The Chronicles Of Grant County
Bureau Of Land Management Recreation Areas
Fee-Free Day On August 4, 2023
The Aguirre Spring Recreation Area is one of the recreation areas of the Las Cruces District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that will waive entrance fees for visitors on Friday, August 4, 2023. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management, August 24, 2008.)
Are you looking for something to do on Friday? Perhaps start your weekend a day earlier?
If so, you may want to consider visiting one of three major recreation sites controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The Las Cruces District of the BLM recently announced that folks will be able to visit its recreation sites in southern New Mexico on Friday, August 4, without paying entrance fees.
This waiver of entrance fees is being done as part of BLM's participation in the Great American Outdoors Day.
"This designated 'Fee-Free Day' is one of only six days this year when entrance fees are waived at national parks as well as public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management," according to a news statement issued by the BLM. "Fee sites affected within the district include: Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground, and Dripping Springs Natural Area."
The Federal agency indicated that "the Three Rivers Petroglyphs are outstanding examples of prehistoric Jornada Mogollon rock art. The basaltic ridge rising above the Three Rivers Valley contains over 21,000 petroglyphs, including masks, sunbursts, wildlife, handprints, and geometric designs. The number and concentration of petroglyphs make this one of the largest and most interesting rock art sites in the Southwest. A rugged 0.5-mile trail (Petroglyph Trail) begins at the visitor shelter and links many of the most interesting petroglyphs. Another short trail (Village Trail) begins on the east side of the picnic area and leads to a partially excavated prehistoric village."
As for the Aguirre Spring Recreation Area, the BLM detailed that "the high wall, needle-like spires of the Organ Mountains curve dramatically around a semicircle of Chihuahuan Desert habitat at the Aguirre Spring Campground. The campground, nestled at the base of spectacular cliffs, overlooks the Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Park. Alligator juniper, gray oak, mountain mahogany and sotol are a few of the abundant plant species here. Seasonal springs and streams occur in the canyon bottoms, with a few perennial springs that support riparian habitats."
"The Dripping Springs Natural Area has over four miles of easy hiking trails, including the Dripping Springs Trail, which shows off desert scrub and low elevation pinon-juniper and oak woodlands," according to a statement from the BLM. "The area also boasts excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including excellent year-round viewing of red-tailed hawk, Gambel's quail, golden eagle, and rock squirrel. It offers very good year-round viewing of desert mule deer and coyote. Also watch for black-throated sparrow, ladder-backed woodpecker, verdin, black-tailed gnatcatcher, lesser nighthawk, Scott's oriole, cactus wren, desert cottontail, and collared and tree lizard in the…summer."
The regular entrance fee to each of these three BLM areas is $5 per vehicle for day use and $15 per bus vehicle.
The BLM indicated that on this Friday that "site standard amenity and individual day-use fees at these recreation sites and areas will be waived." Please note that the BLM stated that "other fees, such as overnight camping and group day use will remain in effect."
The next days that the entrance fees will be waived at these three recreation areas during 2023 are scheduled for September 30 (National Public Lands Day) and November 11 (Veterans Day).
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