Socorro, New Mexico, is just over an hour south of Albuquerque. Located in the central Rio Grande valley, 76 miles south of Albuquerque and 194 miles north of El Paso, this little charmer is home to more than 9,000 people, ranging from young families to retired couples. The town and the surrounding countryside offer a wealth of outdoors activities to engage hikers, mountain bikers and nature enthusiasts, to geologists, rock hounds and photographers.

Residents embrace quality of life and a strong sense of community while enjoying a lower than average cost of living. Quaint and inviting tree-lined streets add to Socorro’s country-style appeal. The Socorro Historical Society has many sites listed in a directory that includes the downtown plaza, the Spanish Mission, the Garcia Opera House, the Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Depot and many more buildings and houses.

For nature lovers of all kinds, one of the most spectacular wildlife refuges in North America is located not far from town. The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a remarkable avian oasis in this semi-arid land of central New Mexico. Tens of thousands of birds (including sandhill cranes, Arctic geese, and scores of duck species) gather each Fall to make Socorro home through the winter months.

Socorro also boasts the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology. New Mexico Tech is one of the country’s leading research universities focusing on hydrology, astrophysics, atmospheric physics, and other major science and engineering disciplines. Naturally, the university offers a variety of cultural and performing arts activities, not only for the student but for the local community as well.

Located less than an hour from this college town is one of the world’s premiere astronomical outposts. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration, called the Very Large Array (the VLA was featured in the Jodie Foster film, Contact).

Restaurants

El Sombrero
Classic New Mexican food, great ambience, easy on the wallet, the “Number 4 blue green chicken over easy” is not be missed.

210 Mesquite
Socorro, NM
505 835-3945

Armijo’s
602 Hwy. 85 (continuation of California Ave.)
Socorro, NM
505 835-1686
Open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. 7 days. Mexican food with a “New Mexican” flavor.

Socorro Springs
Microbrewery and hand-made pizza. Good service and pleasant atmosphere.

1012 N. California Ave.
Socorro, NM
505 838-0650

The El Camino
“The Road,” as it is sometimes called by locals, serves New Mexican and American food. All night greasy-spoon diner for the college students. Green-chile cheese fries are not to be missed and make a meal all their own, as long as you’re not expecting haute cuisine.

707 California Ave.
Socorro, NM
505 835-1180

Places to Stay

California Avenue, the main drag north-south through town paralleling I-25, has the usual assortment of chain motels and motor lodges (EconoLodge, Super 8, Motel 6, Days Inn, etc.), mostly serviceable, none exceptional. The Holiday Inn Express, 1100 California Ave NE, 505-838-0556, has more amenities than most and is comfortable. Lodging in Socorro tends to be tight around the Festival of the Cranes, and also in early October when the overflow from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta reaches town, but otherwise is usually not hard to get.

Things to do in the Socorro Area

The Festival of the Cranes is held annually in mid-November to celebrate the return of the vast flocks of sandhill cranes to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. There are exhibits and activities in town, as well as guided tours to the refuge and other sites, some of which are not routinely open to visitors. See http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/crane/ for schedule, etc.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is part of the national wildlife refuge system, maintained in part by the Friends of the Bosque, an all volunteer group. About 20 miles south of town; follow I-25 to the village of San Antonio, then south on SR 1 to the refuge ($3 fee/car). This is where snow geese, cranes and hundreds of other birds stop in on their migrations. Gorgeous photography in the winter months during sunrise and sunset – be prepared for the cold!

The Very Large Array, long considered the world’s most sensitive interferometric radio telescope and still a first-rate instrument of astronomy, is about 60 miles west of town, beyond the Magdalena Mountains and the tiny town of Magdalena. Driving out west along US 60, it is surreal to come upon this shimmering, alien-looking collection of radio dishes in the middle of the Plains of San Agustin. Open year round during daylight hours for free self-guided tours.

Fort Craig National Historic Site is a ruin reachable via a short side road from SR 1 south of the Bosque del Apache. A quick visit gives you a sense of the bleak existence faced by the Army forces based here to guard transportation routes during the 19th century. No visitor services other than toilets.

Langmuir Lightning Laboratory in the Magdalena Mountains west of town, associated with New Mexico Tech, is a major center for atmospheric-science research and has a visitor center open during summer daylight hours. The road to the laboratory is rugged and may require 4-wheel drive. Hiking in the Magdalenas is feasible using trailheads at, and on the way to, Langmuir, even when the visitor center is closed.