Each season the Bosque del Apache offers unique bird and wildlife viewing opportunities. Peak visitations occur in winter when bald eagles
and thousands of sandhill cranes and snow geese are present.
more
575-835-0424, 575-835-1828
The VLA is made up of 27 radio-telescope antennas in a “Y” pattern spread across the Plains of San Augustin, 50
miles west of Socorro, off U.S. Hwy. 60. more
575-835-7000
El Camino Real International Heritage Center, a joint project of New Mexico State Monuments
and the United States Bureau of Land Management and supported by the El Camino Real International Heritage Center Foundation, opens as the
sixth New Mexico State Monument. more Main phone number:
575-854-3600 Email: info@caminorealheritage.org
New Mexico Tech’s acclaim in the sciences has helped to draw major research facilities to the area, including the
headquarters for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array, the lightning research facility of Langmuir Lab, a planned
telescope in the Magdalena Mountains, and research efforts located on New Mexico Tech land. 801 Leroy Pl. Socorro, NM 87801
800-428-8324 Ext. 4
This is where you’ll find entertainment, performances and music. Tech’s Performing Arts Series puts on regular shows
here and Tech’s students put on a show every spring. Call for schedule,
575-835-5688
Originated in 1889. The early collection was assembled to assist with the education of engineers and
geologists and grew to be one of the finest in the world. more
575-835-5140
Tech’s beautiful 18-hole, championship-level golf course is open to the public. Several tournaments are
held at the course every year.
801 Leroy Pl. Socorro, NM 87801 575-835-5335
Located 21 miles west of Socorro on Hwy. 60. Enjoy hiking, bird watching and camping.
575- 835-0424, 575-854-2922.
ESCONDIDA LAKE PARK
Located 2 miles north of Socorro, exit 152. Go east at stop sign until road turns;
go north 6 miles to Escondida Lake Park sign. Enjoy fishing and camping. The Park has RV hookups, tent sites, bathrooms and water.
575-835-0424, 575-835-2041.
Open for hiking and you can explore the Chihuahuan Desert plant and animal life. The geological formations make it an excellent spot for
photography. 575-854-4021
A walking tour of historic homes surrounding the Socorro plaza features the architectural
styles from the Spanish colonial and territorial past. The Historical Society has many sites listed in a directory that includes the
400-year old San Miguel Mission, Garcia Opera House. For a walking tour map call (575) 835-0424.
This historic church, still the center of Catholicism in the area, was built in 1891 and stands on the site of
the original mission built in 1627. more
SOCORRO'S HISTORIC PLAZA
Also known as Kittrell Park the Plaza is often lively with community events.
575-835-0424
PARKS AND RECREATION
The City of Socorro Parks and Recreation provides leisure activities for the entire family.
more
575-835-0242
Local history, artifacts of Wild West, cattle drives, circa 1885-1930. Located next to AT&SF RR Depot.
►
MAGDALENA STOCK DRIVEWAY/SHIPPING PENS
At end of longest “Hoof Highway” in N.M. Used from as far away as Springerville, AZ.
Closed in 1971 when AT&SF RR ceased. Just north of visitor center.
Year-round serial theater. Tales of what might have happened in days past in the
Magdalena area. Written, directed, produced, acted in and promoted by Donna Todd, of Magdalena. For a schedule call
575-854-2519.
SAN ANTONIO
In the late 1880s, A.H. Hilton arrived in San
Antonio, NM, and opened the Hilton Mercantile Company that also served as the first Hilton Hotel. more
Bosque del Apache -
Plan to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving during the Annual Festival of the Cranes. This event includes speakers, special tours and wildlife
displays. A visitor center open all year round contains current information on wildlife sightings, exhibits, videos and a bookstore/gift shop. The
1.5-mile auto tour loop takes visitors through a full range of wildlife viewing and photography possibilities. There is a nominal fee for the
self-guided tours and nature trails, ranging from one mile to nine miles. The Bosque del Apache is situated east of I-25 just south of San Antonio.
Exit 139; east ¼ mile on US 380 to the flashing signal at San Antonio; turn right onto Hwy. 1. The Visitors Center is south nine miles.
