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Things To Do in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Estes Canyon Trail - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Estes Canyon Trail
by richiecdisc
Reviews and photos of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument sightseeing.
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Alamo Canyon Backcountry Hiking Trail
  • Tip Rating:
    • KimberlyAnn
  • Updated By KimberlyAnn on May 4, 2003
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by KimberlyAnn
    • Hiking in Alamo Canyon - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    Hiking in Alamo Canyon
    by KimberlyAnn
    Alamo Canyon is a gorgeous valley filled with desert fauna. This hike will take you through beautiful scenery, as well as historical sites and can be a short or long hike. You will begin by hiking about a half a mile along an old jeep track to an abandoned line camp, which was used while cattle ranching was still permitted on the monument. About one-half mile up the canyon is the remains of a small, roofless stone structure. Farther up the trail is an old corral, and also tinajas that are natural indentations in rocky areas that catch and hold rain water. Just north of the corral are ancient cylindrical holes in the bedrock that were created by Hohokam Indians as they used the bedrock as mortars in early times. This trail can also be used as a starting point for backcountry trips into the canyon. There is a primitive campground along this trail that you can register for at the visitor's center. Traveling north of this primitive campground is a loop trail that travels along the base of the mountains and then up and over Grass Canyon, before returning to North Alamo Canyon. This would be about a 2 - 3 day trip. This trail may be found in the north sector of the park, east of Highway 85 off of a gravel road.

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    Estes Canyon Hiking Trail
  • Tip Rating:
    • KimberlyAnn
  • By KimberlyAnn on May 4, 2003
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by KimberlyAnn
    • Hiking in Estes Canyon - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    Hiking in Estes Canyon
    by KimberlyAnn
    Estes Canyon is found around the midpoint of the Ajo Mountain Drive at stop 15. Here you will find a loop trail that leads you into the canyon then climbs onto a ridge before returning down through the foothills to the parking lot. Halfway around this loop you will find a spur trail, which climbs up to Bull Pasture. This canyon was named for a homesteader, “Old Man” Estes. The washes that you see are where many different types of wildlife live, as they can use them for shade on hot days. You will find several benches where you can stop to sit quietly and watch in the hopes of seeing some wildlife. Ironwood and mesquite trees are abundant along the wash areas and provide shelter for many other types of plants as well as animals. I have been told that this is a favorite area for javalina, but although we hiked this area twice we did not see any signs of these wild pigs.

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    Arch Canyon Hiking Trail
  • Tip Rating:
    • KimberlyAnn
  • Updated By KimberlyAnn on May 4, 2003
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by KimberlyAnn
    • The Arch in Arch Canyon - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    The Arch in Arch Canyon
    by KimberlyAnn
    Natural arches are very rare in the monument and most are within the Ajo Mountains. At stop 13 along the Ajo Mountain Drive you will be able to view an arch which is located over 720 feet above the road. The arch itself is 90 feet wide and 36 feet high. While at stop 13 you can follow the Arch Canyon Trail, which is a 3.2-mile hike in and out through a lovely canyon running along a valley floor. The vegetation is dense, with less cacti the higher you walk. This is not a loop so you will walk in one direction, then turn around to come back. The trail ends at the base of a large rock outcropping. At this point you can turn around, continue past the outcrop to explore the canyon by bushwhacking, or as the book states you can "blast up the canyon sides." Although we didn't "blast up the sides", if you choose to climb the canyon sides you will find the route marked by cairns, which are piles of rock place along the way by the park service. The trail can be confusing, so watch the route carefully. The cairns will lead you up to the saddle which overlooks Boulder Canyon where you will have a view into Mexico. Be careful coming down as it can be thick with brush and slippery spots. The climb to the Boulder Canyon Overlook from the base area of the trail raises about 1300 feet.

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    Red Tanks Tinaja Hike
  • Tip Rating:
    • KimberlyAnn
  • Updated By KimberlyAnn on May 4, 2003
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by KimberlyAnn
    • Red Rock Tinaja Natural
    Red Rock Tinaja Natural
    "Pots"
    by KimberlyAnn
    This 2.4-mile hike can be found about 3.7 miles along the Puerto Blanco Drive just before stop 3. Here you will find a water-collecting basin where natural "pots" have been carved into the red and gray bedrock by erosion. These "pots" collect and hold rain water, which was used by Hohokam Indians as they traveled through the area in ancient times. Today these are favorite watering holes for wildlife. This hike was an interesting, short walk, well worth the time.

