La Joya Pond 5 Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Wildlife

Facilities available at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center west of I-40.

The trails in the La Joya Wildlife Area largely consist of service roads and ditch-bank roads that encircle the managed flood plain and marsh lands. The pond 5 loop consists of a mowed trail that accesses a grassy service trail to the western boundary of the marsh lands. A sandy windy route returns to a ditch-bank road and to the trailhead parking.

The trail is flat, relatively well marked, and easy to follow. The main attractions are the scenery and wildlife watching opportunities.

Deer, elk and javelina visible year round. Waterfowl and other birds are very common in the area during the relevant seasons.