![]() ![]() Please verify on the website.(Photograph = Stenocereus thurberi, Geir K Edland) Introduction Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Kris Eggle Visitor Center: Open daily, 8 a.m. Park road and trails are open 24 hours, daily, year-round. Seeking something a little less rugged? Less than 15 minutes away, in the town of Ajo, the Sonoran Desert Inn is a remodeled former schoolhouse near the historic Ajo Plaza and a popular option. Permits for backcountry camping and Alamo Canyon are available at the visitor center. Primitive camping is available at the Alamo Canyon Campground, which has 4 campsites for tents only. Sites need to be reserved in advance on. Twin Peaks Campground is the main campground at the park, and has 208 sites, with 34 tent-only sites, and 174 RV sites. Stay at one of the many nearby campgrounds or try backcountry camping to immerse yourself in nature-or opt for an RV or car camping for a little more protection from the outdoors. The Twin Peaks Campground has accessible restrooms and drinking water, as well as four sites that have picnic tables designated for wheelchairs and scooters.The trail gives you an up-close view of the plants native to the Sonoran Desert. Behind the visitor center is a 100-yard paved nature trail, suitable for scooters and wheelchairs.For the visually impaired, there is a relief map of the monument and a touch table with a variety of items, as well as large print brochures, Braille exhibit descriptions, and audio-recorded information.The lobby, auditorium, exhibits and bookstore at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center are accessible.If traveling beyond the Pinkley Peak picnic area, it's recommended you have a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle. The more rugged Puerto Blanco Drive is a 41-mile scenic drive that takes 3-4 hours to complete. The official National Park Service (NPS) app also provides an option to download an audio version of the guide to follow along with on the Ajo Mountain Drive. ![]() Stop in the Kris Eggle Visitor Center to pick up a free guidebook for the route. The most popular scenic drive is the Ajo Mountain Drive, a 21-mile one-way (mostly gravel) loop that takes approximately 2 hours to complete and can be done in a passenger vehicle. (All roads that are open to the public can also be accessed by bikes.) One of the easiest and best ways to experience Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument's natural splendor is by car. A hat or other form of shade is equally recommended. Note: Regardless of which trail you take, remember to bring plenty of water with you as there are no fountains or other sources of water. Those willing to take on the challenge will be rewarded with expansive mountain views. More experienced hikers can try the 3.5-mile Estes Canyon and Bull Pasture loop, a strenuous trail that gains over 860 feet of elevation. The trail takes you up a ridgeline for a view of the Ajo Mountains in the distance.Ī more moderate hike is the Victoria Mine Trail, a 4.4-mile round-trip trek to one of the oldest gold and silver prospecting sites in southwest Arizona. Organ Pipe Cactus NM features trails of varying ability that allow visitors to walk amongst the expansive and lush landscapes.įor something nice and easy, the 1.2-mile Desert View Trail takes hikers on a loop through the desert, throughout which are signs with information about the wild plants' traditional uses. Take a drive down a remote road, hike a backcountry trail, camp beneath a clear desert sky, marvel at centuries-old cacti, or simply soak in the warmth and beauty of the Southwest.ĭuring the winter months, the park hosts free programs such as "Patio Talks" that take place behind the visitor center, evening nature films in the Twin Peaks Campground Amphitheater, and guided night-sky hikes and stargazing sessions with telescopes. ![]() The area is more remote than other parks in the state, meaning fewer crowds and more serenity. This desert wilderness makes an ideal getaway to "get away" from the hustle of life. ![]()
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