Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ

From all the blogging I've done so far I think you can tell how much I love the National Parks & Monuments system. I desperately wanted to see organ pipe cactuses so what better place than Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. We are within striking distance only 1 1/2 hour drive there, so away we go down the AZ-15 toward Why, AZ then straight into the park.

We really didn't have to go very far before our adventure started. You've seen it, we have all seen the signs saying "Open Grazing Watch for Animals....Next 15 miles". But, have you very seen a cow on the road! Well, as we crested a big hill, what's on the road...you got it, not a cow but a bull just sauntering across the road taking his time. As we stopped in time he was giving us the eye, unsure whether to charge the truck or kept on going. Thank goodness he kept on going.

"No Bull"

With that out of the way we arrive at the park ready to explore. We make our first stop at the visitor center since who else is better acquainted with the surroundings but the rangers. He gives us his little spiel, some maps, and the warning....wait warnings for what. Not animals on the road again? Nope drug traffickers and people with guns. We are only 7 miles from the Mexican border. Great I'm glad Susan is in the bathroom for this one. We decide on the 21 mile Ajo Mountain Drive through desert and mountains.

Beautiful Organ Pipe Cactus

Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has a variety of species that flourish in a very harsh environment. Early settlers who encountered dead cacti thought it reminded them of church pipe organs, hence that's how the name came about.

Within a few miles of the start I met some fantastic people who were very familiar with the trail. They stopped, I stopped it was like follow the leader. Fortunately for me they knew where all the great cristates where.

Saguaro cristates

Organ Pipe cristates

An array of desert plants with the Ajo Mountains in the background

We decided to stop at Arch Canyon for our picnic lunch and where rewarded with a beautiful view and a wonderful walking trail.

"The Arch"

Arch Canyon and the trail bottom right

As we continued along the trail I left my new friends behind not before they gave me all the remaining great places to stop. The pinkish to chocolate-colored rock within the Ajo Mountain range is rhyolite which formed years ago when volcanic rock flowed over the surface and cooled.

Beautiful colors in the mountains

Organ Pipe Cristates

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is one of the few places in the United States where organ pipe cactus grow. Organ Pipe produce their first flowers at age 35. The flower opens at night allowing for bat pollination and closes by mid-morning. They can live 150 years and the average height is 15 feet.

Organ Pipe Cactus

Ocotilla with Ajo Mountains

Smaller arch in the rock surrounded by organ pipe cactus

Lower elevations....no organ pipe cactuses just saguaros

The 21 mile drive took us about 3 hours with several stops and hikes along the way. As we exited the driving trail I wanted to see Lukeville which is the border town between USA and Mexico. Well their was nothing there except lots of border patrol guards and fencing.

On the left...Mexico & on the right USA