Day Trip #3 The Valley of Fires Loop
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DAY TRIPPERS
“Valley of Fires” and
“Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge”
Round trip approx. 6 hours
TIP: Don’t forget your camera and binoculars!
Head out of Ruidoso on Hwy 48 (Mechem Drive) then head north on Hwy 37 which intersects with Hwy 380. This will take you to Carrizozo. Be sure to gas up before you leave and get a good breakfast under your belt. We recommend the Log Cabin restaurant (or check out our many other restaurants here...many indicate if they serve breakfast) on Mechem for a satisfying start to your day.
New Mexico is a land of many enchanting features and offers a variety of geological splendors, all just waiting to be explored by you, our intrepid adventurer. Two of New Mexico’s most spectacular areas are located just a short drive from Ruidoso and present a wonderful day trip opportunity. The “Valley of Fires Recreation Area” is a 150-foot thick lava flow stretching 45 miles long. Relatively new to the landscape, having been created only 1300 years ago by several different vents, it features lava caves, pressure ridges and unique flows. This easily accessible natural wonder is located just 4 miles west of Carrizozo on Hwy 380 from the Hwy 54 junction. Twisting, rolling, jagged and buckled flows offer a delight for the avid photographer, as does the greenery that seems so out of place here.
Your next stop is the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge, considered to be one of America’s best birding areas. To get there just continue heading West on Hwy 380 for approximately 40 miles. (You will turn left at the blinking light in San Antonio)
TIP: If you are hungry the Owl Bar in San Antonio makes a Green Chili burger worthy of an explorer like you.
Situated on 57,000 acres and located on the Rio Grande the splendor of the refuge is breathtaking and is home for tens of thousands of feathered refugees from the great white north. These original “Snow Birds” have been wintering here since the dawn of time. Sand Hill Cranes, Arctic Geese and every kind of Duck imaginable gather here in the autumn and stay through the winter. The explosions of wings is a spectacle not to be missed as a stalking coyote sends thousands of frightened birds soaring to the safety of the sky. Glassing and photography opportunities are abundant in the refuge. In November you can take in the “Festival of Cranes”. Once an endangered species with only a handful making their way to Bosque Del Apache they now count in the thousands, thanks to the efforts of the refuge. During the summer months you may be treated to a wildflower display as you enjoy other natural wildlife such as Coots, Pheasants, Quail, Roadrunners, Geese, Deer, Elk, Turtles, Turkeys and Coyotes.
The refuge offers many interesting lectures and tours. To download their calendar of events go to www.friendsofthebosque.org or call 1-575-835-1828
There is a $3 fee for the scenic loop tour.
