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If you are interested in a desert with a wide variety of plants and wildlife, and you enjoy getting away from city life and back to nature then this is the place for you.
Con
desert heat and nasty cactus spines
In a nutshell
Cactus Botany 101
Basaic Says: These mountains began forming some 36 million years ago when thick, dark lava ozzed to the surface. You can see bands of dark lava mixed with lighter bands showing a chaotic geological history. The gological history, and the view, at this stop is interesting.
Basaic Says: After you enter the park, one of the first turnouts is the Ajo Mountains Wayside. This is a pretty nice view, but there is nothing to do here except look, and I wonder why Ajo Peak is on the other side of the road?
richiecdisc Says: 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...
richiecdisc Says: The namesake Organ Pipe Cactus is found in the United States primarily within the Monument's boundaries or very nearby. Common south of the border in Mexico, the cactus is different from the Saguaro in that its many branches rise from the base rather than from higher up on...
richiecdisc Says: Though armed with spines, the Ocotillo is not a cactus and the ones you see while common here are the only ones found in the United States. Since they cannot store water like a cactus their fruits swell up with liquid during wet times and the planet drops them to the ground...
richiecdisc Says: 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...
richiecdisc Says: 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...
richiecdisc Says: 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...
PA2AKgirl Says: If you're planning on staying overnight here, you'll find a whole different place. During the day you have to strain to hear any noises at all. When the sun goes down, you hear noises all over the place. Coyotes in the distance (or maybe close to you), birds in the evening...
not exactly the Outback but out there
richiecdisc Says: Driving around the western US has to be one of the great road trips anywhere on this planet. The roads are generally in good shape, they are fairly empty, and amenities though not obtrusive are never too far away. You feel remote but it's not like you're days from the next...
richiecdisc Says: The typical dangers of the desert-heat, lack of water, depletion of bodily minerals, and intense sun, are augmented here by the proximity to the Mexican border. Illegal border crossings are common and in addition to park rangers, there are border patrol driving up and down...
KimberlyAnn Says: When hiking be careful not to brush up against the cactus. Most of these are very thorny, and the chain fruit chollas are often called “jumping cactus.” Not that they actually jump, but a light brush and one will break off and attach itself to your clothing or skin. Do not...
gubbi1 Says: Don't forget to have your Passport (NOT ID-CARD) at hand when driving here. You will quite certain get into a control and you will need to show your passport. An ID-card, normally used inside Europe, does not help!
KimberlyAnn Says: Puerto Penasco, which is along the Sea of Cortez, is 62 miles south Lukeville, AZ. This town has an area devoted to selling goods to Americans and other tourists. This area has a lot of low quality trinkets, as well as Mexican silver of varying qualities, and quality items...
PA2AKgirl Says: There are normally 2 main drives you can do in the park (other than the road through the park) and spurring off of these are numerous hikes. They range from well marked to backcountry. Certain hikes require you to have a very good map of the region and a compass because...
Basaic Says: The hiking trail leading through Estes Canyon is fairly difficult. It is a 4.1 mile loop and very steep in places. The view is worth it though. Good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing, plenty of water.
Basaic Says: I am not sure how long the hike up to view the arch is; but the view is nice. You can get pretty close to the arch while following the trail. As you approach the back of the arch the trail ends. You can continue past this point but the way up gets very steep and can be very...
richiecdisc Says: Some places you've really explored and others, you nearly wince when you say you have been there. Deep down you know you were so barely there it was just another check off the list. I was in Mexico twice in 1994 but very briefly on both occasions. The first was the...
richiecdisc Says: We were right back on that scenic drive first thing in the morning as the Bull's Pasture hike's start was just about halfway around. Doing the drive again was not a problem as it was beautiful in the early morning light as well but we made our way directly to the trail...
which side of the border are we on?
richiecdisc Says: We arrived at the park in late afternoon but early enough to stop by the Visitor Center. The rangers were an odd bunch after a few days with their counterparts in great parks like White Sands, Chiricahua and even Saguaro just four hours northeast. They were friendly enough...
Plan a Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument locals
The park is named after the Organ Pipe Cactus. At first glance, it may just appear that it's a few saguaros together but when you look harder you see that they...
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
We first visited this desert in 2001, and loved Organ Pipe so much that we extended what was planned as a two-week stay into a three-week stay, then made a return three week visit in 2005. Organ Pipe,...
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument may lie geographically in the United States but it becomes readily apparent that borders are indeed quite arbitrary once within its confines. This is substantiated...
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Basaic Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Page
The best place to see the Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi) is in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. There are other places to see them but they are most abundant here. Keep in mind this...
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In southcentral Arizona, in the middle of nowhere, on a road to nowhere, this Park lies along the Mexican border encompassing a goodly section - at first glance - of some of the most desolate country...
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It takes some doing to get here. From Tucson it is about two and a half hours via a two lane highway through sparsely populated desert. To enjoy the park it will take at least half a day of immersion...
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