It is not exactly, as iconic author John Steinbeck once titled his book, ‘East of Eden.’ But, more accurately, it’s west by southwest of Eden, the I-25 exit that sits on the northern outskirts of Pueblo.
(For railroad buffs, Eden is also the site of Colorado’s deadliest railroad accident. It is called, ‘The Tragedy at Eden, 1904.’ A bridge collapse in a freakish rainstorm caused the deaths of nearly one hundred people.)
While compass-point directions may fall short, be a bit vague, a visit to Pueblo’s Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center, the NWDC for short, is its own ‘garden of Eden’ that sits on a high plains landscape.
It’s also a place where, says the NWDC’s Taylor Driver, “every day is Earth Day,” a reference to the April 22nd commemoration of environmental and planetary protection. Incidentally, this year’s Earth Day is the 55th anniversary of the event which now is celebrated in 193 countries by more than a billion people.
This verdant pocket of serenity is one of Pueblo’s and the entire state’s best kept secrets, said the NWDC’s Executive Director who almost modestly calls the pocket of green, “just a public park.”
But while downplaying the nature and wildlife getaway’s natural beauty, Driver also takes every opportunity to invite the whole state and anyone else to drop in for a sip of serenity. “We are absolutely worth the day trip,” said Driver, touting just one single element of the reserve, its raptor center.
NWDC’s raptor center is, as you might suspect, urgent care for birds of prey. “We are one of the only raptor rehabilitation centers in Colorado,” Driver states. “We receive injured or orphaned birds of prey” from across the southwest quadrant of Colorado “and sometimes New Mexico,” said the long ago Denver native.
Eagles, hawks, falcons or “any bird of prey that migrates through Colorado” that might get caught in fencing or hit by a vehicle and can be rehabbed, is brought here. And by ‘any,’ Driver means ‘any’ as she shares the story of a wayward condor that the winds somehow delivered to the center a number of years ago.
Over the years, hundreds of raptors no longer able to fly because of broken or injured wings or felled sick from ingesting food peppered with buckshot lead are made healthy and returned to their natural habitat.
Because southern Colorado is its own paradise for bird watching, the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society also provides ‘Bird Walks’ at the River Campus on the fourth Saturday of each month. There is no charge for the monthly events which begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. from October through May and 8:00 a.m. from June to September.
There is also a bird watching option for the sedentary birder. It’s a BYOB or ‘bring your own binoculars’ event where birds are brought to visitors by NWDC’s bird team.
One new threat facing migratory birds is the giant wind turbines that have found homes across the plains, including a number near and around Pueblo and southern Colorado. “We work closely with the windfarms in the area,” Driver said. “On occasion we will get called to support some birds.”
One of the most popular enticements of NWDC is fishing. The Arkansas River, which cuts a swath across the landscape, is abundant in both trout and fishers, both in the springtime when the mountain runoff begins but also in the colder months. It’s also where Driver, an accomplished fly fisher, likes to spend some of her off time.
The center provides visitors a bit of everything, including guides that explain the tiniest environmental nuances of this pristine jewel of the state. But, as is repeated countless times on cable television, ‘Wait! There’s more!’
The Nature Center is not just a single site. A half hour drive south of the city sits the complementary arm of NWDC. Pueblo Mountain Park, 600 acres of trails, streams and rugged high country topography at the foot of the Wet Mountains is open year round for more intrepid visitors.
There, you will find, both self-guided and guided tours and educational programs for visitors. And a bonus, they’re free!
The Buelah mountain park offers trails for both experienced and novice hikers. The trails, from Devil’s Canyon Trail, a 1.4 mile hike to its longest, Northridge, at 2.2 miles, are clearly marked. A stop in Buelah, either entering or leaving the park, provides food, drink and shopping.
And while the call of nature is enough to attract visitors, Driver says NWDC also serves the community with a nearly perfect backdrop for everything from weddings to social events of all stripes. There is no on-site kitchen, but NWDC allows people to contract with caterers for special events.
For more information in the Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center, all 719-485-4444 or visit its website at hikeandlearn.org
