Established in 1937 to protect migratory waterfowl, Bitter Lake covers 24,000 acres of marsh, salt flats and saline lakes along the Pecos River. The refuge sits on the Central Flyway, and tens of thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese and ducks pass through between October and February.
The auto-tour loop is an 8-mile gravel drive through the heart of the refuge, open to private vehicles. Dawn and dusk are best for wildlife. The visitor centre on the access road has good interpretive material. Free. About 15 minutes from Roswell.