Features

  • Concert for the Birds Event

    Runs, Migration, Concerts, and a Parade

    Our fall Events beginning in September are a "Run For Wildlife," "Concert For The Birds," "Fall Flight Festival," "Electric Light Parade."

    Events Calendar

  • White-tailed buck / R. Larranaga, USFWS

    Trails, Scenic Drives, Overlook

    Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge offers nature trails from .5 miles to 1.75 miles, scenic drives, and an overlook observation deck.

    Wildlife Watching & Nature Trails

  • Harrier hawk / © Bernadette Madison, USFWS

    eBird Observation Entries

    Find out what birds are being seen at the refuge, including the most recent sightings.

    eBird Daily Observations

  • Refuge grasslands / USFWS

    The Meadows

    Las Vegas is Spanish for ‘The Meadows,’ an appropriate name for a high plains refuge blanketed in short and tall-grass prairie.

    Wildlife & Habitat

Your Support is Appreciated

Our Fall 2019 Events!

Orange leaves blue sky / USFWS

Come out to Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge for our upcoming fall Events. Starting with a "Run for Wildlife" family run / walk on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Distance is 1 mile for the little Gophers and 5k and 10k for the Adults. Registration is required and due no later than August 30, 2019. Details, call Debbie Pike at the refuge: (505) 425-3581, Ext. 205. ● Then, our annual "Concert for the Birds" is Sunday, September 29, 2019 from 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. This FREE Event features local bands and all day Hay Rides, Kids' Crafts, Fish Tank Exhibit, Archery, Fun Activities for the Family and light refreshments. Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center is located on Highway 281, near McAllister Lake. For more information call the refuge for Debbie Pike at: (505) 425-3581, Extension # 205. ● Beginning November 3, 2019 is our "Fall Flight Festival" - Every Sunday in November! Starting at 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Discover Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge during the fall migration! The 4 1/2 mile self-guided wildlife drive will take you through native short-grass prairie grasslands, playa lakes, marshes, and croplands that serve as important habitat for a multitude of migratory birds. You will see a wide variety of waterfowl, geese, eagles, and sandhill cranes. Volunteer roving Naturalists will be on hand with spotting scopes to help you identify birds. Interpretive programs will also be offered at the Visitor Center every Sunday in November at 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. (Seating is limited to 40. All seats will be available on a first come first serve basis.) For info call Ted Winston at (505) 429-2032. ● December, 2019 - "Electric Light Parade." Come help the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of Las Vegas build a Christmas float to enter in the Electric Light Parade. For more details call Debbie Pike at the refuge: 505-425-3581, Ext. 205.

Upcoming Calendar Events

Help From Our Friends!

Hawk species perched

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge is fortunate to have a dedicated Friends Group that provides continual support! The Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge manage a variety of events at the refuge, the refuges within the Northern New Mexico National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and in the neighboring community. For more information on the Friends Group, to assist the Group as a Volunteer, and/or to become a Friends' Member, visit their website link within the page below.

Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
Visit Today!

Visitor Center Availability

Refuge Visitor Center entrance / USFWS

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor Center is open when staff are available: Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am-4:30 pm, and Fridays from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Due to a smaller staff, our refuge office and Visitor Center may be closed during some of these hours, when employees are in the field. You may call 505-425-3581, before coming to the refuge, to assure that a staff member is available. We appreciate your patience and understanding when visiting the refuge.

Contact Us

New Mexico's Las Vegas!

The Other Las Vegas - What Happens Here, Stays With You!

Fawn / USFWS

Come rejuvenate your soul by enjoying nature at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, located in the State of New Mexico, Land of Enchantment! Enjoy hiking trails, an 8 mile scenic auto tour loop drive, and an observation deck lookout for wildlife watching. The views are magnificent at this beautiful Refuge! What happens here, you will want to share with Everyone!

Refuge' Trails and Observation Areas

eBird Sightings

On-line eBird Observation Entries

Northern shovelers male and female / © Bernadette Madison, USFWS

Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird website program is a real-time, online checklist program that has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. A birder simply enters when, where, and how they went birding, then fills out a checklist of all the birds seen and heard during the outing. The observations of each participant join those of others in an international network of eBird users. The link below allows you to set-up an account in eBird to submit your observations. The Refuge appreciates you entering your bird sightings on the eBird online checklist program. For more information about eBird go to: https://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/eBird.org. Current entries at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, can be seen on our Wildlife & Habitat page, in the header section up above, and then open the left menu link titled: Report a Bird Sighting.

eBird On-line Program to Submit Observations

About the NWRS

National Wildlife Refuge System

NWRS Logo

The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants.

Learn more about the NWRS
Follow NWRS Online