Press Kit

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was created to preserve the pristine Sonoran Desert landscape.

NPS Photo/Cate Blanch

 

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1937 and named for a cactus rarely found in the United States. This monument celebrates the life and landscape of the Sonoran Desert in an almost pristine setting. It is a true wilderness where plants and animals live amid dramatic scenery: sharp volcanic mountains and rocky canyons slope down to forbiddingly hot lowland plains. In this setting you may drive a lonely road, hike a backcountry trail, camp under a clear sky, enjoy the fathomless the night sky, or just soak up the warmth and beauty of the Southwest.

Review our quick facts and information about the monument below. For any press related questions, please contact our public information officer.

 

 

Monument Purpose

According to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument's Foundation plan, the guiding document for all managment decisions for the monument, the purpose of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is to:

• Perpetuate for future generations a representative sample of the natural and cultural resources of the Sonoran Desert and provide for public understanding, safe use, and enjoyment of the same.
• Serve as a natural laboratory for understanding and managing the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
• Serve as a baseline indicator against which environmental changes can be identified.
• Preserve for future use and enjoyment the character and values of this designated wilderness.

 

Monument Designations

International

On October 26, 1976, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was designated an International Biosphere Reserve. International Biosphere Reserves are a project of the Man and the Biosphere program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Reserves are protected samples of the world's major ecosystem types. These sites are standards against which we can measure human impact on our environment and predict its probable effects. There are now over 190 reserves in 50 countries.

In 2001 Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (specifically Quitobaquito Springs) and nearby Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge were declared Globally Important Bird Areas (IBA) by the American Bird Conservancy. IBAs are of critical importance to migratory birds, as they provide food, water and shelter for migratory stopovers, and further provide nesting spots for seasonal residents such as the vermillion flycatcher and endangered Bell’s Least Vireo.

National

On October 26, 1976, Congress designated 95% of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument lands as wilderness. These are semi-pristine lands: no roads, no permanent structures, areas where Man is a visitor who does not remain….

In 1978, Gachado Well and Line Camp, and Bull Pasture were placed on National Register of Historic Places. Dos Lomitas Ranch and Montezuma's Head followed in 1994.

 

Quick Facts

Address and Phone

10 Organ Pipe Drive, Ajo, AZ 85321
[phone] ext 7302 (Kris Eggle Visitor Center) Fax: [phone] www.nps.gov/orpi

Park Established

April 12, 1937, by Presidential Proclamation of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Area Significance

Monument named for cactus species rarely found in the United States. Monument preserves a representative sample of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and classic Basin-and-Range topography. Stark volcanic mountains, rocky canyons, and Sonoran Desert plants and animals typify this harsh and beautiful land.

Size

330,689 acres (516.74 square miles), with 95% designated wilderness
Pima County, AZ. Headquarters and Kris Eggle Visitor Center located 34 miles south of Ajo, on State Highway #85 at Mile Post 75.2. (5 miles north of International Border at Lukeville, AZ/ Sonoyta, Mex.)

Location

Pima County, AZ. Headquarters and Kris Eggle Visitor Center located 34 miles south of Ajo, on State Highway #85 at Mile Post 75.2. (5 miles north of International Border at Lukeville, AZ/ Sonoyta, Mex.)

Landscape

In the Ajo Mountain Range along the eastern boundary is Mount Ajo, at 4808 ft the highest elevation in the monument. Land gradually slopes to the southwest and ends in a series of low plains at less than 1000 feet elevation. In between is classic basin-and-range topography. Mountains reveal their volcanic history in colorful bands or chunks of lavas. As these mountains erode, they form coalescing alluvial vans, or bajadas. Soil and moisture conditions on these bajadas create the ideal habitat for warmth-loving Sonoran Desert plant and animal species.

On these slopes you will find the greatest biodiversity within the monument including stands of organ pipe, saguaro, and other cactus species. Here is also the greatest concentration of wildlife from mountain lion to javelina, coyote to grasshopper mouse to desert tortoise. Valley floors are covered with widely spaced creosote bushes and salt-tolerant plants. Frost-free areas are home to senita cactus, the third of only three native columnar cactus species found north of Mexico.

Major Features

Contains two of the six subdivisions of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem (Lower Colorado Desert and Arizona Upland); Organ Pipe, Saguaro, Senita, and several other cacti; many species of plants and wildlife found only in this section of the Sonoran Desert; is home to 3 endangered animal species and other plant and animal species of special concern; is a Globally Important Bird Area as designated by the American Bird Conservancy in 2001; preserves remnants of ice age vegetation; is the northernmost limit of several subtropical plants and animals.

Wildlife

• Amphibians and Reptiles: 49

• Fish: 1

• Birds: 285

• Mammals: 54 (14 Bats)

Plants

28 species of cacti, 642 species of vascular plants

Annual Visitation

2023: 133,317

Elevation

1670 ft. (Visitor center) - 4808 ft. (Mt. Ajo.)

Average Precipitation

8.80 inches (1950-2014)

Planning a Visit

Entry Fees

• $25.00 per private vehicle (7 day pass)
• $20.00 per motorcycle (7 day pass)
• $15.00 each per pedestrian or bicyclist (7 day pass)

Free entry upon presentation of Senior/Golden Age/ Access passes, Interagency Annual Pass (America the Beautiful), or Organ Pipe Cactus Annual Pass and identification.

Commercial bus

No entry fee is charged for use of Kris Eggle Visitor Center, picnic area or nature trail. Note: These vehicles are too long to travel monument roads.

Other commercial vehicles

The monument charges each individual in a commercial group the per-person fee. The driver and guide will not be charged an entrance fee. Passes are accepted for entry as stated on the back of the pass.

Camping

Twin Peaks Campground (main campground)

Group sites available
Registrations made on Recreation.gov. Fee $20 per night; 50% discount upon presentation of Senior/Golden Age/ Access passes and identification. Open daily, 34 tent-only sites and 174 places for RVs, Maximum RV length 40 ft. Sites usually available. Restrooms and water available. Solar showers. Dump station. No hookups. Maximum stay 21 days.

Alamo Campground (primitive campground)

Registrations made on Recreation.gov. Fee $16 per night; 50% discount upon presentation of Senior/Golden Age/ Access passes and identification. Open daily, four tent-only sites, no water, fires not permitted. Registrations must be made at the Visitor Center. Maximum stay 8 days.

Back country Camping ( 4 areas)

Fee $5.00 each permit. Obtain required permit at visitor center. Campsite must be at least 1/2 mile away from roads and structures.

Scenic Drives

Ajo Mountain Drive

21 mile loop, average time: 2-2½ hours; Road is dirt surface; designed for passenger vehicles; not recommended for RVs and trailers over 25 ft. 4WD not required.

Puerto Blanco Drive

41 mile round trip, average time: 3½-4½ hours; Road is dirt surface; recommended for high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles only.

Trails

6 Easy Trails. 0.1-2 miles round trip about 35 miles marked trails.

Wildlife and Plant Lists

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Select a Species Category (optional):

All Amphibians Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Vascular Plants

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Species attribute definitions

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Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.

 

Photos

View the photo album for images or visit our full photo gallery to view photos for press use. Most of the images in Organ Pipe Cactus' galleries are public domain and are not subject to any copyright restrictions. If you would like to use a photo containing a copyright restriction or for information to any press related questions, contact our public information officer.