Rte 1 PO Box 100, Ajo, AZ 85321
Phone: 520-387-6849 or 520-387-7661
Fax: 520-387-7144
Open All Year
Overview. One of the nation's most spectacular displays of desert flora and fauna awaits you at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The junction of two distinct Sonoran Desert vegetative zones occurs within the monument's boundaries, endowing the site with a wide array of cacti and desert wildlife. Several plant species, including the elephant tree, the senita cactus, and the limber bush, are plentiful in Mexico, directly south of the monument's southern boundary, but grow no further north than the stands that have taken root at Organ Pipe.The monument also preserves the largest habitat of its namesake, the Organ Pipe cactus. Although it is similar to a Saguaro, which also grows in abundance at the monument, all of the Organ Pipe's thick arms radiate from the ground, not from a central trunk. The monument includes Quitobaquito Springs, an important oasis along the Camino del Diablo (the "Devil's Highway"), a route made infamous by conquistadors and forty-niners in search of gold. Many died along this desert trail for lack of water. The remains of old mines and ranches can be reached by desert roads or cross-country hiking. What to see and do. Take a few minutes to view the audiovisual presentation at the visitor center. It will acquaint you with the environment of the Sonoran Desert and its wealth of plants and animals. There are several established trails, ranging in length and difficulty from a 0.1-mile nature loop at the visitor center to strenuous hikes of more than four miles, round trip, that lead to abandoned mines and through steep canyons. In addition, the desert is well suited to cross-country hiking, but check with a ranger first to determine your route. Overnight hikes require a free backcountry permit, obtainable from the visitor center. Two scenic loop drives begin at the visitor center and provide very different desert experiences. Striking desert vistas await you along 21-mile Ajo Mountain Drive. This loop, which winds through the foothills of the lofty Ajo Mountain Range, passes by many thick stands of Organ Pipe cacti. Puerto Blanco Drive twists through 53 miles of rolling desert landscape. Quitobaquito Springs and the Golden Bell Mine are along the route, which follows the U.S.-Mexican border on its way back to the visitor center. Both of these roadways are unpaved and can be bumpy. Recreational vehicles over 25 feet long are not allowed on either scenic drive. Although there are picnic areas along both routes, water is available only at the visitor center, so be aware that you must carry enough water for your passengers and for your car, should it overheat. Other undeveloped roads can take you further into the backcountry to several ranch and mine sites, but these routes may require four-wheel-drive capabilities. Check on road conditions before you set out. In spring and summer (with adequate rainfall), the desert blooms with flowering cacti, lupine, golden poppies, and other wildflowers. During winter, wildlife buffs should watch for javalinas, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and numerous other mammals and lizards in the morning and early evening hours, as the animals tend to avoid the intense daytime sun and heat. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a bird-watching paradise, with approximately 40 desert birds making it their permanent habitat, and over 250 migratory species stopping by along their routes elsewhere. Hikers should be aware that six species of rattlesnake and a poisonous lizard ( the gila monster) thrive in the Sonoran Desert. For your safety, keep an eye out for them, but do not disturb them. As with all park species, these reptiles are protected. A 208-site campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and rangers conduct special programs here and at the visitor center daily between mid-December and April, the months of heaviest visitation. The RV limit in the campground is 35 feet. The Southwest Parks and Monuments Association operates a bookstore at the visitor center; proceeds benefit the monument. The park is open year-round; the visitor center is open from 8 AM to 5 PM daily and is closed on Christmas Day.
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Bird Watching |
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Geological Sites |
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Gift Shop |
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Visitor Center |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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