The Hidden Nature Park In New Mexico With Its Very Own Botanical Garden, Nature Center, And So Much More

Finding places off the beaten path is what I love to do. Certain parks, like White Sands National Monument, see a high number of visitors annually. To escape the crowds and be able to feel more at one with nature is what many of us crave. That's why I'm here to tell you about an underrated place you're sure to enjoy: Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area is a hidden nature park in New Mexico that adults and children alike will love exploring.

Located in the small city of Belen is an oasis of a nature park. This is the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area, and it's here for you to explore.

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., this wildlife area has its own visitors' center plus a mile-long hiking trail, a botanical garden, and the opportunity to go wildlife viewing as well as bird watching.

Throughout the area, you'll encounter wetlands as well as a cottonwood-willow riparian forest that attract a variety of bird species and other wildlife. This important land and its ecosystems are overseen by the Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District.

If you want to get a hike in while you're here, take the Upland Trail. It begins behind the Visitors Center and winds its way through the property until its endpoint at the Chihuahuan Desert Garden by the Visitiors Center.

Birdwatching is abundant here and you may get to see anything from sandhill cranes to turkey vultures, hawks, black-necked stilts, and so much more.

And, if you like plants, make sure you set aside enough time to peruse the botanical garden and its wide variety of plants.

To learn more about Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area, head to the Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District's website. You can also check out the Friends of Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area Facebook page for updates on the park.

Have you ever been to Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area, a hidden nature park in New Mexico? If so, what did you enjoy most about it? Let us know in the comments!

Ready to take a road trip to this hidden park or anywhere else around the Land of Enchantment? Take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List before you go! It has everything you need.