The Beauty of the Sonoran Desert

The Sonoran Desert is known for its beautiful landscape and diverse wildlife. The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a must see when exploring this vast desert.

Just a 168-mile drive from Tucson and you could witness what makes this monument so popular. Its cactus! Southern Arizona is only place that is home to the rare organ pipe cacti.

On your way to this monument, you will pass by Kitt Peak and the Tohono O’odham reservation. What is get about the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is that you don’t have to be an outdoor kind of person in order to enjoy it. The park can be experienced by either hiking it or simply driving through it.

Look below for a video of the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on Ajo Mountain:

There is a $4 charge per vehicle and a $8 fee for overnight camping if you feel like spending more than just the day out there. For all of you extreme campers, camping is free at different campground designed for backpackers.

The organ pipe cactus is actually the second largest ing the United States at about 23 feet tall. What makes the cactus different from the rest is it actually has a cluster of branches that grow from the ground and curve upwards. The trunks store water and are approximately six inches in diameter.

The organ pipe cacti also have lavender-white flowers on their stems that bloom only at night from May to July.

Besides the organ pipe cacti, there are many other cacti throughout the park. The first is called Hedgehog. This blooms from March to April and actually grows edible fruit as well. The Hedgehog grows clusters of green cylindrical arms that grow up to 20 inches.

The Saguaro is second on the list. This is of course the Arizona state flower and the tallest cactus in the world. Saguaros grow as high as 50 feet.

There are two types of cholla at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The first is the Chain Fruit Cholla. This plant can either resemble a shrub or a tree. They are usually seen on hillsides or in the flats. The second type of cholla is the Teddy Bear Cholla. This plant is usually about five feet high and looks more like a shrub. The spines change colors throughout the cholla’s lifecycle. During the early years, the spines will change from silver to gold. And when the cholla grows older, the spines turn black.

The last cactus in the park is known as the Prickly Pear. This cactus has a circular shape with circular pads along it. The Prickly Pear has a green-blue color and typically blooms from April to June.

Besides taking in the scenery, you can have a day or weekend packed with fun activities for everyone in your family. The park offers multiple programs to its guests. The first is the guided hikes. For those of you that are interested in hiking but aren’t too sure of the terrain or what there is to see, then the guided hike is perfect.

The guided hikes usually take place from January to March. The rangers will take you bird watching, through an abandoned copper mine and on a search for wildlife around the river bed. This is a great way to start off the morning and still have time for other activities.

At the Kris Eggle Visitor Center there are 30 minute presentations given to further inform guests of the park.

Just in case you don’t want to take your car through the desert, the Ajo Mountain van tours are a good way to see the desert without having to be the one driving. In three hours time, a ranger will show you the park’s most beautiful spots.

To finish off the day, try the evening program. This allows you to sit back and relax in the Twin Peaks Campground amphitheater, while you are shown a hour long slideshow of what the monument has to offer.