Organ Pipe Cactus

Organ Pipe Cactus National M o n u m e n t Arizona National Park Service U.S. Department of t h e I n t e r i o r Official Map and Guide Kathleen Norris Cook Exploring a Desert Landscape O r g a n Pipe Cactus National M o n u m e n t c e l e brates t h e life and landscape of t h e S o n o r a n Desert. H e r e , in this d e s e r t w i l d e r n e s s of plants and animals and dramatic m o u n t a i n s and-plains s c e n e r y , y o u c a n d r i v e a l o n e l y road, hike a b a c k c o u n t r y trail, c a m p b e n e a t h a clear d e s e r t sky, or j u s t soak in t h e w a r m t h and b e a u t y of the S o u t h w e s t . Planning Y o u r Visit T h e visitor c e n t e r , y o u r best s o u r c e of park i n f o r m a t i o n , has b o o k s , b r o c h u r e s , maps, exhibits, and slide s h o w s . Park r a n g e r s are t h e r e t o talk o v e r plans and interests w i t h y o u . S c h e d u l e s of g u i d e d walks, talks, and o t h e r p r o g r a m s are p o s t e d in t h e w i n t e r . W h e n y o u are ready to b e g i n y o u r d e s e r t e x p l o r a t i o n s , y o u will f i n d scenic d r i v e s and h i k i n g trails just short d i s t a n c e s away. (See d e s c r i p t i o n s and m a p s below.) If y o u visit b e t w e e n O c t o b e r and A p r i l , y o u c a n e x p e c t s u n n y days in t h e 6 0 s a n d 7 0 s ° F and occasional light rains. F r o m M a y t h r o u g h September temperatures often exceed 1 0 5 ° F a n d brief, v i o l e n t t h u n d e r s t o r m s s o m e t i m e s occur. N i g h t s are c o n s i d e r a b l y c o o l e r than days y e a r - r o u n d . S c e n i c Drives T w o scenic l o o p r o a d s — t h e Ajo M o u n t a i n Drive and t h e Puerto B l a n c o D r i v e — p e n e trate d e s e r t c o u n t r y . B o t h are w i n d i n g , u p a n d - d o w n g r a d e d dirt roads. Passenger v e h i c l e s can t r a v e l t h e m easily, but if y o u are d r i v i n g a m o t o r h o m e m o r e t h a n 25 f e e t long, y o u s h o u l d not t r a v e l t h e s e u n p a v e d roads. Even s o m e small m o t o r h o m e s have difficulty, so c h e c k with a ranger first. Trailers are not r e c o m m e n d e d on these roads. G u i d e books are available at t h e visitor c e n t e r a n d at the start of b o t h d r i v e s . W h e n o n t h e r o a d : carry e m e r g e n c y tools; t a k e d r i n k i n g w a t e r and extra w a t e r for y o u r v e h i c l e ; stay away from f l o o d e d areas; a n d n e v e r d r i v e off t h e road. T h e 2 1 - m i l e Ajo M o u n t a i n D r i v e w i n d s along t h e f o o t h i l l s of t h e Ajo M o u n t a i n s , the highest range in t h e area. O u t s t a n d i n g desert landscapes and i m p r e s s i v e stands of organ p i p e cactus are a m o n g t h e h i g h l i g h t s of this tour. T h e d r i v e t a k e s a b o u t t w o h o u r s . The 53-mile Puerto Blanco Drive circles the colorful Puerto B l a n c o M o u n t a i n s and passes t h r o u g h a startling variety of scenery. A r o u n d o n e c o r n e r y o u w i l l f i n d t h e d e s e r t oasis of Quitobaquito, while around another you'll find a t r u e S o n o r a n Desert e n v i r o n m e n t , with saguaros, o r g a n p i p e c a c t i , and e l e p h a n t trees. This trip t a k e s half a day. t h e visitor c e n t e r h i g h l i g h t e d by v i e w s of the r u g g e d A j o M o u n t a i n s . Pets are p e r m i t t e d . Estes C a n y o n - B u l l Pasture Trail (4.1 m i l e s roundtrip) A strenuous c l i m b to a high plateau where ranchers once wintered cattle. There are g r a n d v i e w s of t h e s u r r o u n d i n g t e r r a i n . Victoria M i n e Trail (4.5 m i l e s r o u n d t r i p ) A hike o v e r rolling t e r r a i n t o t h e m o n u m e n t ' s richest a n d o l d e s t g o l d a n d silver m i n e . B e s i d e s t h e s e t w o roads, t h e r e are a f e w u n i m p r o v e d dirt roads that go f u r t h e r into t h e b a c k c o u n t r y . S o m e lead t o historic sites with windmills, ranchhouses, a b a n d o n e d gold and silver m i n e s , a n d o t h e r r e m n a n t s of t h e past. S o m e t i m e s t h e s e roads are passable only by 4 - w h e e l - d r i v e v e h i c l e s . C h e c k o n road c o n d i t i o n s at t h e visitor c e n t e r . C r o s s c o u n t r y h i k i n g in t h e o p e n d e s e r t c a n be e n j o y a b l e , t o o , but first d i s c u s s y o u r p l a n n e d r o u t e w i t h a park ranger. Walks and Hikes S e v e r a l trails offer c l o s e looks at t h e b e a u t y of t h e d e s e r t . T h e best h i k i n g m o n t h s are O c t o b e r t h r o u g h A p r i l . Y o u r pets, if l e a s h e d , may be t a k e n o n t w o trails (listed b e l o w ) . O t h e r w i s e , pets are not a l l o w e d o n trails o r in t h e b a c k c o u n t r y . W h e n h i k i n g , t a k e 1 g a l l o n of w a t e r per p e r s o n per day. A v o i d o v e r e x e r t i o n and o v e r e x p o s u r e t o