Shoshone Wetlands Birding Trails

The Shoshone Wetlands Birding Trails are are series of three marked trails that can be combined into a larger loop, which lead past marsh wetlands along the edge of the Amargosa River. Marked as three separate trails, the Red Trail, the Aqua Trail, and the Blue Trail, the Red and Blue trails are short lollipop loops, both accessible from points along Highway 127, while the Aqua Trail connects the two.

The trails cross the wetlands on the east side of the highway as it passes through the village of Shoshone. The Amargosa can flow above or below ground, depending on the season and conditions, however, its path creates a meandering course of marshes that support year-round breeding and migrant bird populations. Some of these birds include hooded orioles, indigo bunting, crissal thrasher, western bluebirds, and cedar waxwings, among others.

The trails themselves can be a bit challenging, if only for their lack of maintenance as they pass through dense brush, soft sand, and wetland mud. Trails are not extremely well marked, however, their short lengths make them easy to follow provided you have a map, which is provided for free inside the adjacent Shoshone Museum.

Each trail of the Shoshone Wetlands Birding Trails has corresponding poles of that color marking the path. Simplest access is on the Blue Trail, which begins on a clear trail beside a covered bench located across a street directly behind the Crowbar Saloon. The trail length is 1.5 miles from the Red Trailhead to the Blue Trailhead. Those looking to trace the entire series of trails can return to their starting point by walking about a half-mile along Highway 127, walking only slightly farther on the quieter Old State Highway, or combine the Wetlands Birding Trails with the Shoshone Historic Loop Trail for one long circumnavigation of Shoshone Village and its historic areas. There are no amenities along the trail. All amenities are located inside the businesses in the center of town.