Visit Us
The refuge administrative office is open to the public and located separately from refuge land, which is not open to the public. We welcome visitors to the refuge office, but do not attempt to drive to the refuge as access is restricted by security checkpoints.
Driving Directions
The refuge administrative office is located 10 miles east of the I-25 and Highway 70 intersection, on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The office is on the north side of Highway 70 and requires navigating a one-way frontage road.
If using a navigation app, be sure to input the street address of the refuge office, 5686 Santa Gertrudis Dr. Entering “San Andres National Wildlife Refuge” will take you to the wrong place.
From the East (Alamogordo): Take Highway 70 westbound to the exit for Brahman Road. Stay westbound on the frontage road (Bataan Memorial Highway). Go straight through the stop sign. Santa Gertrudis Drive will be the first street on the right, marked with a green street sign. The office is on the corner of Santa Gertrudis Drive and the frontage road. If the front gate is open, the office is open.
From the west (Las Cruces): from I-25, take Exit 6 for US Highway 70 eastbound. Drive 10 miles and take the exit for Brahman Road. From the eastbound frontage road (Bataan Memorial Highway), take the U-turn lane to the left under Highway 70 on to the westbound frontage road. Santa Gertrudis Drive will be the first street on the right, marked with a green street sign. The office is on the corner of Santa Gertrudis Drive and the frontage road. If the front gate is open, the office is open.
Fees
There is no charge to visit the refuge administrative office in Las Cruces. There is no public access onto Refuge land.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available inside the administrative office in Las Cruces during business hours.
Points of Interest
The refuge administrative office does not have any formal trails or activities, but you can see magnificent views of the San Andres Mountain range and the wildlife refuge on the north side of U.S. Highway 70 and of the Organ Mountain range directly across on the south side of U.S. Highway 70.
The office has informational brochures available as well as the refuge passport stamp.
There is also an informational kiosk on the south side of Highway 70, in the pullout/parking area immediately east of San Agustin Pass. The kiosk was developed cooperatively by the refuge, White Sands Missile Range, and the NM Department of Game and Fish and contains information about local species, landscapes, and activities.
What to Do
The refuge administrative office in Las Cruces offers agency publications, the refuge brochure, the refuge passport stamp, give-away items such as post cards and car trash bags, photographs to view, and interactive hands-on games that highlight animal species found on the Refuge.
The information kiosk on Highway 70, in the pullout/parking area immediately east of San Agustin Pass, offers information about local species, landscapes, and activities.
Know Before You Go
We recommend you telephone the refuge administrative office before arriving to assure that a staff member is in to assist you. You may call (575) 382-5074 or (575) 312-3324.
We welcome visitors to the refuge administrative office, but do not attempt to drive to the refuge as access is controlled by security checkpoints.
Activities
For information about hunting oryx and desert bighorn sheep on White Sands Missile Range, contact NMDGF at (575) 532-2100 or the White Sands Missile Range Hunt Coordinator at 575-678-7909.
Rules and Policies
Public access to the refuge is restricted by White Sands Missile Range, an active military missile testing facility. No public entry is permitted onto Refuge lands due to safety and security restrictions imposed by White Sands Missile Range. There are no recreational opportunities available to the public on the refuge.
Locations
The refuge administrative office is located 10 miles east of the I-25 and Highway 70 intersection, on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The office is on the north side of Highway 70 and requires navigating a one-way frontage road heading west.
If using a navigation app, be sure to input the street address of the refuge office, 5686 Santa Gertrudis Dr. Entering “San Andres National Wildlife Refuge” will take you to the wrong place.
From the East (Alamogordo): take Highway 70 westbound to the exit for Brahman Road. Stay westbound on the frontage road (Bataan Memorial Highway). Go straight through the stop sign. Santa Gertrudis Drive will be the third street on the right, marked with a green street sign. The office is on the corner of Santa Gertrudis Drive and the frontage road. The Complex entrance gate faces to the west. If the front gate is open, the office is open.
From the west (Las Cruces): from I-25, take Exit 6 for US Highway 70 eastbound. Drive 10 miles and take the exit for Brahman Road. From the eastbound frontage road (Bataan Memorial Highway), take the U-turn lane to the left under Highway 70 on to the westbound frontage road. Santa Gertrudis Drive will be the first street on the right, marked with a green street sign. The office is on the corner of Santa Gertrudis Drive and the frontage road. The Complex entrance gate faces to the west. If the front gate is open, the office is open.