No matter how you look at it, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is out of the way. Bordering Mexico, it’s a detour from the most southern highway (I-8 hitting I-10), which is why we never paid a visit before. Plus, there is no cell service in the park. Being so close to Mexico on the other hand, encouraged us to jump across for Mark’s birthday weekend early March.
But before that, we found a quiet, beautiful, and free campsite north of the park boundary – with cell service – and spent a few days exploring this desert park. Our annual National Park pass covered the $25 entrance fee.
One of the first things we noticed was a water dispenser for migrants in need, put in place by Humane Borders. We heard about illegal immigrants being detained and sent back, but we didn’t notice any action ourselves. There were signs warning about “illegal activity”.
Organ pipe cacti were so called by the pioneers, because their (dark-colored) skeleton looks like a pipe organ instrument. The park contains the biggest concentration of these cacti in the US, but the saguaros were still in the majority. As always, I liked the diversity of all the cactus species.
One day, Mark and I drove part of the bigger scenic loop, Puerto Blanco Drive, and went for a four-mile walk that turned into six miles, since we kept following the wash and failed to notice the turn-off for the trailhead. Sinking deep into the gravel/sand mix for two extra miles made for a good work-out.
Another day, we decided to spare Zesty (gravel roads are not his thing) and take our bikes on the 21-mile scenic Ajo Mountain Drive. We were interested in two longer hikes along this dirt road, but decided to conserve our energy to do the Estes Canyon one. It’s a relatively strenuous three-mile jaunt with great views. We were glad we didn’t put our van through this rocky experience of a road. Until we had a flat tire. 😊
On the way back north, we made a brief stop at the small and cute town of Ajo. There was lots of street art to be found and we stumbled across another Mercedes Sprinter van conversion. Doesn’t it look interesting? We sure had to do a double-take.
(As always, click on the photos to see them enlarged.)
Have you ever been to this National Monument? Ever seen an organ pipe cactus?
April 13, 2019 at 15:24
You really are hitting some out of the way places. I saw lots of cactus when I was hiking around Tucson last month while Annie was in New Zealand. I love the desert and it’s especially beautiful when blooming. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.
April 15, 2019 at 20:22
Oh Steven, I’m a tad jealous of your blooming desert! Tucson is a pretty cool area as well. Part of us really wanted to check it out in depth, as we’ve only driven through and stopped at Saguaro NP. I assume that’s where you did some of your hiking? I love cacti. As long as they’re at a safe distance. 🙂
April 13, 2019 at 16:09
Happy belated birthday to Mark! Thanks for taking us along to Organ Pipe Cactus, Liebet. Your photos are beautiful. I’ve always loved the saguaros. Sorry about the flat tire! I’ve never visited this park but Derek and I did go to Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. It’s so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
April 15, 2019 at 20:27
In the year we’ve owned our bikes, we’ve had one flat tire each, so that’s not too bad. Both happened in challenging terrain, like paths covered with cactus needless (or at least one needle, which attacked my tire) and a rocky dirt road (with at least one sharp-edged one attacking Mark’s tire). Saguaro NP is special as well, Jill and quite similar to Organ Pipe. I’m glad you and Derek managed to get a cacti sampling there.
April 13, 2019 at 20:18
What an interesting trip. I especially loved the Street Art.
Looks like a perfect way to celebrate a birthday!
April 15, 2019 at 20:29
Initially, we were going to celebrate Mark’s birthday in the “mellow” park, but since we were so close to the border, we decided to leave the cacti for the bustling town of Puerto Penasco. 🙂
April 14, 2019 at 01:43
Such huge cactus! Great way to celebrate Mark’s birthday. Funny you met a twin van:)
April 15, 2019 at 20:32
Hi Gilda! It was fun hiking among the giants of the cacti world. We actually did meet a twin van at our boondocking spot north of Organ Pipe, as in an “identical twin”. I didn’t post a photo of that, since we’ve actually encountered a few other Westies in the US despite there only be a couple of hundred left, if that. So many photos, so many stories… 🙂
April 14, 2019 at 07:59
Beautiful place. I like the idea of the water dispensers for migrants in need.
April 15, 2019 at 20:35
The water dispensers were such a nice discovery, Anabel. And it intrigued us as well, so we inquired about it at the visitor center. Apparently, there are quite a few in the border area and they’re well-used. They also allow “monitoring” of the routes, as in giving officials an idea of well-trafficked areas.
April 14, 2019 at 08:14
Just sent this to my son, who is planning a trip to the area near Yuma (and maybe Joshua Tree and Mexico as part of it). This park is indeed out of the way, but if they have a few spare hours, I thought they might check it out! Love the tall cacti!
