Best Things to Do in Socorro

Socorro is an oft overlooked town located along the Rio Grande. Before the arrival of Spanish colonists, the area was home to the Piro people, who aided Juan de Oñate’s colonizing expedition in 1598. Oñate consequently called the area Socorro, meaning aid or relief. The modern town later developed around ranching, mining, and the railroad. Today, Socorro is best known for New Mexico Tech and easy access to some of the best wildlife viewing in the Southwest.

Don’t Miss

New Mexico Tech

New Mexico Tech is a small public university known for science, engineering, and research. Its campus is home to the Mineral Museum (see below), Etscorn Observatory, and the operations center that supports the Very Large Array.

Plaza and Historic District

Socorro’s historic plaza is the center of downtown and a good place to see the city’s adobe buildings, public art, local businesses, and territorial-era architecture. The surrounding historic district reflects Socorro’s history as a Pueblo homeland, Spanish settlement, mining town, and railroad community.

Old San Miguel Catholic Church

Old San Miguel is one of Socorro’s most important historic landmarks. The active adobe church traces its roots to a 17th-century Spanish mission established among the Piro pueblos.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Located about 20 miles south of Socorro, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is one of the country’s premier destinations for birdwatching and wildlife photography. The refuge is best in winter, when tens of thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, and other migratory birds gather in its wetlands. Sunrise and sunset are the best times to experience the enormous flocks taking off or returning to their roosts.

Museums & Culture

The New Mexico Bureau of Geology’s Mineral Museum on the New Mexico Tech campus is small but excellent. Its displays include thousands of minerals, rocks, fossils, and mining-related specimens from New Mexico and around the world. You could easily spend an hour exploring the museum, and it is free to the public.

Food & Drink

Socorro is not known for its restaurants, but there are a few good options in and around town.

• El Camino and Sofia’s – The most popular places in town for diner food and New Mexican cuisine.
• Taqueria Mi Jacalito – I thought it was better than both, but its hours are limited and it has outside seating.

The historic plaza is also home to local breweries and bars, including Capitol Bar & Brewery.

For the area’s most famous meal, drive south to the tiny San Antonio.

• The Original Owl Bar & Cafe – Claims to have invented the green chile cheeseburger, serving the same recipe since 1948 and originally feeding Manhattan Project scientists from nearby Trinity Site.
• Buckhorn Tavern’s green chile cheeseburger was ranked seventh in the U.S. by GQ in 2005 and later defeated Bobby Flay in a 2009 cook-off, prompting New Mexico to declare July 24 “Buckhorn Tavern Day.”

The two restaurants share a friendly rivalry and are located across the street from each other.

Events

The signature annual event is the Festival of the Cranes, held in early December during the peak winter migration at Bosque del Apache. The festival includes guided wildlife tours, photography workshops, talks, and arts events in both the refuge and the city of Socorro. SocorroFest is a fun event in October, bringing live music and community activities to the historic plaza, while New Mexico Tech’s Performing Arts Series presents concerts, theater, dance, and other performances throughout the year.

Outdoors

Socorro sits between the Rio Grande Valley and rugged desert mountains, providing access to a wide variety of outdoor recreation.

Popular activities include:

• Wildlife watching and photography at Bosque del Apache or Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
• Driving the 24-mile Quebradas Backcountry Byway
• Exploring the sandstone cliffs of San Lorenzo Canyon
• Walking the trails at the Socorro Nature Area and along the Rio Grande

Check road and weather conditions before venturing out, heavy rain can make a lot of roads inaccessible.

Where to Stay

Socorro is the most convenient base for visiting both Bosque del Apache and the Very Large Array. Most of the town’s hotels are located along California Street and the interstate frontage roads. Lodging can fill during the Festival of the Cranes, so be sure to reserve rooms well in advance.

How Long Should You Stay?

You can see Socorro in half a day.

The plaza, Old San Miguel, and the Mineral Museum can be explored in a few hours. Add a trip to Bosque del Apache, San Lorenzo Canyon, or the Very Large Array, and you can easily fill a full day. Socorro isn’t one of New Mexico’s most popular stops, but it is a rewarding town to explore and certainly worth a stop!