At least twice during the years that we lived in Tucson, Arizona we camped and hiked in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The Monument is about 130 miles west of that city, south of the town of Why.

There is only one campground, but it is large, with something like 208 sites scattered throughout the Sonoran Desert setting. The paved campsites are all pull-throughs and quite exposed. This is not a campground that I would want to stay in during the warmer months, but it is open year-round.

There are several restrooms and drinking water is available. We visited in February and stayed in a tent, so the weather was quite pleasant. The majority of the campsites were filled with trailers and RVs.

Campground Perimeter Trail

There is a one mile hiking trail through the desert vegetation around the campground. This trail links to the campground as well as to the Victoria Mine Trail, the Amphitheater, Pet Area, and the Palo Verde Trail.

Palo Verde Trail

This is a 1.3 mile trail that links to the Campground Perimeter Trail and leads across the desert landscape to the Visitor Center. This is an easy, pleasant, though exposed, walk with slight elevation change. This trail is a good introduction to the Sonoran Desert vegetation and to what the desert is all about.

Victoria Mine Trail

This 2.3 mile trail links to the Campground Perimeter Trail and heads out across the desert to the abandoned Victoria Mine. Again, this trail passes through typical Sonoran Desert vegetation and landscape and ends at the weathered and ruined buildings and equipment of the old Victoria Mine. It is a fairly easy walk, but, even in February, it is best to begin the hike early enough to avoid the harsh desert sun.

Estes Canyon—Bull Pasture Trail

This trail is a bit more difficult than many of the others within the Monument. You must drive the one-way Ajo Mountain Drive, over a graded dirt surface, which is, in places, somewhat uneven. The trail itself climbs up a canyon to a saddle area that is very rocky. I remember the trail as rocky and difficult in places, although it is not long and the elevation change is not extreme.

Ajo Mountain Drive

This 21-mile one-way graded dirt road winds along the foothills of the Ajo Mountains. You'll see at least two small "arches" as well as a good view of the desert vegetation and landscape.