April 15, 2019 at 20:38
I guess it’s time for your son to set out in their RV again? How exciting. Yuma (which might be getting hot) doesn’t have too much to offer in our opinion, but Organ Pipe and surroundings is pretty cool and cooler. Joshua Tree should be as well. Thanks for sending the link along, Lexie!
April 17, 2019 at 21:05
No, my son and his new wife have sold the RV and resettled in Denver. Got new jobs and bought a house after their 6-month trip! They hope to do it again someday, maybe with kids, but this one was just a short tease to see if they liked it. They did! So now they are just traveling for fun on long weekends or vacations.
April 19, 2019 at 20:48
Oh, good to know that they liked the experience and might do it again, Lexie. Speaking of Denver – keep me up to date about when you might go back there to visit your son. There’s a chance we will pass through in June.
April 14, 2019 at 08:19
Hi Liesbet, Just the name “Organ pipe cactus” would make me want to stop and explore. The water dispenser is a message of caring and kindness and of course, practical. I don’t know whether water is in it and how long the water has been there.
I like when Mark is in some of the photos so we can get a sense of the height of the cactus. Your posts are always interesting and fun to read, Liesbet🙂
April 15, 2019 at 20:40
Hello Erica! I’m so glad you are enjoying my posts. That makes my day and I appreciate your thoughtful comments as well.
Yes, there was water in the dispensers. I had to check that out, of course. 🙂 As far as the cacti go, yes, they are tall, and prickly. Of course I had to check that out as well.
April 14, 2019 at 10:50
Hi Liesbet,
I’ve never heard of this particular National Monument…maybe we’ll but it on our list when we do our year of RVing in lieu of sailing Y’Not.
Mark’s bday celebration in Mexico looked like fun…just need to do those things on occassion!
April 15, 2019 at 20:43
Hi Nancy! I didn’t know you guys were planning a yearlong RV trip. Fantastic! Will you focus on the Southwest of the US, or cross country? Mark and I love to check out national parks and national monuments. They are usually the highlights of our travels. Let me know if you want any tips at some point!
April 14, 2019 at 12:15
So many species of cacti, so little time! I’ve never been in most of this area, but your photos make it look appealing, Liesbet! Glad you found a good camp spot so you could take time to explore.
April 15, 2019 at 20:45
Hi Terri! So little time, indeed. It seems like we’re all struggling with the same “issue”, although I often think that time is not my problem, but time management is! 🙂
Mark and I are becoming experts in boondocking. Thanks to our resources, of course. And yes, we’ve had nights that weren’t too desirable, but usually we find pretty amazing campsites for free. Ideally in biking distance of our real destinations.
April 14, 2019 at 14:58
I really like the organ pipe cacti… such an interesting shape. I read Ingrid’s post this morning about rattlesnakes… please be careful!
April 15, 2019 at 20:47
Hi Janis! I read Ingrid’s blog as well. I’d love to see (and hear) a rattlesnake in the wild (from a safe distance). Her photos are so amazing! All we’re doing these days is walk dogs in an Albuquerque neighborhood, so, no worries. 🙂
April 15, 2019 at 08:43
I really liked Organ Pipe. We camped one night in the park because Greg wanted to a night star ranger program. I think being in Organ Pipe was one of the first times that I realized that you could be so close to the Mexican border and look over and see people going about their daily lives. Of course, we really love roaming around Ajo looking for art. There is also some great BLM camping around Ajo. I hope we get a chance to go back some day and just hang out in the desert.
April 15, 2019 at 21:00
That campground in Organ Pipe NM is pretty nice. We went in a couple of times to dump and take a shower. Apparently, you’re allowed to do that with an annual National Park pass. 🙂
The experience you describe about seeing “life on the other side of the border” reminds me of when we had the same thoughts back in 2006, when we crossed back into the US in Texas (after a year away) and visited Big Bend National Park. I remember looking across the Rio Grande and missing the fun and freedom of Mexico, as we watched people stroll and laugh with off-leash dogs, no care in the world.
Ajo was such a nice, little surprise. We’ve heard from others about the great camping in BLM around there. We’d love to go back… if it wasn’t so far out of the way!
April 15, 2019 at 12:42
You guys are in rocking shape! Hiking and biking definitely are more strenuous than sailing.
A six mile rather than four mile hike in the desert heat must have been exhausting.Luckily you had such gorgeous scenery to distract you. Bummer about the bike flat.
Showing Mark next to the organ pipe cactuses gave great perspective of their size. Much larger than I thought. And as beautiful as the organ pipe variety are, my favorite here were the cholla cactuses. Have never seen them before. Something zen like about them.
