trip1

(1) From Socorro, drive south on I-25 for 32 miles to (2) exit 115; exit and follow the signs 5 miles to (3) El Camino Real International Heritage Center. Spend as much time as you'd like in the visitor's center, in the exhibits gallery, or the other items of interest. Bring along a lunch and enjoy it on our outdoor ampitheater or brick patio, both overlooking the trail and Jornada del Muerto.

From the Center (3), return to (2) exit 115. Do not

enter I-25; instead, continue northward on the 2-lane

paved road past the truck stop and restaurant. This is

NM highway 1, the original highway from Las Cruces

to Santa Fe, roughly following the west side branch of

El Camino Real.

This is a nice day-trip forming a loop from Socorro, New Mexico to El Camino Real International Heritage Center, Fort Craig, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and returning to Socorro. The trip can just as well be done in reverse order - although, viewing the thousands of birds arriving at the Bosque in late afternoon or at sunset is a spectacular sight (seasonal).

Numbers (1), (2), (3), etc. refer to numbers on MAP - TRIP 1.

Continuing north on NM 1 for 3.4 miles, you will see the

turn off to (4) Fort Craig; the fort is about 4 miles down

a graded dirt road. The dirt road to Fort Craig is not

recommended for large RVs due to occassional wash-

boarding, but suitable for other vehicles.

Fort Craig was one of New Mexico's frontier forts,

built in 1854. It is a National Historic Site, operated by

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and open to the public. Click here for more information (external link to BLM).

The entrance to the headquarters, Visitor's Center and parking lot will be on your left (west). The daily bird counts and species currently on the refuge are displayed in the Visitor's Center. The largest population occurs in the Autumn months. Opposite the Visitor's Center is the entrance to the (8) auto loop, allowing you to drive through the refuge and bird viewing areas.

After your visit at the Bosque del Apache, continue northward on NM highway 1 seven miles to the (9) Village of San Antonio. If you're hungry, here you will find two restaurants famous for their hamburgers and green chili cheeseburgers - Manny's Buckhorn and the Owl Cafe. Both have their own unique atmosphere and character. San Antonio is an early settlement on El Camino Real, later a railroad stop with a Harvey Hotel, and the birthplace of hotel developer Conrad Hilton.

Turning left (west) at the blinking light, across from the Owl Bar, takes you to Interstate 25 for the 8-mile return to Socorro.

Map modified from FAA ABQ Aeronautical Chart

Trip 1 makes a nice "loop" from Socorro south to El Camino Real International Heritage Center, and returning via Fort Craig and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

From the Confederate monument, rejoing NM 1, or drive westward to (6) Interstate 25, exit 124, should

you desire to return directly to Socorro. Otherwise, continue driving northward on NM highway 1 about 8 miles to (7), the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.