Organ Pipe National Monument

Leslie and I are busy working with the Green Valley Gardeners at the Desert Meadows Park project.  A big upcoming event for the club is the annual garden tour where community members can visit a variety of types of local gardens.  This year in conjunction with the tour is an Art in the Park event.  Vendors will showcase art, photography, and a variety of plants.  In addition will be a silent art auction to benefit the ongoing activities at the park. 

We did get a chance to caravan with some friends on an RV getaway to the Organ Pipe National Monument in SW Arizona.  It was a great three day trip.  The weather was warmer than expected (90 during the day) for a stay with only limited generator time, but the beauty of the desert was worth it.


The Twin Peaks Campground was spacious with great views of sunrises and sunsets through the RV windows. Solar heated water provided warm showers at the park restrooms; nice after traveling on the dirt roads... 

The first trip through the park, on Puerto Blanco Drive, was a 41 mile loop on a fairly rough dirt road.  We stopped to take a mile hike into a spring.  Surprise.... no water. 

The spring is in here somewhere!

The stately Organ Pipe cactus

Organ Pipe Cactus, Saguaro, and Cholla Cactus

Blooming Creosote added color to the landscape

Cholla cactus with a variety of wildflowers

Fairy Dusters also added color to the landscape

One of the rest stops had the remnants of a coral and windmill

Near the end of the drive we arrived at Quitobaquito Spring.   This was one of the reasons Leslie wanted to make the trip.  The spring was on an historical ranch near the Mexican border before the National Monument was established.  Although we were on a dirt road in the park, the highway just across the border had lots of traffic. The spring was refurbished in the last few years because a large Cottonwood tree was uprooted, falling and destroying the berm holding the water.  The spring was also the home of the endangered Pupfish, which had been moved to several agencies across Arizona for safekeeping during the restoration.  Most have now been returned to their natural habitat. 

Quitobaquito Spring

The second day we traveled a 23 mile loop into the higher elevations of the park.  One of the scenic highlights of this loop road is the Arch (not quite equivalent to Arches National Park in Utah). We were lucky enough to have poppies in the view.

Small arch in background with poppies

More Poppies

We took a short hike into the canyon for closeup views of the Arch and sweeping views of the many saguaros in the valley below. 

The Arch (note smaller arch above it)

Coming back down the trail we had great views of the saguaros in the valley.

Valley of saguaros

The final stop on the loop was a trailhead with a 3 mile loop and elevation gain.  Because it was now very hot, we declined but will take the hike on another visit to this great park. 

Trailhead for a loop trail

We had a great time on the one-way loop drive, but the excitement wasn't over.  We stopped to ask to hikers if they needed help because they were talking on the phone.  They were ok but asked what mile marker we just passed.  We drove on and suspected that they were calling in some border activity.  A few minutes later our suspicions were confirmed.  Coming toward us the wrong way on our one way road was a border patrol truck traveling at high speed.  As he rounded a turn, he spotted us and slammed on his brakes.  He did a sideways skid around the curve but gained control just as he passed us.  Our small Honda would have been no match for the border patrol truck.  Whew!!

We returned to the RV and prepared for a night hike under the full moon.  This ranger-led hike was one of the reasons for the trip. No flashlights required! One more sunrise and we headed home.

We'll be heading out in the RV after the spring gardening festivities to escape the upcoming Arizona heat!