Visit Us
National Wildlife Refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Welcome to the Other Las Vegas, a place where you can do just that! Come rejuvenate your soul by enjoying nature at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, located in the State of New Mexico, Land of Enchantment. Enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, and hunting. The views are magnificent at this beautiful Refuge. What happens here, stays with you, an experience you will want to share with everyone!
Location and Contact Information
About Us
Spanish for ‘the meadows,’ Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge’s dates as far back as 8,000 BC when early North Americans inhabited the high plains area. The area is full of rich history, and you can even catch a glimpse of the famous Hermit's Peak here!
Strategically located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the edge of El Llano Estacado, the 8,672-acre refuge overlaps three unique landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains and eastern prairies. This combination of habitats provides a haven for many species of wildlife, all of which you can enjoy!
What We Do
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the Refuge.
Here at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, we contribute to conservation by managing habitats, wildlife populations, and educating the public.
Our Species
The sandhill cranes arrive in the fall as they migrate to their winter home. Bald eagles, northern harriers, Swainson's hawks, and American kestrels are frequently sighted soaring above the refuge scanning the grasslands for prey or attracted to the hundreds of ducks and geese on the refuge’s open waters. Migrating shorebirds like long-billed dowitchers and sandpipers, probe the mudflats in early fall and spring. In the woodlands, wild turkeys wander in search of a meal and on the prairies. Rocky Mountain elk blend into the grasses, home to badgers and ground squirrels.