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Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque, NM
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Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

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The Valle de Oro refuge, near Albuquerque, NM, is a national wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Established in 2012, it lies south of the city and borders Rio Grande Valley State Park beside the river. It is about 1 mile off the old road, making it an easy nature break for Route 66 travellers who want open sky and wildlife without leaving the metro area.

What is Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge?

A unit of the federal refuge system, the national network of lands set aside for wildlife. Valle de Oro is one of the newer ones, dating to 2012, and is listed as a project still taking shape. It shares a boundary with Rio Grande Valley State Park along the river, so the two protected areas together form a longer green corridor beside the Rio Grande.

The refuge also holds an Urban Night Sky Place designation, a recognition given to sites near cities that work to limit light pollution and offer a chance to see the night sky.

Visiting Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge: tips

Treat it as a relaxed outdoor stop rather than a museum: bring water, a hat and binoculars if you have them, and allow an hour or so for a walk. Because of the night sky designation, it is worth thinking about if you are staying in Albuquerque and want somewhere darker than the city streets after sunset. Check the Fish and Wildlife Service's refuge page before you go for current access details. Food and fuel are available close by.

Practical info

Website
fws.gov/refuge/valle_de_oro
Hours
We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

All diners on Route 66 →
  • Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM
    Diner & restaurant

    Frontier Restaurant

    Albuquerque, NM · 1.8 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

    A big New Mexican restaurant near UNM on Central Avenue, hung with portraits of John Wayne.

  • El Modelo in Albuquerque, NM
    Diner & restaurant

    El Modelo

    Albuquerque, NM · 3.7 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

    A Barelas restaurant in Albuquerque that began in 1929 as the El Modelo Tortilla Factory.

  • Diner & restaurant

    Mac's La Sierra

    Albuquerque, NM · 6.2 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

    A New Mexican restaurant on Albuquerque's West Central Avenue, the city's Route 66, dating from 1952.

On the map

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Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.

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Stops near Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

All of New Mexico
Modern Auto Court in Albuquerque, NM

Modern Auto Court

Albuquerque, New Mexico · on Route 66

A 1937 tourist court on Central Avenue, now the Nob Hill Motel, and a rare pre-war survivor in New Mexico.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

1.4 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque, NM

De Anza Motor Lodge

Albuquerque, New Mexico · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A 1939 Nob Hill motor lodge, now mostly gone, whose neon sign and Zuni murals live on in a new complex.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

1.4 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

Lobo Theater in Albuquerque, NM

Lobo Theater

Albuquerque, New Mexico · on Route 66

A 1938 movie house on Central Avenue named for UNM's Lobos, back in business as an event venue.

Route 66 sitePhoto credit

1.5 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

University of New Mexico Arboretum in Albuquerque, NM

University of New Mexico Arboretum

Albuquerque, New Mexico · 0.2 mi from Route 66

The whole UNM campus doubles as an accredited arboretum, with some 235 kinds of trees and shrubs.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

1.6 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

University of New Mexico Art Museum in Albuquerque, NM

University of New Mexico Art Museum

Albuquerque, New Mexico · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A free campus museum in Albuquerque with nearly 30,000 works, the largest fine art holding in New Mexico.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.7 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

Maxwell Museum of Anthropology in Albuquerque, NM

Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

Albuquerque, New Mexico · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Albuquerque's first public museum, an anthropology collection on the UNM campus near Central Avenue.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.7 mi from Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

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