Steven Jacobs
The SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) National Parks Club is sponsoring a day trip to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, and early registration is now open. The remote 517-square-mile monument is three hours southwest of Saddlebrooke Ranch along the Mexican border. A maximum of 42 participants will have the opportunity to travel to this classic rugged Sonoran Desert site which is the only naturally occurring habitat in the United States for the organ pipe cactus. Travelers will explore and learn about this exotic wilderness of plants and animals that make their home in this basin-and-ridge landscape, which is located in the wettest desert environment in the world.
Transportation will be in three small 25-foot buses that are required because of vehicle length restrictions on some of the winding roads in the monument. The departure is at 7 a.m. and the return to SBR will be in the early evening. Upon arrival, a ranger will give a short presentation about Organ Pipe National Monument. Time is allowed afterward to explore the visitor’s center and walk along a short natural trail. Following a self-provided picnic lunch, the group will embark on Ajo Mountain Drive, a 21-mile audio-guided tour that winds along the Ajo Mountain foothills with views of beautiful desert landscapes and stands of magnificent organ pipe cactus. There will be stops at Arch Canyon and Estes Canyon with the opportunity for limited hiking. A box meal from Subway can be ordered for the return trip home.
Registration is on a first-come basis. Email Steven Jacobs at [email protected] to sign up. Please include the names of all registrants, a local address, and a contact phone number. Payment is not required yet as a final count is necessary to determine individual costs for the trip. Priority will be given to National Parks Club members, but any SBR resident is welcome. Club membership is free and available on GroupWorks. More information will be made available as the travel date gets closer.