El Camino del Diablo (49.62 miles away)
Ajo, Arizona
Senita Basin
Scout Route
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Senita Basin runs north off Puerto Blanco Road (South), ending at a hiking trailhead into the namesake Senita Basin, the only location in the United States where the senita cactus grows naturally. The hiking trailhead has a picnic table and vault toilet.
The senita is common in the Sonoran Desert south of the US/Mexico border. The senita looks similar to the organ pipe but has 5 to 7 external ridges, much fewer than the organ pipe. Thus the valleys between the ridges are more pronounced on the senita. A mature senita's thorns turn gray near the top of the plant, resembling a beard.
The trail is graded but sandy. Several deeper sand sections require momentum or 4WD.
There is no camping on the trail. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has two campgrounds. Commercial campgrounds are available in Ajo and Why. Fuel is available in Why and nearby Lukeville.
This area is very close to the Mexican border. Smuggling and human trafficking activities are common. Be vigilant when visiting this area.
