Valle de Oro
Albuquerque, NM 87105
Plan Your Visit
National wildlife refuges offer us a place to deepen our connection with nature, ourselves and our communities, families and friends.
Driving Directions
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge 7851 2nd St. SW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87105 Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is located in the South Valley 5 miles south of downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Fees
There no charge to visit.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available in the visitor center breezeway. Restrooms are open during refuge property hours of operation one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
Points of Interest
Stop by the refuge visitor center Tuesday through Saturday 9 am to 4 pm to talk to staff and volunteers to plan your visit. Enjoy the exhibit hall!
What to Do
If you have 15-minutes:
- Stop by our visitor center exhibit hall and environmental justice resource library
- Walk around the pond loop south of the visitor center
- Watch birds, wildlife and spend time with friends on the refuge patio.
If you have one hour:
- Walk the mural loop south of the visitor center
- Walk the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro trail south of the visitor center.
If you have half a day or more:
- Walk designated trails and road on the east side of the refuge property.
Know Before You Go
Prepare for your visit by packing supplies in a bag. The following suggested items will keep you comfortable and safe when you’re outside:
- Jacket
- Full water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Closed-toe shoes
- Cell phone
You might also want:
- Backpack
- Bug spray
- Personal medications
- Binoculars
- Portable first aid kit
- Sunglasses
Check out the Friends of Valle de Oro Nature Store if you need supplies. The welcome desk may have items you can borrow.
Visitor Tips
Before you plan any outdoor activity, check the weather. You should also check with staff for any closures on the refuge.
Make sure that you know who to call in an emergency. Emergency: 911 Refuge front Desk: 505-248-6667 Non-Emergencies: Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department 505-798-7000.
Get to know the wildlife
Please keep a safe distance between yourself and any wildlife you see here. You might see coyotes, geese, hawks, hummingbirds, or dragonflies, to name a few! Use binoculars for safe viewing and to avoid disturbing them. You may see more of an animal’s natural behavior and activity this way. If you cause an animal to move, you are too close! You can borrow binoculars from the welcome desk inside the visitor center.
There no charge to visit.
Activities
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love.
Services
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge strives to connect people with wildlife, plants, and the land by providing ways to deepen personal relationships with nature, while balancing healthy natural habitat management with opportunities for education, visitor engagement, youth employment, community involvement, and stewardship.
About
Tucked behind the outskirts of Albuquerque’s South Valley, Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is transforming 570 acres of former farmland into the Southwest’s first urban wildlife refuge. Established in 2012, it is the first refuge in the country built under the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program’s Standard of Excellence, prioritizing community connection and environmental justice. Over the coming decades, the refuge will continue to create new habitats, expand its trail network, and provide opportunities for education, youth employment, and community stewardship.