Wintering water birds gather at this 38-sq-mile refuge, 10 miles northeast of Roswell; many birds remain to nest in the summer. Bring your binoculars for the best views of cranes, geese and other species; hiking and biking trails can get you closer. To reach the refuge, follow signs from either Hwy 380 or Hwy 285/70.
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Southeastern New Mexico
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
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Nearby Southeastern New Mexico attractions
1. Roswell Museum & Art Center
7.78 MILES
Roswell's excellent museum deserves a visit. Twelve galleries showcase Southwestern artists including Georgia O'Keeffe, Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth,…
2. International UFO Museum & Research Center
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There’s a lot of reading to be done here and exhibits dive right into the nitty-gritty, assuming familiarity with Roswell's extraterrestrial past. Display…
3. Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico
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Housed in the 1912 mansion of local rancher James Phelps White, this property is on the National Register of Historic Places, and its interior has been…