Highly recommend going to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It took about 2.5 hours drive time for me from Phoenix. The park is located on the Arizona side of US-Mexico border. Border patrol is very present. And supposedly Organ Pipe NM is the most dangerous national park in the country. Who knew?
I signed up for a ranger-led van tour along the Ajo Mountain Drive in the park. They run the free tour 3 times a week at 9 am and cap it at 10 or so participants. I called earlier in the week to reserve a spot on the tour. I knew I wouldn't be comfortable driving my tiny hatchback on dirt roads for 20+ miles and I wanted to look around while not focusing on driving. Our ranger Eric explained all sorts of geologic and biological phenomena in the park. We saw lots of saguaros and organ pipe cactus. Just stunning.
Here's an organ pipe with one deformed arm.
They aren't sure what causes the fanning of the cactus head.
I met a couple from Washington on the tour and the wife Elizabeth accompanied me on my hike to Victoria Mine. The round-trip hike was about 5 miles.
After that hike, I drove back towards Phoenix and stopped at another trail for a quick 2 mile hike. At one point I just sat atop a rock and listened to the silence. I probably could have stayed longer but I didn't want to get caught in the dark alone.
I love Arizona--the landscape is absolutely breathtaking everywhere. I need to take more trips like this to explore!
