Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park

Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park offers a pleasant and knowledgeable introduction to the Bosque del Apache Nature Reserve. The owner/manager is knowledgeable about local species and keeps the park running for his friends, many of whom are professionals in the birding communities either as photographers or wildlife biologists. Many have multi-week/month reservations and are a fountain of knowledge and provide interesting discussions. Mid summer might be a bit hot for most visitors. The owner is friendly and accommodating and a wonderful source of that unique beast, central and north central New Mexico politics. Seems to know “everyone.” The Park is well maintained and owner works hard to accommodate visitors as personal friends. It is an open graveled field offering little shade, an island of hospitality. Ignore the For Sale sign, unless of course you REALLY think you can replace the owner! Three stars for site, fourth star with owner. Star system inadequate for this experience. Don’t forget to stop in San Antonio, home of the two best green chile cheese burgers in New Mexico, one at the Owl Cafe and the other at the Buckhorn Cafe. The Owl also has the bar from the first Hilton Hotel, built to house the scientists working on “the” bomb at nearby White Sands. Hotel burned but bar was saved; stop got a day, stay for a week!

The good news is the park has reopened after a year and a half’s closure. It’s rather basic for the price but it is convenient to Bosque del Apache and the thousands of seasonal birds wintering there. Nothing much has changed except the management. Same family, different generation. One negative, freight trains will wake you a couple times per night.
More good news! The Buckhorn Saloon has reopened. For those who crave New Mexico’s green chili cheeseburgers (like me), this is a “can’t miss” spot. My opinion; the best in the state.

We stayed one night to break up our drive home from Arizona & to visit the wildlife refuge. Bill was very nice and with only a few other folks, we had plenty of space. Canyon Towhees and quail running through the grounds, with Sandhill Cranes overhead, wonderful!

Easy to find, $35/night for full hookups & 50amp service.

We loved this simple little park just a few miles from the wildlife refuge. Very clean and good size gravel sites. FHUs w 30 and 50 amp. Looks like restrooms on site but we didn't use them. Nice and quiet with an occasional train which we love. No park WiFi, our ATT worked well.

So wonderful to be greeted with a big smile from owner Billy and to see him each day with that same good-hearted greeting. He had just finished roasting some green chilis and brought us a small bag. Sooo delicious. We felt very welcome and will always stay here when in the area.

New Mexico is strict about masks and Billy takes it seriously which we very much appreciate.

The Buckhorn in the little town has the best green chili cheeseburgers we've had - but be warned they're hot!

The Refuge is beautiful and large. Nice drive to the VLA.

A perfect, quiet spot to spend two and a half days visiting the wildlife refuge just minutes down the road. An older park but a level site, full hookups that worked just fine, a friendly host and plenty of wildlife to see made this a spot we'll gladly come back to.

Stayed December 5, 2020 - Decent, not fancy place with hookups close to the Visitor Center. Nice to have hookups in the winter. We woke up early and took our rig to watch the Cranes/Snow Geese at sunrise. Great to have your rig to stay warm and cook breakfast while the birds are getting active.

Large gravel area with numerous sites. Full hookups. No wifi. Great for birdwatching. Eat at the Buckhorn or Owl Cafe. If owner isn’t there then just pick a site and he will come by later. A very low key operation. Quail and a kildeer bird occupy the lot 😁

We stayed her Sept 29th and 30th. The sites are close. If it's full it will be crowed.
Full hookups.Two hookups at each post so you will be close. No tables no WiFi phone works here. You should make reservations. If Billy is not there when you arrive find a place to park he will come by later. If you like train whistles you will love this place.

Don't be discouraged by initial impression when arriving. Basic park, 30 and 50 amp, FHU. All PT. Didn't use the restroom. Our ATT hot spot got 11mbps and TMobile phone had no problem. Great water pressure. I imagine it gets pretty full when the sandhill crane and snow geese arrive end of October. Beautiful view of surrounding mountains. Billy is helpful and a character. The wildlife refuge was a surprise. Very well outfitted and maintained. We saw lots of wildlife even though the cranes and geese hadn't arrived.

Large gravel lot with services. The shower and the bathroom are rather basic. Three or more trains roll by blowing their horns at all hours. Lots of country to explore in the area. Lincoln County to the east is Billy the Kid country. The Very Large Array astronomy site is to the west. The Bosque Apache Wildlife Reserve is next door.