VLA -
The VLA has been used by more astronomers and produced more scientific papers than any radio
telescope in the world. Each antenna has a 82-foot dish and weighs 230 tons. Visitors are welcome at the VLA. The on-site visitor center and gift shop contains displays and videos that describe radio astronomy
and the VLA telescope. A self-guided walking tour allows visitors to see the antennas up close. The visitor center is open all year round
from 8:30 a.m. to sunset.
El Camino Real Heritage Center -
The state-of-the art facility rises from the pristine desert, as different from its environment as from the
other state monuments. Rather than the story of a fort, a battle waged or a history borne upon its premise, the International Heritage Center
presents a 400-year history of trade and cultural exchange between Mexico, America, Spain, Europe and Asia.
Trinity Site -
The Trinity Site is opened twice a year for the public to tour the site. (First Saturday, April & October).
Visitors can enter through the Stallion Range Center, five miles south of U.S. Hwy. 380. The turnoff is 12 miles east of San Antonio, N.M. Shuttles
from Socorro are available for tours.
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge -
The majority of the refuge is closed to general public use, however, there are a few areas open for the
public's enjoyment. Sevilleta holds an Open House Event in October and offers guided tours at that time.
Gran Quivira -
Dating back to the 1300’s, Gran Quivira was an important trade center before and after the Spanish entrada, but Apache
raids, drought and famine caused the 500 remaining Peublo Indians to abandon the site in 1672. Two churches, excavated Indian structures,
museum exhibits and a 40-minute video can be seen at the site. Located on U.S. Hwy 54, 25 miles south of Mountainair in the eastern edge
of Socorro County.
Mineral Museum -
A fire destroyed many of the specimens in 1928 but donations and purchases immediately reestablished the
museum. Three thousand mineral specimens have now grown to a collection of over 15,000. Admission is free to visitors Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment.
Etscorn Observatory - There are
frequent public star parties, and the club hosts an Enchanted Skies Star Party every fall, attracting amateur astronomers from around the nation.
Quebradas Scenic Byway - This back
country byway which includes travel atop a portion of the historic El Camino Real is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and provides
a great opportunity to see the protected wildlife of two separate wildlife reserves. 1) Go 2 miles north of Socorro on I-25, take Escondida exit. Head east, then north. Turn
right past Escondida Lake. Go east through Pueblitos. Turn south on road following east side of Rio Grande. Take dirt road east, about .6
miles down road. Stay on road, follow Back-Country Byway signs. 2) Drive 9 miles south of Socorro on I-25, go 11 miles east of San Antonio
on N.M. 380. Turn left on CR A-129 for 3 miles north. Turn west, and follow the signs.
Socorro Fat Tire Trails - To the east, we have the Quebradas and hundreds of miles of roads winding through exceptional geologic
terrain. To the south, the Rio Grande floodplain and the Bosque del Apache provide intimate views of wildlife. To the west, you will find
the Magdalena and San Mateo Mountain ranges with peaks over 10,600 ft. high. To the north are the ancient petroglyphs at San Acacia and
the steep-walled beauty of San Lorenzo Canyon.
The Hammel Museum -
It continued to operate as an icehouse and soft drink bottling plant until the 1950s’. It is currently being restored as a museum. Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places is still standing on it’s original site. The Socorro Historical Society celebrates Oktoberfest at the Hammel Museum. It is located at 600 Sixth Street, is open the first Saturday
of each month and by request.
San Miguel Mission -
It has massive adobe walls, large carved vigas and supporting corbel arches. The church remains the
symbol of the Spanish heritage and an inspiration to generations.
Parks and Recreation - Sedillo Park offers family fun, athletic
fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, playgrounds and an Olympic size pool, or jog around Clarke Field. Socorro’s
Parks often play host to seasonal sports.
Magdalena - As of
late, the village atmosphere has attracted artists and the town now has some excellent galleries, along with historic buildings, things to see and
do and some great coffee shops.
San Antonio - It
was here that the world-renowned Hilton Hotel had its beginning and claimed for San Antonio a famous son, Conrad Hilton. Born December 25, 1887,
Conrad became business partners with his father in 1915 and bought his first hotel four years later in Cisco, Texas. Today, the once prosperous
Hilton section of San Antonio is reduced to an old post office building, a few other deserted buildings, and ruins. Present-day San Antonio, a
functioning community, lies just north of the older section. San Antonio has some excellent Bed and Breakfast establishments that cater to visitors
who come to see the migrating birds at the nearby Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
