Trails
From quiet marshes to sweeping vistas, the twelve nature trails of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge offer a variety of sights, sounds, and wildlife. The trails vary in accessibility and difficulty, but all provide opportunities to experience nature in solitude or with family and friends. Seasonally, wildlife and wildflowers may be observed along the trails. Visitor Center staff may be able to help you choose which trail to embark upon! See the trails section for more information.
Sparrow Loop Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub dominated by sumac and saltbush.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for white-crowned sparrow, Gambel’s quail, curve-billed thrasher, pyrrhuloxia, canyon towhee, Texas horned lizard, and desert cottontail.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot are located along the South Loop (the Marsh Overlook and Boardwalk Trails are found at this trailhead too!). The Sparrow Loop is located at the western end of the Boardwalk Trail.
Canyon National Recreation Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub dominated by fourwing saltbush.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for peregrine falcon, rock wren, sagebrush sparrow, verdin, greater roadrunner, Ord’s kangaroo rat, and desert box turtle. Summer monsoon rains often produce colorful blooms.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot is located along the west side of Highway 1, 1 mile south of the Visitor Center.
Rio Viejo Trail
What’s the habitat? Cottonwood forest.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for hermit thrush, ladder-backed woodpecker, western tanager, yellow-breasted chat, yellow warbler, javelina, elk, and checkered gartersnake.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot is located at the eastern end of Bosque Road.
Bike Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub, willows, salt cedar, and cottonwoods.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for common black-hawk, American coot, Mexican duck, great egret, pied-billed grebe, and twin-spotted spiny lizard.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot is located at the eastern end of Bosque Road.
Desert Arboretum Trail
What’s the habitat? Open garden displaying a variety of desert plants.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for crissal thrasher, ruby-crowned kinglet, white-throated sparrow, lesser goldfinch, white-winged dove, eastern white-throated woodrat, and long-nosed leopard lizard.
How do I get here? The parking lot is shared with the visitor center. The trailhead is along a paved path just west of the visitor center.
Boardwalk Trail
What’s the habitat? Semi-permanent wetland with open water and cattails.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for marsh wren, green heron, yellow-headed blackbird, western grebe, least bittern, northern rough-winged swallow, muskrat, and western painted turtle.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot are located along the South Loop (the Marsh Overlook Trail is found at this trailhead too!).
John P. Taylor Jr. Memorial Trail
What’s the habitat? Cottonwood forest surrounded by salt grass savannah.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for wild turkey, blue grosbeak, great horned owl, northern flicker, American kestrel, common raven, desert side-blotched lizard, and Botta’s pocket gopher.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot are located along the South Loop.
Chupadera Wilderness National Recreation Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub dominated by fourwing saltbush, creosote bush, and mesquite.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for scaled quail, cactus wren, rufous-crowned sparrow, canyon wren, green-tailed towhee, black-tailed jackrabbit, and banded rock rattlesnake.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot is located along the west side of Highway 1, 1 mile north of the Visitor Center.
Eastside Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub, willows, and salt cedar.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for wild turkey, javelina, scaled quail, and crissal thrashers.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking area is located on the east side of the Rio Grande. The easiest entry point is the gate at the end of Guadalajara Road. From San Antonio, travel east on Highway 380, turn right onto San Pedro Road and travel south, turn left on Guadalajara Road and travel to the end of the road. *This road is very sandy and may require a four-wheel drive vehicle.*
Bajada Loop Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub dominated by mesquite.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for black-throated sparrow, sagebrush sparrow, Cassin's sparrow, sage thrasher, loggerhead shrike, American badger, and diamondback rattlesnake.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot is located along the west side of Highway 1, 1 mile north of the Visitor Center (this trail is part of the Chupadera Wilderness National Recreation Trail!).
Elmendorf Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub, willows, and cottonwoods.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for great blue heron, northern harrier, savannah sparrow, Say’s phoebe, western meadowlark, raccoon, striped skunk, and desert kingsnake.
How do I get here? A small parking area and trailhead are located adjacent to the self-pay station at the entrance to the Tour Loop. A larger parking lot is located along the South Loop (the Marsh Overlook, Sparrow Loop, and Boardwalk Trails are found at this trailhead too!).
Marsh Overlook Trail
What’s the habitat? Chihuahuan desert scrub surrounding a seasonally-flooded wetland.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for Virginia rail, American bittern, bushtit, vermilion flycatcher, Lincoln’s sparrow, common yellowthroat, northern leopard frog, and Texas spiny softshell.
How do I get here? The trailhead and parking lot are located along the South Loop (the Boardwalk Trail is found at this trailhead too!).
Observation Blind Trail
What’s the habitat? Cottonwood forest overlooking a seasonal wetland.
Who lives here? Seasonally, search for black phoebe, American pipit, Bewick’s wren, Swainson’s hawk, lark sparrow, phainopepla, mule deer, and twin-spotted spiny lizard.
How do I get here? The parking lot and trailhead are located along the North Loop.