The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Chihuahuan Desert, 20 miles north of Socorro, New Mexico, exit 169.
Please stay on designated trails and obey posted signs. The refuge trails are open sunrise to sunset. Pets must be on a leash or under control. For public safety and habitat protection, honor all refuge "Area Closed " boundary signs. Only drive on designated roads. No off-road driving.
This is a Multi Virtual cache that should take no more than 1/2 hour to complete walking the .25 mile loop that is mostly paved.
The gates to the visitors center are open Wednesday-Friday 8-4:30. It is not necessary to drive thru the gate to reach the additional waypoints. If they are closed, there is an access point to the trail for a short walk from ground zero. There is no acces fee and if you decide to check out the fantastic visitors center there is no charge to do so either.
In 1927 Socorro County purchased the Sevellita Land Grant because of back taxes. In 1936 Thomas Campbell and Jacob Raskob bought the land to raise cattle. By 1966 a foundation was established and in 1973 family donated the 230,000 acres, now known as Sevellita National Wildlife Refuge.
The vast landscapes in the Sevellilta encompass all these areas: The Riparian Zone, Chihuahuan Desert, Colorado Plateau, Pinon Juniper Woodlands, The Great Plains and The Short Grass Prairie
The Rio Salado and the Rio Grande flow through the refuge which includes many species of wildlife like reptiles, rodents, big game like pronghorn and elk can be found here. There are many insects species, including 70 grasshopper species. The golden eagle, hummingbird, hawks, ducks and many other types of birds are at home here on the refuge. Yuccas, Mesquite, Agave, Saltbrush, Sagebrush Juniper, and Mormon Tea bush, interspersed with grasses and creosote bushes are the animals’ homes on the Refuge. A remote 30 acre facility serves as a pre-release area for the wild wolf.
To log this cache please answer the following questions:
1. How many species of birds does the sign mention that refuges across the country provide habitats for?
2. What is the name of the Canyon mentioned on the sign ?
3. Is the bird featured on the sign at Ground Zero different from the one on the sign 50' to the east?
If the gates are closed used the access point to walk the .25 mile loop for the following stages. If they are open you can park at the Visitors Center and walk the loop from there.
At stage 1 waypoint: N34° 21.071′ W 106° 52.845, what does it say on the plaque?
At stage 2 waypoint N34° 21.062′ W 106° 52.866, what does it say on the plaque?
At stage 3 waypoint N 34° 21.068′ W 106° 52.888, what does it say on the plaque?
At stage 4 waypoint N 34 21.104 W 106 52.916 there's a piece of art. What is it's name and what was do the circles represent?
At stage 5 waypoint N 34 21.100 w 106 52.891, what does it say on the plaque?
Post a picture of some sort that proves you were here at any one of the waypoints.
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
This cache was placed with permission.