For southern New Mexico birders, photographers, and nature lovers, December brings one of the state’s most impressive wildlife events within an easy drive of Las Cruces. The 37th annual 2026 Festival of the Cranes takes place December 2–5, 2026, at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and the Socorro Convention Center.
Each winter, thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, ducks, and other migratory birds gather at Bosque del Apache.
You can experience the morning fly-out as large numbers of birds leave their nighttime roosts around dawn, and the evening fly-in as cranes and geese return to the ponds.
More than 85 birding and photography workshops, tours, hikes, and other activities are planned for the 2026 Festival of the Cranes.
Special events include an opening celebration and keynote by Dr. Rich Beilfuss, president and CEO of the International Crane Foundation, and the annual dinner featuring conservation photographer, author, and educator Michael Forsberg.
The festival also includes a Camera & Optics Expo at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and a Nature Fair at the Socorro Convention Center. Tours will take participants beyond the refuge to destinations including Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, the Very Large Array, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, and Bernardo Wildlife Management Area.
Visiting Bosque del Apache from Las Cruces
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is approximately 130 miles north of Las Cruces, about a two-hour drive via Interstate 25.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directs visitors traveling from Las Cruces to take I-25 north to Exit 115 and continue north on Highway 1 to the refuge.
If you’re hoping to catch the morning fly-out, you will need to leave Las Cruces well before sunrise, or stay overnight in Socorro. Refuge lands are open daily from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
The approximately 12-mile Auto Tour Loop provides access to wetlands and wildlife viewing areas, with places to stop for birding and photography along the route.
The complete 2026 Festival of the Cranes schedule is expected in September, with registration opening in October.
Get complete information about the 2026 Festival of the Cranes, including festival events, birding and photography opportunities, visiting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Posted by LasCruces.com
