Elephant Butte State Park, Elephant Butte, New Mexico

 We got an early start as we were all hitched up and headed south to Longbow Diner in Rio Communities for breakfast. We drove on the back roads stopping at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. We picked up a road tour map and started on the south loop spotting the bald eagle and the trumpeter swan at the boardwalk and then on to the north loop seeing the turkeys, sandhill cranes, and snow geese. We saw red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and northern harrier hawks along with many different ducks. There were hiking trails and it was a beautiful tour with the mountains in the distance. We continued on to Elephant Butte State Park where we have a gorgeous campsite overlooking the lake. We made black bean chili in the instant pot and enjoyed watching the sunset over the butte.

On the way south

Parking at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Bald eagle on the snag

Trumpeter swam sleeping

Red-tailed hawk

Wild turkeys

Sandhill cranes and snow geese

Looking out through the duck blind

The only green was the weed in the canals

Beautifully colored grasslands

Our campsite at Elephant Butte State Park overlooks the lake

Looking down on the lake

Overlooking the boat launch

Our tiki torch at sundown

We woke up to a few sprinkles so headed into the town of Elephant Butte stopping at the marina which consisted of a boat ramp and found Casa Taco open for breakfast for another traditional breakfast burrito with potatoes and pinto beans. We then drove into Truth and Consequences going through the historic hot springs artsy part of town to the visitor center. We got the car tour map for Geronimo Trail and headed to Hillsboro. It rained a bit at the foot of the mountains and was raining over the mountains so we turned around and headed for the town of Hatch. We stopped at Chile Fanatic and the farm store across the street to buy green chili salsa and pepper jelly. At the village market, we bought hamburger meat and buns and poblano peppers to make our own green chili burgers. We made french fries in the air fryer and roasted our peppers for a great burger. Before that we went to Shattuck Winery for a great red wine tasting and enjoyed talking to the locals playing the the guitar. We met Texas the black labrador overseeing the tasting room.

Shattuck Vineyard

Texas named after his white mark

Soon to be a Harvest Host

Farm store where we bought homemade pepper jelly and salsa

At Chili Fanatic gift shop

Loads of red chilis

Along Geronimo Trail

Historic Hillsboro General Store and cafe

North and South routes to Continental Divide

Flock of quail moving through the campsite

Roasting peppers on the grill