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    Hiking to Victoria Mine
  • Tip Rating:
    • KimberlyAnn
  • By KimberlyAnn on May 4, 2003
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by KimberlyAnn
    • Ruins of the Old Store - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    Ruins of the Old Store
    by KimberlyAnn
    This 4.5 mile in and out trail is well marked. The trail starts at the register just south of the campground dump station at the intersection of the Campground Perimeter Trail. Begin by walking in a westerly direction. You will traverse over rolling hills and arroyos. The Victoria Mine Trail proceeds for a little more than two miles before it intercepts an old jeep track. At this crossroads, turn left for about one-third of a mile until you arrive at the ruins of the old store. You will find benches and interpretive signs to give you information about the area. This mine is one of the oldest historic sites on the monument. It had been a working silver mine since sometime before the 1880s, and continued in operation until sometime after the area was given a National Monument Status. The final production value of the mine over the 100 years of its operation was about $125,000. Besides the remains of the old stone store, which was built sometime in the early 1900s, you will see mine pits. This is an interesting area and a nice desert walk. From the mine you can return the way you came or continue on to Lost Cabin Mine Trail or Senita Basin Loop trail.

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    The mighty Saguaro
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on May 28, 2009
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by richiecdisc
    • each arms increases reproductive capacity - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    each arms increases
    reproductive capacity
    by richiecdisc
    Saguaros are not only huge cacti but they live a very impressive long time, some more than 150 years. They are slow growing but still have reached heights of 45 feet and ten feet around at their thickest part. The trademark “arms” of the Saguaro do not generally sprout until after 75 years and are important to the reproductive aspect of the cacti as they provide more areas to flower and spread their seeds.

    The flowers of the Saguaro are night-blooming so to get a good look at them, it's best to head out very early in the morning when they are still open. Once it warms, they start to close back up. Their nocturnal openings are perfect for pollination by bats who are drawn by the nectar and make reproduction possible in the self-incompatible flowers. They bloom in late April to May so we were well timed for their display.

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    Ajo Mountain Drive
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on May 28, 2009
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by richiecdisc
    • one beautiful stretch of road - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    one beautiful stretch of road
    by richiecdisc
    The Ajo Mountain Drive is a graded one-way dirt road with scenic outlooks which manages to blend in with the natural surroundings. It is rare that a road can duplicate what it's like to hike but this one sure does a good job of it. We might have been lucky or maybe it was the time of year but there was hardly anyone else on the road which added to the remote feeling the road naturally conveys. There are signed information posts and if you pick up Ajo Mountain Drive guide at the visitor center it provides ample information on the various plant life you will encounter. It's well worth a dollar but if you are not bothered by such things, just soak in the scenery. There is no explanation necessary. It's beautiful.

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  • Directions: This scenic drive begins just across the Interstate from the Visitor Center.
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    Teddy Bear anyone?
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • Updated By richiecdisc on May 29, 2009
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by richiecdisc
    • it looks all fuzzy but that it is not - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    it looks all fuzzy but that it
    is not
    by richiecdisc
    Though the Saguaro is perhaps most impressive and the Organ Pipe Cactus a formidable sight, we thought the Chain Fruit or Jumping Cholla (though our favorite name was Teddy Bear Cholla!) was the most beautiful. Though it almost looks cuddly like a teddy bear, those spines are amongst the most painful in the cactus world. These serve the cactus well to protect it from rabbits and rodents intent on eating its very tasty fruit. Their coloring was particularly pretty late in the evening or early morning when the yellow spines took on a golden hue.

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    Hike to Bull's Pasture
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • By richiecdisc on May 28, 2009
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by richiecdisc
    • Estes Canyon Trail - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    Estes Canyon Trail
    by richiecdisc, 1 more photos
    The National Park system is set up for different types of people. Scenic drives with pullouts provide what 90% of the visitors will experience in any given park. So, what does that tell you about hiking? Well, first off, it's a great way to escape the masses. Now, I'll be honest. In late April, when we were visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, there weren't really any crowds but nowhere was this more apparent than when hiking up to the Bull's Pasture. This small spur off the 4 mile Estes Canyon Trail provided about as much privacy as you could ever hope to find. The trail up the canyon proper was beautiful and a good way to get up close to various cacti on a maintained trail. There is a gradual incline and a bit of up and down but it's a trail suitable for people in reasonable shape. The spur up to the pasture is a bit more steep but certainly nothing to turn anyone that has made it that far away. The views up the valley are amazing and once up top you'll have no problem envisioning cattle herders enjoying life in this harsh but beautiful setting. The trail head is half-way around the gravel Ajo Mountain Drive. It's best to set off early to escape the heat as it's a fairly exposed trail with little shade and no water en route. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and some food. The pasture is a nice place for a bite to eat.

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  • Directions: The trail head is half-way around the Ajo Mountain Drive.
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    Mexican Poppies (2)
  • Tip Rating:
    • zrim
  • By zrim on March 29, 2003
  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page by zrim
    • poppies - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
    poppies
    by zrim
    Amazingly enough, a good bloom of Mexican Poppies and other wildflowers only occurs a few times each decade. It seemed that we visited the park right on the cusp of a bloom. We saw stunning flowers, but not an all out multifaceted bloom of a dozen different variety of wildflowers in all shades of blue, pink, red and yellow.

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