Bring plenty of water, especially in warmer months. Trail map is available at refuge Visitors Center. Some of the first spring wildflowers are blooming in profusion at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and the best place to view them is on the trail to 6,195-foot Chupadera Peak. The flowers, which are blooming in protected areas on the sides of Red Canyon and on the slopes leading to the peak, were noticed last week by refuge volunteer John Bertrand, who hikes all of the trails in the area on a regular basis. I guess that the moisture this winter and spring helped.
Flowers currently blooming include primrose, wall flowers, golden smoke, verbena and mustard.
Several cactus species, including claret cup and Chihuahuan barrel, are also ready to bloom. There are a number of desert birds to be seen along the trail, as well as rabbits, rodents, lizards and an occasional coyote. You might also see bobcat or javelina tracks. Javelinas, or mountain pigs, are one of the few mammals that eat prickly pear cactus, so if you see a prickly pear with bites taken out of its leaves, one of these hardy critters may be nearby. The trail to Chupadera Peak is well marked, but you will still want to keep your eyes peeled for cairns that indicate sharp turns.