Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was created in 1937 as a way to preserve a representative area of the Sonoran Desert. The new monument was part of a movement in the National Parks to protect not just scenic wonders but also the ecological wonders of the country. Over 75 years later, Organ Pipe Cactus is now one of the best preserved examples of the Sonoran Desert wilderness.
Within the monument, signs of human use are also preserved and protected. The monument is the site of culture and history that reflect long, widespread and diverse use by American Indian, Mexican, and European groups. The intersection of these three cultures is significant archeologically, geographically, and internationally.
Gentle spring rains, turbulent summer skies, and the penetrating sun set the stage at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Volcanic layered mountains, ribbons of washes and expansive valleys are the backdrop for this International Biosphere Reserve. Species of plants and animals that have adapted to desert life present themselves in daily and nocturnal performances. Take a front row seat along a scenic drive, a wilderness hike, or camping among the stars.
Over a hundred miles of scenic drives, dozens of miles of hiking trails, campgrounds, new exhibits and ranger programs help you experience, observe, and explore the American Desert.
Source: http://www.nps.gov/orpi/learn/index.htm
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
Recommended Vehicle:
2WD Vehicle with High Clearance
Concerns:
Summary:
This is a well groomed gravel road without any hazards.
Community Consensus
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The weighted average of your fellow members agreement of our trail
rating. As trail conditions change this helps us keep the community
aware of changes.
Mandatory
1 -
EASY
The hardest part of the trail that you
cannot bypass - you have to drive it.
Optional
1 -
EASY
The hardest part of the trail that is
purely optional - you can bypass it.
Dirt and/or rocky road. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 5" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 5" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 6" inches. Good tire placement likely. Can be steep, but with good traction.Read More about our Rating System
This is more of a scenic drive then an off road trail. It is a groomed gravel road that traverses the Organ Pipe National Monument area. It has numerous scenic vistas, picnic areas and hiking trails along the route. A permit is required for all vehicles travelling on the route. You can pick up a permit at the Rangers Station at the entrance to the park, directly across the road from the trailhead.
1. TRAILHEAD (
mi)
After obtaining the required permit at the Ranger station, begin the loop by crossing highway 85 through the gate and onto the dirt road. There are large mile marker signs all along the ONE-WAY route. Please ensure that you do not turn around to return to the beginning. The route must be ran in one direction.
2. INFO BOARDS (
mi)
Please note all the signs and message boards in the area. There are quite a few things to read along the route. The beginning has warnings and other important information you should read before beginning your journey into this specific desert area.
3. DIABLO CANYON (
mi)
On the left is a covered picnic area with great views of the surrounding area. No facilities at this location.
4. ARCH CANYON (
mi)
You will see the large canyon coming into view as you approach the area. There is a large parking area that can be used while you hike this incredible canyon and possibly climb up to the arch of which the trail is named. Look up high to see the natural wonder.
5. ESTES CANYON (
mi)
Estes Canyon picnic area is another wayside sheltered table area. This one does have vault type toilets. There is another great hiking trail that is roughly 3.5 miles long. It climbs over 1000 feet to the top for views that stretch for 20 miles in all directions.
6. TRAIL END (
mi)
When you travel roughly 21 miles you will come to a stop sign. Turn left, southwest at the stop sign, returning to highway 85, turning right will begin the loop again.
Improved
Designated
Senior and Access passes are honored for a 50% discount on individual campsites.
•Twin Peaks Campground: $16 per night
Tent and RV camping. No reservations- first come, first served basis. More>
•Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground: $10 per night
Primitive tent camping. More>
•Backcountry Camping: $5 per permit
Register in person at Kris Eggle Visitor Center. More>
•Group Camping
Available by reservation, contact the visitor center at 520-387-6849 x7302 for more information. No senior or access pass discounts on group sites.
http://www.nps.gov/orpi/planyourvisit/fees.htm
From the NORTH: follow Arizona Highway 85 through Ajo and Why. The Monument entrance is four miles from Why. The Kris Eggle Visitor Center is 22 miles (35.4 km) south of Why. From the EAST: take Arizona Highway 86 to Why, then turn left on Arizona Highway 85, heading south. From the WEST: follow I-8 to Gila Bend or I-10 to Buckeye, then turn south on Arizona Highway 85. From Sonoyta, MEXICO: travel north towards Lukeville, AZ on Mexico Route 2. The Kris Eggle Visitor Center is five miles north of Lukeville on Highway 85.
A very enjoyable drive. This is a gorgeous part of the Sonoran Desert. Camped for several nights at Twin Peaks. While huge, there was still a feeling of privacy. The solar showers were very much appreciated.
Really nice trail to visit the east side of Organ Pipe Cactus NM. There are lots of sections of the road that are dirt and they have it mixed with paved areas to protect from erosion. Most any vehicle will have no issue on this road.
This was a fun little trail to get to some hiking opportunities within Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. We hiked Bull Pasture and were not disappointed. This trail is not a destination in itself but was great to access hiking trails off of a dirt road, which I think scares away big RVs and people not familiar with dirt road driving. All in all, I would definitely run this trail to hike off this loop again.
Arizona National Forests and State Lands are back open for travel. There are still some very important fire restrictions in place. These restrictions can often change by specific areas.
Due to extremely high fire danger, exceptional drought conditions, resource availability, and increased fire activity, the Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Arizona State Land Department will implement closures to State Trust Land throughout Arizona. These closures are also in conjunction with our USFS partners.
As of 8am on June 25, 2021, closures will be implemented on state-owned and managed lands in all 15 counties. All state-owned and managed lands are closed to entry for recreational purposes, including hunting, camping, and off-road vehicle use. Target shooting and fireworks are prohibited year-round.
AZ State Land Closures Notice
The trail is well groomed and passable by all stock vehicles. The road is maintained for all passenger type vehicles but there are a couple bumpy sections where you have to go pretty slow. The picnic sites are great because several of them have shade covering. Easy trail to access some incredible hiking.
Beautiful place. Really worth seeing. Even spotted a gila monster!
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From the Community
Be the first to ask a question!
Wade May
Senior Editor, Contributor Development , Mapping Team
Hi! I'm Wade.
After 43 years as a pilot, split evenly between flying fighters for the Air Force and Boeing 737s for the airlines, my feet are firmly planted on the ground. Seems I spent a lot of my flying time looking out the cockpit window, thinking, "Yep, I could drive that trail."
My trips range from a few days to a month. For years most trips were solo in my silver 4Runner named Bullit. We ranged over all the southwest exploring remote places and trying to get as much dirt under the wheels as possible. Now, the Power Wagon named Brutus tows my Boreas EOS 12 to beautiful and remote areas. Occasionally I get in hiking, backpacking, and bushcraft as well.
Sharing my experiences as a member of the Trails Offroad crew and instructing at Overland Expo are true pleasures.
Hope to see you on the trail soon.
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