Trip Ideas

West Texas Birding

More than just a hobby, birding connects you with nature in a fun, inexpensive and educational way. Home to over 200 species of birds, El Paso is a prime place to spot something soaring in the air or perched on top of sotol or yucca stalk!

Featherlake Wildlife Sanctuary
Featherlake Wildlife Sanctuary
9500 North Loop Dr.
(915) 747-8663 

Feather Lake is a 43.5-acre wildlife sanctuary based on a 40-acre wetland built by the City of El Paso in 1969 as a stormwater-retention basin. Since 1976, the El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society has maintained the wildlife sanctuary. There have been 219 different species of birds observed, especially those associated with water. Feather Lake’s water sources are irregular; the lake is sometimes dry. During the spring, many White-faced Ibis’s come to the sanctuary. In the fall, crowds of Yellow-headed Blackbirds can be seen. In the winter, this park is also inhabited with ducks.

Keystone Heritage & Desert Botanical Park
Keystone Heritage & Desert Botanical Park
4220 Doniphan Dr.
(915) 584-0563 

Keystone Heritage Park is home to the third sculpture of the XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest – Susan Magoffin. Susan Magoffin’s 7-foot bronze statue is the first woman of historical significance and third statue to be included in the XII Travelers series. It was unveiled on June 2, 2012. Despite the dangers of travel with the Mexican American war just beginning Susan Magoffin still made the expedition into Mexico and until 1987 it was believed she was the first Anglo-American woman to travel the Santa Fe trail. Coming from a wealthy family she was able to travel with plenty comforts of home and took her servant Jane and greyhound dog Mr. Ring along with her. She kept a journal of her travels almost daily from June 1846 until 1847 and it remains a valuable record on the development of the west and provides a unique woman’s perspective of the times.

River Park Trail
River Park Trail
5240 Hunters Glenn St
(915) 771-2380 

The Rio Grande provides a picturesque backdrop for bird watching. The trail is a stretch of paved trail that parallels the Rio Grande from the New Mexico State Line in Anthony, TX to County Club Road in El Paso, TX. Whether you walk, jog, or ride a bike, this trail provides vistas of the Franklin Mountains to the east and the mesa’s of New Mexico to the west in a quiet and soothing environment.

The 10.5 mile long trail can be accessed at the following unofficial parking locations:

Family Dollar Parking Lot-8000 Doniphan Dr. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Parking Lot-311 West Borderland Road El Abrigado Animal Clinic Parking Lot-900 Country Club Road

Billy Rogers Arroyo Park & Nature Preserve
Billy Rogers Arroyo Park & Nature Preserve
Corner of Virginia St. and New York St.
 
 

Located in central El Paso, this untouched arroyo (dry creek bed that temporarily fills with water after heavy rains) sits at the foot of the Franklin Mountains. With beautiful views of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, the arroyo is a popular site for mountain bikers and nature lovers who enjoy birding or walking through the great Chihuahuan Desert terrain.

El Paso Museum of Archaeology & Wilderness Park
El Paso Museum of Archaeology & Wilderness Park
4301 Transmountain Rd.
(915) 212-3271 

The museum’s grounds include 15 acres of nature trails, outdoor exhibits and desert garden with various native Chihuahuan desert plants. The trails leading from the Museum are well marked and maintained, with some leading into the canyons of the East Franklin Mountains. For bird enthusiasts you may see doves, gambols and scaled quail, verdin, canyon wren, various sparrows, horned larks, turkey vultures and perhaps golden eagles.

Hours of Operation Sun: Closed Mon: Closed Tue: Closed Wed: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thu: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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