Local area

The Bosque del Apache is home to the Festival of the Cranes in November. As well as cranes, this migratory bird refuge is home to several other water birds. The refuge is open 365 days a year one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.

The El Camino Real Heritage Center presents the origins of the El Camino Real, the explorations of Juan de Onate and first contact between Spanish colonists and Native Americans. It tells the history of the El Camino Real (the Royal Road) and how it has been used for thousands of years as a trade route.

The Very Large Array is home to 17 radio antennas. The VLA is located on the Plains of San Agustin (20 miles west of Magdalena, 50 miles from Socorro). The VLA was featured in the movie Contact. The VLA is open from sunset to sundown.