Wildlife Watching and Nature Trails
Four short trails and two longer hiking trails are available adjacent to the Refuge Headquarters and Wildlife Drive.
• Butterfly Trail – Near the Headquarters, this 1/4 mile trail provides interpretive information
about butterflies and landscaping to attract these beautiful insects. This is a perfect location
to view native vegetation.
• Wildlife Drive/Auto Tour Loop -- The eight-mile wildlife drive is one of the best ways to
observe wildlife. Take advantage of the overlooks to get great views of flocks of Lesser
sandhill cranes and Ross’ and snow geese, or to spot the coyotes and red-tail hawks criss-
crossing the wetlands Drive slowly and watch for basking spiny softshell turtles, coachwhip
snakes and checkered whiptail lizards.
• Oxbow trail - About 4 miles from the Refuge headquarters office off the auto tour route, this
trails used to be connected to the Pecos River. The deep water channel is an
excellent location for bird watching and is approximately two miles long.
• Desert Upland Trail - This 1 mile trail takes you through an area that hosts an assortment of
native plant species. Shrubs and thicket areas provide excellent quail and songbird viewing.
• Dragonfly Trail -- Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is famous for supporting one of the
most diverse populations of dragonflies and damselflies in North America. Just less than
one mile on the wildlife drive, you can enjoy dragonfly watching on this trail.
• The North Tract (12,160 acres) of the refuge, including the wilderness area, is open to hiking
and horseback riding.
Hunting
Waterfowl, sandhill crane, quail, dove, pheasant, and deer hunting are available at the refuge during hunting season. For more information, see the current Hunting Regulations Fact Sheet and the Public Hunting Areas Map. You may also contact us at (575) 622-6755 or email steve_alvarez@fws.gov.
Bicycling
Bike riding is permitted on the eight-mile gravel wildlife drive or the refuge's paved four mile (round trip) bike trail.