One of my best sailing mates hails from Ajo. We’ve been buddy boating with her and her hubby since Darwin although they are ahead of us now (boat in Trinidad, crew in the states for a visit). I think she would be thrilled to know that Ajo is now ‘a destination’ . I will send your blog her way.
The Arizona desert is heavenly. Thank you for taking me for a stroll (far less strenuous from my cockpit)
April 15, 2019 at 21:08
Oh Lisa, I wish we were in shape. Granted, hiking a few days in a row helps for our general well-being, but it sure doesn’t change the waistline!
Before we went to this park, we had no idea how Organ Pipe cacti even looked like. I think they’re pretty rare as we’d seen many chollas and saguaros before. By the way, did you know that one cholla species is called Teddy Bear cholla? They look very cuddly and are zen to look at. As long as you don’t actually hug them. 🙂
Sailing buddies from Ajo, Arizona!? That’s pretty amazing as Ajo is tiny. Yes, please send our blog along. They live in a pretty special place when they’re not on their boat. Well, I guess they live in a pretty special place when they’re on their boat as well. And, in special company! Missing you both!
April 15, 2019 at 15:38
Looks beautiful. I was happy to see the water left for migrants – something compassionate do for those in transit fearing for their lives. A few weeks ago I saw a video where US ICE agents were destroying all the water left near the border, just to show their inhumanity. 🙁
April 15, 2019 at 21:13
Oh Debby’s that’s pretty awful! What’s wrong with some people? Do they really have no understanding or compassion or kindness? Yikes! Videos that would make your WATWB posts are happier material!
April 16, 2019 at 10:16
Exactly Liesbet! Yes, I am much happier focusing on the good things in the world, which reminds me, WATWB will be live again next Friday! 🙂
April 17, 2019 at 15:16
Great! Except I’m delayed with blog reading, so I’ll get there later. 🙂
April 16, 2019 at 09:30
This looks a beautiful ‘secret’ place, but I wonder if it gets busy at particular times of the year|? How far away from the boarder is it, Liesbet? I didn’t see any boarder fences in your photos. We hear a lot in our news about a wall being built along the Mexica boarder. which would surly spoil the landscape?
April 17, 2019 at 15:16
I don’t think it ever gets very busy here, Hugh, as the park so out of the way. And, in the summer you don’t want to come here as the temps will be above 100F. The visitor center is five miles from the border and part of the southern loop drive follows the border. We didn’t drive that part as we’ve seen the fences and parts of the wall before and didn’t want to beat up our van on the bad dirt roads there. I wonder how much new wall is being built, as there are already many miles of existing fences. We did not see new construction anywhere.
April 18, 2019 at 03:52
I’m glad there is no sign of building, Liesbet. It’d be a shame to spoil such a lovely landscape. Fingers-crossed it won’t happen.
As for those temperatures; not a place I’d like be when the mercury reaches that high. I’d be more likely to visit during the winter months.
April 19, 2019 at 21:00
Haha! I thought about that when replying to you with these high temperatures, Hugh. Yes, the winter would be the perfect climate for you there. A bit like a cool UK summer. 🙂
April 17, 2019 at 16:22
The tings you’ve seen… thanks for sharing the pics. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
April 19, 2019 at 16:36
You haven’t seen anything yet! 🙂
April 18, 2019 at 01:16
I admire how you tackle the out-of-way spots, even if it means dealing with prickly problems like a flat tire. The sign about illegal immigration is arresting, pardon the pun!
Thanks for the armchair anthropology. I doubt I’d make it to this park, though I enjoy seguaros. Some of them seem like a cactus form of stalagmites in a cave. Intriguing post, Liesbet.
April 19, 2019 at 20:53
You are pretty good with puns, Marian. I love it! And you seem to know your stalagmites from your stalactites as well. 🙂 Great analogy – I hadn’t though of that.
The saguaros are so fascinating. While you might never make it to Organ Pipe, you might make it to Phoenix one day, and there are plenty of saguaros there!
April 24, 2019 at 00:04
So cool! You two do go on the most amazing adventures together.
April 25, 2019 at 15:34
It’s good that we get along. 🙂
May 9, 2019 at 21:15
Thought you might enjoy this article since it’s related to activity in Ajo and Organpipe and the plight of the immigrants. Very sobering. https://theintercept.com/2019/05/04/no-more-deaths-scott-warren-migrants-border-arizona/
May 10, 2019 at 20:17
Very sobering, indeed, Jeff! Wow. It’s incredible, the kindness shown to these unfortunate Mexicans by some and the awful destroying, inhumane behavior by others. I really hope that court case has a happy ending this month! Such a tough topic and situation! Thanks for the article!