Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a US National Monument, which is located in southern Arizona, bordering the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only location in the United States in which the senita and organ pipe cactus grow wild. In addition to these species, several other cactus species and other desert vegetation native to the Yuma Desert of the Sonoran Desert also grow in the park. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, this untouched natural area is home to more than 2,000 plant species, 300 bird species and 100 different species of reptiles and amphibians. Mountain trails lead to the region's amazing biodiversity. The Desert View Trail is a little over 1 mile loop trail that leads up to a ridge overlooking the Ajo Mountains. The Victoria Mine Trail winds through more than 4 miles of desert and leads to one of the oldest prospecting sites in the Southwest. The park's most difficult hiking trail, Estes Canyon/Bull Pasture, traverses more than 3 miles of wilderness and offers steep switchbacks to spectacular viewpoints. For visitors who choose the comfort and safety of their vehicle, the wonders of the Organ Pipe can be experienced on remote gravel roads. The Ajo Mountain Drive extends 21 miles into the park and showcases an astounding array of plants that flourish in the Sonoran Desert. Visitors can also drive along the Puerto Blanco Drive, which climbs 41 miles into the Puerto Blanco Mountains, where organ pipes and saguaro cacti flourish.