Park Details
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Trails Illustrated Map2 - Oregon Pipe Cactus Mon.
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Park Details
Location Information
Location:
Ajo, AZ
Address:
Rt 1, Box 100
Ajo, Arizona 85321
Telephone:
(520) 387 6849; (520) 387 7661
Directions:
From the north: follow AZ 85 through Ajo and Why. The
Monument is 22 miles (35.4 km) south of Why. From the east:
follow AZ 86 to Why, then turn south on AZ 85. From the west:
follow I-8 to Gila Bend or I-10 to Buckeye, then turn south on AZ
85. From Mexico: drive on Mexico Route 2 to Sonoyta, then north
to Lukeville.
Transportation:
To Park: access by plane, bus, train to Phoenix or Tucson,
then personal vehicle, bike.
In Park: personal vehicle and bike travel on scenic loop gravel
roads (25 foot maximum limit for recreational vehicular traffic),
foot travel (somewhat limited by ability to carry water. One
gallon per day per person is recommended at all times of the
year).
Operating Hours/Seasons
Visitor Center open daily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Reservations/Permits/Fees
Fees, Costs, Rates:
$4.00 entrance fee per vehicle. $8.00 camping fee per site
per night (water and dump station available, no electrical
hook-ups).
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Two rainy periods yearly - December through March there are usually gentle rains; thunderstorms likely during August and September. Rain gear is recommended during these periods.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
15 minute slide program in auditorium available throughout the
day from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Museum with slide exhibits.
Trails, Roads:
Two scenic loop roads - the Ajo Mountain Drive and the Puerto
Blanco Drive - penetrate desert country. Both are winding,
up-and-down graded dirt roads. Passenger vehicles can travel
them easily, but if you are driving a motor home more than 25
feet long, you should not travel these unpaved roads. Even some
small motor homes have difficulty, so check with a ranger first.
Trailers are not recommended on these roads. Guidebooks are
available at the visitor center and at the start of both drives.
When on the road: carry emergency tools; take drinking water and
extra water for your vehicle; stay away from flooded areas; and
never drive off the road. Ramadas and picnic areas are located
in scenic spots on both drives. The 21-mile Ajo Mountain Drive
winds along the foothills of the Ajo Mountains, the highest range
in the area. Outstanding desert landscapes and impressive
stands of organ pipe cactus are among the highlights of this
tour. The drive takes about two hours. The 53-mile Puerto
Blanco Drive circles the colorful Puerto Blanco Mountains and
passes through a startling variety of scenery. Around one corner
you will find the desert oasis of Quitobaquito, while around
another you'll find a true Sonoran Desert environment, with
saguaros, organ pipe cacti, and elephant trees. This trip takes
half a day.
Besides these two roads, there are a few unimproved dirt roads that go further into the backcountry. Some lead to historic sites with windmills, ranch houses, abandoned gold and silver mines, and other remnants of the past. Sometimes these roads are passable only by 4-wheel drive vehicles. Check on road conditions at the visitor center.
Several trails offer close looks at the beauty of the desert. The best hiking months are October through April. The Visitor Center Nature Trail (0.1 mile round trip) is wheelchair accessible. Guide pamphlets are available at the trail head.
Campground Perimeter Trail (1 mile round trip) allows pets, if leashed.
Desert View Nature Trail (1.2 miles round trip) is a circular route leading to vistas of Sonoyta Valley and the pink granite of the Cubabi Mountains in Mexico. Trail side signs describe features along the way.
Palo Verde Trail (2.6 miles round trip) goes between the visitor center and the campground. Estes Canyon-Bull Pasture Trail (4.1 miles round trip) is a strenuous climb with grand views of the surrounding terrain. Victoria Mine Trail (4.5 miles round trip) goes over rolling terrain to the site of the oldest mine in the area.
Programs/Activities:
Ranger conducted activities are generally available every day
from December through mid-April. These activities include evening
programs in the amphitheater, ranger-led walks to various points
of interest and informative patio talks at the visitor center.
Activities can be scheduled for other times of the year or for
groups by contacting the Division of Interpretation.
Lodging and camping facilities:
208 campsites are available on a first-come first-served
basis all year for $8.00 a night. Water, rest rooms, grills,
tables, and a dump station are available. Fires are permitted in
grills, but wood gathering in prohibited. Private campgrounds
are located in Lukeville, Why, and Ajo. A permit, available at
the visitor center, is required for the primitive campground and
for backcountry camping.
A group campground is available on a reservation basis. Contact the Superintendent's Office by letter or phone.
Food/supplies:
Motels, gasoline, groceries, trailer parks, laundries and
other services are available in Lukeville, Why, Ajo, and Sonoyta,
Mexico.
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and
Opportunities:
A bookstore located in the visitor center is operated by
Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
Accessibility:
The visitor center, parking area, and rest rooms are
handicapped accessible. The audiovisual programs have volume
control, captioned slide programs and listening devices. There
are accessible campsites, and the scenic drives have accessible
rest rooms.
Recommended Activities/Park Use
Depending on the time available, plan to take one of the scenic drives and get out of your vehicle for a short walk either at a point of interest on the drive, or on one of the trails near the visitor center or campground. Spend some time in the museum and be sure to view the 15 minute slide program in the visitor center auditorium.
Visitation
Highest in February, March, and April; lowest in June, July, August, and September.
Special Events Programs
Tohono O'odham (Papago) Celebration takes place every spring on the third Saturday in March. Watch native Americans demonstrate traditional arts and crafts including basket making, pottery, dryland farming, dancing, and storytelling. Juntos: Maestros y Ni¤os del Desierto is an environmental education program for school children from the three cultures living in the area.
Additional Information
Sonoran desert plants and animals, found nowhere else in the United States, are protected throughout Arizona. The Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation on April 23, 1937.
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