in the mix.
After staring at this front pond of waterfowl for several minutes, we started with the North Loop, including the extension loop which was open.
North Loop (with Extension)
As we drove along, several more birds caught our eyes and our lenses including Say’s phoebes, American kestrels, Canada geese, downy woodpeckers, ravens, and mallards.
Right before the first turn on the loop, movement pulled my focus to the wetlands. A handful of sandhill cranes were close to the shore. The amazing view was a pair of coyotes! They ambled in the water for a while before disappearing out of sight.
The North Loop had incredible views of the mountains with the wetlands in the foreground.
In the tall fields of the extension loop, we saw glimpses of more cranes. Then a flash of darker feathers moved near the vehicle. It was small groups of wild turkeys. Even better, a few walked in front of us, so I pulled off the side of the lane to park. We hurried out back closer to the turkeys which had moved into a creek to have a drink. The way the light played off their feathers making iridescent colors was fantastic!
We stopped again to walk the Observation Blind Trail. It’s a short, paved trail to a photo blind. We spotted western bluebirds in the trees. Otherwise, the only view was looking at the landscape through the blind peepholes.
Then we were back at the main pond in the front again. Northern shovelers and American wigeons joined snow geese in the water. Some of the snow geese were “blue morphs” or “blue geese” meaning they had darker plumage and white head feathers.
In the trees and bushes along the water, we caught glimpses of lesser goldfinches and a spotted towhee.
South Loop
Once we met the main dividing road again, we continued to the South Loop.
A western meadowlark ran in the dry grass and red-winged blackbirds perched on cattails.
Our second trail was the Marsh Overlook Trail and boardwalk. The boardwalk crosses a semi-permanent wetland. Our first bird sighting here was a great blue heron. A flick of yellow was my only hint of a common yellowthroat before it hid in the reeds. Long-billed dowitchers waded and fed in the shallow water.
North Loop (Again)
Because we took the extension the first time, when we arrived back at the main divider, we decided to finish the North Loop again by taking the main loop.
At the regular loop turn, a greater roadrunner lived up to its name – it ran in front of the car and was out of sight within seconds.
Then the pièce de resistance, hundreds of sandhill cranes feasting in the fields! We gazed at them for several minutes, enjoying the quiet before moving on.
On our final return to the entrance, I spotted two white-tailed deer. It is so nice to see a couple more mammals in addition to all the birds.
I think it is great that Bosque del Apache has options for everyone – an auto tour, accessible overlooks, and walking trails. We visited at a perfect time to see so much wildlife. I was able to add several lifer species to my bird list. Add it to your list of refuges to check out!