Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

I made a solo run to Organ Pipe last week on the trike. Von has been under the weather with a cold and didn’t feel up to the trip so I went alone. The park is about 150 miles from Casa Grande. It is only 5 miles from the international border with Mexico and so has a problem with undocumented immigrants crossing through this remote park. They have prohibited back country camping and warn visitors not to approach any one in the park. If you think they may be in distress you are to contact park rangers. I wonder how many die trying to cross this area without sufficient water.

The park has a lot of vegetation for a desert environment due to a confluence of two bio-systems. A very pretty place. I took a 21 mile mountain road loop that is mostly gravel but with quite a lot of pavement. I alos drove into the small border town known as Lukeville. It had a surprisingly well stocked market.

On the way I passed through the town of Ajo. It had a very nicely kept up town plaza in the Spanish style. More photos are up in our Gallery.

This is my campsite.