Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

For the 'Not-so-Junior-Ranger," or those looking for a challenge, the free Desert Ranger program allows the young at heart to earn their Desert Ranger badge and patch by completing an activity booklet available at the visitor center.

Become a Junior Ranger at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Organ Pipe sits along a primary migratory flyway, creating an oasis for bird enthusiasts of all levels. In addition to hosting an exciting array of migratory birds during fall and spring, we also have 36 species of resident birds that can be found year round at Organ Pipe.

South Puerto Blanco Drive is a two-way, graded dirt road that follows the southern boundary of the park and provides access to Senita Basin and Quitobaquito Springs. Great examples of organ pipe, senita, and saguaro cacti are visible along this route. This road can be washboarded – reduce your speed and allow extra time. These roads are doable in a normal passenger car. Trailers, buses, and motorhomes over 25 feet (8 meters) are prohibited on the drive.

The Ajo Mountain Drive is a 21-mile (34 km) graded, one-way dirt road that gives visitors an excellent overview of the landscape and flora or Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The drive takes approximately 2 hours, and has been designed so that a passenger car, driven with caution, may be taken over it safely. Trailers, buses and RVs over 25 ft (8 m) are prohibited on the drive. Several hikes and backcountry camping can be accessed from this drive.

For those looking for a longer, more rugged scenic drive through Organ Pipe, Puerto Blanco Drive is a great way to experience some of the park’s volcanic geology, mining history, and natural springs. The 41 mile Puerto Blanco Loop is broken into two parts: North Puerto Blanco Drive and South Puerto Blanco Drive.

The Alamo Canyon Trail follows an old road to a historic ranch house and corral, and provides ample wildlife and wildflower viewing opportunities.

One of the most photographed sites along the Ajo Mountain Drive are the double arches carved into the mountains. Walking the easy, relatively flat Arch Canyon trail provides wonderful opportunities to see wildflowers and gaze upon the rhyolite arches.

The moderate Estes Canyon trail provides ample wildlife and wildflower viewing opportunities while a steep, strenuous climb up the Bull Pasture spur trail will reward visitors with spectacular views of the Sonoran Desert.