This Underrated New Mexico City Is A Renowned Birding Destination With Artsy Charm And Outdoor Recreation

Called the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico beguiles with its unique geological landscapes and visible connection to early human settlement at places like Taos Pueblo, an enchanting 1,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Bandelier National Monument, a stunning landscape of canyons, mesas, cliffs, and petroglyphs. What the uninitiated may not be aware of is that in the heart of New Mexico, a stunning wildlife migration occurs at the end of every year. Thousands of sandhill cranes gather in a wildlife refuge on the outskirts of the underrated town of Socorro in a magnificent display of the pure beauty of the natural world.

An hour south of Albuquerque and with a population 16,000, Socorro has a long and fascinating history with a mix of Native American, Hispanic, and Old West influences. The nearby White Sands Missile Range was the site of the first atomic bomb test and the area is also technologically relevant today. One of the world's foremost astronomical observatories – the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array Radio Telescopes — and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology attract scientists and engineers from around the globe. Centuries ago, Socorro was an important stop on El Camino Real, a route connecting Mexico and Santa Fe. A full 22 years before the Mayflower landed, Europeans traveling on El Camino Real arrived in Socorro in 1598; the San Miguel Mission Church remains from this period. Socorro was abandoned due to the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 and was resettled in 1815.

Birders on the lookout for red-faced warblers, ash-throated flycatchers, and western tanagers head to Water Canyon, 16 miles west of Socorro. Those looking for the canyon towhee, Scott's oriole, and gray vireo go to The Box, 7.5 miles west of Socorro.

The major draw for avian enthusiasts though is Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, 18 miles south of Socorro. One of the top 10 birding refuges in the U.S. according to the Audubon Society, the 57,331-acre refuge has 368 observed species including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and yellow-billed cuckoos, but the sandhill cranes and snow geese are the main attraction from October to February. Their numbers are at their peak in early December when the annual Festival of Cranes draws wildlife enthusiasts and photographers to witness the magical sight of thousands of birds in flight in the early morning and early evening hours. Join an ornithologist-led bird walk, hear tips from wildlife photography experts, or explore on your own. The refuge has nature trails and a 12-mile car tour loop that points out observation decks and viewing windows. 

Sandhill cranes are magnificent creatures that grow up to five feet tall and have a wingspan of six-and-a-half feet. The population here is estimated at 27,000 and snow geese are estimated to number around 70,000. White with wings tipped in black, snow geese have made a remarkable recovery in the last century coming back from critical endangerment to having robust numbers bordering on overpopulation, leading to sanctioned hunting.

From stunning wildlife and historic adobe buildings to colorful sunsets and majestic mountains, Socorro has many subjects to inspire art. Start an exploration at 3 Cranes Fine Art Gallery where owner A. Leon Miler displays his accomplished work alongside that of other local artists. There's an art gallery at the Macey Center, which is better known for live performances at its 615-seat theater on the campus of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Also catch a performance at the Garcia Opera House, a National Historic Site that dates to 1887.

There's no shortage of wilderness areas to explore around Socorro. In addition to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands covers nearly two million acres including the Apache Kid Wilderness. This 44,650-acre wilderness in the San Mateo Mountains has numerous, often-challenging trails with elevation gains ranging 2,470 to 6,735 feet. In the northernmost part of the state, you could hike trails with picture-perfect views at stunning Williams Lake where the high desert meets alpine peaks.

Make sure to book a Socorro hotel far in advance if you're coming for the Festival of Cranes. The centrally located Best Western Socorro Hotel & Suites, which has an indoor pool, tops the list of best value hotels on Tripadvisor. The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites comes in second place with spacious rooms, a gym, and sauna noted. Both charge in the $100 range per night.