Run for the Border

To visit Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, you have to really want to go there. It's not on the way to anything, and quite a detour from any major interstate, so I don't think anyone would go there just on a whim. Clearly, count me among those who really wanted to visit (and my lucky family got to come, too!)

From Tucson, it took us about 2.5 hours on a small, two-lane highway to get to Why, where we turned south on AZ State Route 85. The park entrance was just a short distance from the junction.

In addition to the regular junior ranger booklet, this unit also has a desert ranger program for grown-ups, so all three boys in the family worked on their activities during the drive over. We had to spend a little more time in the visitor center to help the newbie *senior* ranger find some of the answers to his questions. Haha!

Then we were back in the car to tour the scenic Ajo Mountain Drive. 21 miles of gravel road -- boy, the van really needs to be detailed after this trip! We were a little too early to see any saguaro or organ pipe cacti in bloom, but it was still a beautiful drive!

Ocotillo

Hedgehog cactus

Saguaro and organ pipe

Organ pipe with cristate growth

Arch Canyon

When we finished driving the loop, we went back to the visitor center to collect their ranger swag. We could have driven just a couple more miles south to the international border, but the boys' passports were expired. Call me chicken, but I didn't think it was worth the risk of getting stuck on the other side. Besides, we have passed through more than enough border patrol checkpoints on this trip already!  

Tonight is our last night on the road. The four nights we've spent at Marriott properties on this trip have earned us two free nights for future use. Time to start scouting out the next one!