Summary
The refuge is over 4,000 acres in size and is home to a variety of bird species, including sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ducks.
One of the main reasons to visit the refuge is to witness the annual sandhill crane migration, which occurs in the fall. Visitors can watch as thousands of cranes gather in the area's wetlands and grasslands. The refuge also offers opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography.
Several points of interest within the refuge include the historic Lucas Homestead, a restored adobe home dating back to the 1800s, and the Lake No. 13 Wildlife Viewing Area, where visitors can observe waterfowl and other wildlife.
Interesting facts about the refuge include the presence of the Santa Fe Trail, which crosses through the property, and the involvement of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the construction of several structures within the refuge.
The best time of year to visit Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge is in the fall, during the sandhill crane migration. However, the refuge is open year-round and offers different opportunities for wildlife viewing and outdoor recreation throughout the seasons.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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