Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument spans a total area of approximately 331,000 acres of land that is located in southern Arizona and along the Mexican border. To access the main entrance to the park, visitors can drive along Interstate 8 from the north and then branch off to AZ 85 through Ajo (a census-designated community in Pima County, Arizona) and Why (a small unincorporated rural community in Pima County, Arizona). 

The national monument is located 22 miles south of Why and 35 miles south of Ajo. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was proclaimed a national monument on April 13, 1937, a Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a wilderness area on November 10, 1978. The protected area is managed by the National Park Service. 

This protected area is a big draw to all sorts of people for many different reasons. First of all, the park is the habitat to a wide variety of plant and animal species in the area. These desert plants and animals cannot be found in too many other places on the continent. 

Some of the plant species in the park include Elephant Tree, Organ Pipe Cactus, and Saguaro. Animal species in the protected land include the kangaroo rat and the javelina. Additionally, the park is also an attraction because of the traces of the Camino del Diablo Historic Trail. 

Other amenities that visitors can get to enjoy at the national monument include a picnic area, museum, campgrounds, self-guided trail, visitor center, and restrooms. These amenities are great conveniences for visitors that would like to enjoy recreational activities like bicycling, horseback riding, hiking, auto touring, interpretive programs, and camping.

Visitors with a pooch will also be allowed into the park albeit with certain restrictions. For instance, dog owners are always supposed to keep their dog on a six-foot leash. When the pooch is not on a leash, then the dog should be secured in an enclosure.