Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Spending time outdoors is good for both our spirit and health, nourishes the imagination, and fuels curiosity and awe. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is truly an unique gem situated on the cusp between the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and the southwestern corner of the Great Plains, attracting more than 26,000 lesser sandhill cranes, more than 50,000 snow geese and ducks during fall migration, as well as the wide variety of wading birds and shorebirds such as great blue herons, white faced ibis, snowy plovers, least terns, black-necked stilts, and avocets, all amid a backdrop of red-rimmed bluffs running along the Pecos River.  

More than 100 species of dragonflies and damselflies (odonates) have been documented on the refuge. The refuge is home to what is considered one of the most diverse populations of odonates in North America. Most of the dragonflies can be seen during the summer months, flitting about and dipping their eggs into the water.  

Driving Directions

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located 7 miles northeast of Roswell, in Chaves County, New Mexico.

The coordinates are 33.456038, -104.401680. The elevation level at the refuge is 3,526 feet. 

From Roswell (south side):

Take US 380 (Second Street) east about three miles to Red Bridge Road. Follow Red Bridge Road north to Pine Lodge Road and travel east to the refuge entrance gate. 

From Roswell (north side):

Take US 285 (Main Street) north to Pine Lodge Road. Take Pine Lodge east about 6 miles to the refuge entrance.

Fees

There is no charge to visit.

Restrooms

Restrooms are available inside the Visitor Center during business hours. Primitive toilets are located on the southwest portion of the refuge Wildlife Drive at the Desert Upland Trailhead.

Points of Interest

Let our staff and volunteers at the visitor center help you plan your visit! This is a great starting point for visitors to become more familiar with the refuge and the wildlife that live here. Visitors can watch a 20-minute refuge orientation video, see live protected fish on display, browse nature and wildlife exhibits, and obtain maps and brochures. While there, visit the Friends of Bitter Lake Nature Shop for field guides, t-shirts, jewelry, and other educational items. 

What to Do

If you have 15-minutes: 

• Watch the refuge orientation video in the refuge auditorium or step out onto our viewing deck at the visitor center and look over the wetlands and Comanche Bluff that line the Pecos River.  

If you have one hour:

• Check out the 6.5 mile Wildlife Drive. You will see moist soil units, wetlands, slow moving springs, shrubs, and grasslands. Feel free to stop and hike one of our six trails adjacent to the visitor center and Wildlife Drive!  

If you have half a day or more: 

• In addition to stopping at the visitor center, driving around on the Wildlife Drive and hiking the trails, bicycle riding is permitted on the wildlife drive or the refuge’s four-mile (round trip) bike trail. Visitors can also stop at Pajáro Bird Blind, a permanent photography and birdwatching blind located off the Wildlife Drive on the southeast side, for a sneak peek at some wading or dabbling birds that may be present in the wetland unit.  

Know Before You Go

We recommend visitors to bring plenty of water to drink, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellant. We suggest for visitors to plan for the weather and dress accordingly and to wear comfortable walking shoes if you walk the trails. Some visitors bring their own hiking sticks or trekking poles for the trails. It is always a treat to bring your own binoculars or camera to capture the sights you may see!  

Visitor Tips

There is wildlife year-round at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Popular times of the year for visitors to see wildlife at the refuge is during fall migration, which typically starts in September and continues through spring migration in May. The sandhill cranes start migrating and showing up at the refuge in October and continue through December, with the peak around Thanksgiving. The neotropical songbirds start migrating through in the spring around March and April and continue through May. Snowy plovers, least terns and other shorebirds and wading birds are seen throughout the summer. Dragonflies and damselflies are seen throughout the summer through September, with the peak in July and August. Please watch for wildlife crossing the road and avoid them.