Dugout Wells

Dugout Wells is a historic homestead-era picnic stop associated with a spring, six miles east of Panther Junction on the road to Rio Grande Village. Trees and a working windmill make a shaded pocket in the Chihuahuan Desert. It's a good place to slow down for a picnic and a short walk; think of it as a breather, not a major attraction.

The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail starts across the road from the picnic area. It's a 0.5-mile loop, about 30 minutes with just 30 feet of elevation change. The dirt-and-gravel path dips through small arroyos, with metal signs pointing out desert plants, then circles back toward the trees. Birds and butterflies are recurring highlights here, so take a minute to look around rather than making it a quick lap.

The Green family and their neighbors, the Averys, raised livestock near the spring. The surrounding families built a schoolhouse that brought children from the area together, making Dugout Wells a social center for early homesteaders in this part of the park. The working windmill is a reminder of that ranching history.

The gravel lot holds about eight vehicles, so this is a small stop with limited parking. Picnic tables and an accessible vault/composting toilet are here. Treat it as a bring-your-own picnic stop; no food sales or potable water are documented at the site. Pets aren't allowed on park trails.

The windmill, grove and open desert around them tell the story of this place in one view. Include some of the trees around the windmill in your photo to show how the oasis stands out from the surrounding dry country.