8 replies to this topic

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Any recommendations on camping near the refuge? The Bride and I are thinking about a quick trip down, plus a visit to White Sands.

Edited by Wandering Sagebrush, 30 October 2014 - 12:31 AM.

[highz]

Neither White Sands or the Bosque are truck camper friendly. How many miles are you willing to drive from a campground to each destination? 

 

San Antonio has an RV park, but it isn't scenic - just convenient to the Bosque. There is a lot of BLM land nearby, but I haven't camped around there, so can't personally recommend anything. Possibly someone at the Bosque may know of a good place to boondock on BLM land. Just watch out you don't stray onto White Sands Missile Range 

 

White Sands allows tent camping with a permit available at the Visitor's Center, but it's a one mile walk from the road - it's meant for backpacking in. Oliver Lee State Park is south of Alamogordo and Aguirre Spring Campground is in the Organ Mountains west of Las Cruces . Of course, I am partial to the many boondocking opportunities in the Sacramento Mountains, since I live there, but it's about an hour drive to White Sands. If you do opt for the Sacramentos, I can give you some suggestions for dispersed camping.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks Highz!!!   Much appreciated.

 

I got the following from one of my birding friends...

 

You will love Bosque.  I stayed at a B&B in San Antonio, a little town 6 miles from the refuge.  The B&B was called Casa Blanca, and run by Phoebe Wood and former refuge manager, Phil Norton, who has a commemorative blind in the refuge.  Wonderful conversations with them.  A great place with early food to take before sunup to get to the refuge early.  I don’t know if you are driving down or staying somewhere else, but here is the link FYI:  http://www.casablanc...com/contact.htm 

There is also a hamburger place in San Antonio, the Owl, that serves great green chile hamburgers and is widely known.  The other options are up in Socorro, about 20 miles north of the refuge.  I think I remember hookup or at least RV parking facilities by the refuge entrance too.

Dress in warm layers, with fingerless gloves for the tripod.  It’s cold!  The viewing starts along the road before the entrance, and then there are two loops with dry and wet areas.  The snow geese are a sight to behold as well as the cranes, especially if you get there for the early morning thunderous takeoff.  I am not sure when they all arrive, but I think there is a festival of the cranes around Thanksgiving.  I am sure you will come back with stunning photos.  It has been a pleasure to watch your photography just keep getting better.

[highz]

That B&B sounds good! I'm thinking of a trip to the Bosque sometime around Thanksgiving. If you are there then, or if you come to the Sacramentos, we should meet up. Or maybe we could meet up at White Sands. 

 

By the way, if you can time your visit to White Sands with the full moon, that is pretty special! The dunes turn pink with sunset, then blue with twilight and the rising of the Moon.

 

I've eaten at the Owl. The green chile cheeseburger is pretty good, but the history of the cafe is better. They say that Oppenheimer and other physicists involved with the Trinity site ate there. However, I've had more than one person tell me that the green chile cheeseburger at the Buckhorn Tavern in San Antonio is better. On my next trip there, I plan to check that out.

[Bosque Bill]

I'm of the opinion that the Buckhorn Burger is superior to the GCCB at the Owl. There's a good, family-run traditional New Mexican food restaurant in town too - the name escapes me, but just ask any of the locals.

 

The Birder's RV Park is just outside the refuge boundary. Nothing fancy, but lots of birds.

 

From http://www.friendsof...aboutother.html

:

Birdwatchers RV Park, South of San Antonio

575-835-1366
575.835.1366 
30 RV Sites, 30 RV Hookups, 10 Tent Sites, Shelter Available

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks Bill!

[K6ON]

The Sandhill's have already arrived at the Consumnes River Preserve just south of Sacramento.

 

[Bosque Bill]

The Sandhill's have already arrived at the Consumnes River Preserve just south of Sacramento.

 

 

Nice pic, K6ON.

 

They are flying down the central NM valley now, but only in small numbers.

 

Wandering, In the off chance you don't know about BdA Festival of the Cranes, November 18 - 23rd:

 

http://www.festivalofthecranes.com

 

You should either avoid that time, to avoid the crowds (and I suspect there would be no vacancies at the RV parks, motels, B&Bs, etc. on short notice) or plan in advance to attend and see if you can still get reservations.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks Bill, I will avoid the festival. We've had a good showing of cranes here in the local area. At the local refuge, we see several hundred a day, but the are usually very wary. The tundra swans are just starting to arrive, lots of various Canada goose sub species, and a few raptors.