t h e s u n . W a t c h out for t h e m a n y d e s e r t plants w i t h s p i n e s and t h o r n s . A t n i g h t c a r r y a f l a s h light and w a t c h for rattlesnakes. R e m e m b e r , snakes are protected here. Do not harm t h e m . T h e trails, f r o m s h o r t e s t to l o n g e s t , are: Visitor C e n t e r N a t u r e Trail (0.1 m i l e r o u n d trip) A n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e d e s e r t a n d its plants. It c a n b e n e g o t i a t e d by w h e e l c h a i r s . A g u i d e p a m p h l e t is available at the trailhead C a m p g r o u n d P e r i m e t e r Trail (1 m i l e r o u n d trip) A n ideal l e i s u r e l y walk at t h e start or e n d of y o u r day. Pets are p e r m i t t e d . D e s e r t V i e w N a t u r e Trail (1.2 m i l e s r o u n d trip) A c i r c u l a r r o u t e l e a d i n g t o vistas of S o n o y t a V a l l e y a n d t h e pink g r a n i t e C u b a b i M o u n t a i n s in M e x i c o . Trailside signs d e s c r i b e f e a t u r e s a l o n g t h e way. P a i o v e r d e Trail (2.6 m i l e s r o u n d t r i p ) A c o n n e c t i n g trail b e t w e e n t h e c a m p g r o u n d a n d Camping and Picnicking T h e m o n u m e n t c a m p g r o u n d , o p e n all y e a r on a f i r s t - c o m e , f i r s t - s e r v e d basis, has water, r e s t r o o m s , grills, tables, d u m p s t a t i o n , and a m p h i t h e a t e r , w h e r e e v e n i n g p r o g r a m s are p r e s e n t e d in t h e w i n t e r . C a m p i n g f e e s are c o l l e c t e d . Fires are p e r m i t t e d in grills, b u t w o o d g a t h e r i n g is p r o h i b i t e d . Private c a m p g r o u n d s are l o c a t e d in L u k e v i l l e a n d W h y . If y o u p r e f e r p r i m i t i v e c a m p i n g , y o u can stay at a b a c k c o u n t r y c a m p g r o u n d . Pick up a c a m p i n g p e r m i t at t h e visitor c e n t e r . Picnic areas are o n t h e Ajo M o u n t a i n D r i v e and Puerto Blanco Drive. Most have tables and pit t o i l e t s , s o m e have s h a d e , but o n l y t h e visitor c e n t e r p i c n i c area has water. Area L o d g i n g a n d S e r v i c e s M o t e l s , g a s o l i n e , g r o c e r i e s , trailer parks, laundries, and o t h e r services are in Lukeville and W h y . Ajo, A r i z o n a , and S o n o y t a , M e x i c o , h a v e a w i d e r r a n g e of l o d g i n g s and s e r v i c e s . Visiting M e x i c o U.S. C u s t o m s officials in L u k e v i l l e can assist y o u w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n o n t o u r i s t cards, car p e r m i t s a n d i n s u r a n c e , and o t h e r m a t t e r s pertaining to traveling to Mexico. Park I n f o r m a t i o n For information write: Superintendent, Organ Pipe Cactus N a t i o n a l M o n u m e n t , Rt. 1, B o x 100, Ajo, A Z 8 5 3 2 1 ; or call (602) 3 8 7 - 6 8 4 9 . AGPO: 1990-262-100/20048 Reprint 1990 A Guide to Desert Communities Q Jojoba/Evergreen phy, soils, and climate foothill paioverde. It The part of the Scrubland Community determine where each commonly occurs on Sonoran Desert emThis community exoccurs.Nature is not as dry volcanic slopes. braced in the monuists where rainfall is exact as the maps here _ ment exhibits an outmost abundant— in the suggest; the communi- (_) Saltbush Community standing variety of canyons of the Ajo ties do intermingle plant life. The reason: Only plants with a tolerMountains. Jojoba, somewhat with one three distinctively difance for silty, salty agave, rosewood, and another. ferent divisions of the soil —primarily saltjuniper grow here. Sonoran Desert conbush—inhabit this valverge here. From the ley community. LOWER COLORADO west comes the Lower CENTRAL GULF DIVISION Colorado division; from COAST DIVISION The hottest, driest part ARIZONA UPLAND the east, the Arizona of the Sonoran Desert. DIVISION The most exotic part of Upland division; and the Sonoran Desert, The most luxuriant part from the south, the Cen- Qcreosotebush/Bursage with Mexican plant speof the Sonoran Desert. tral Gulf Coast division. Community Widely cies rare in the United Each adds to the diversspaced creosotebush Q Mixed Cactus/ States. ity you see in the monuand bursage make up Paioverde Community ment. But the complex80 percent of the plant The greatest variety of I ) Elephant Tree/Senita ity does not stop there. life of this valley comcacti grow in this comCactus Community Even within these divimunity. munity of the bajadas, This community, which sions there isvariety.Six or low-lying gravel includes the elephant major plant commun- Q Mixed Scrub slopes. Saguaro, organ tree, senita cactus, ities can be recognized, pipe, prickly pear, and limberbush, and organ Community This comeach with its own specholla thrive. The domipipe, occurs in pockets munity is recognized by cial mix of vegetation. nant tree sharing this of the monument such its mix of brittlebush, Differences in topograhabitat is paioverde. as Senita Basin. triangle bursage, and Visitor Center and C a m p g r o u n d Area A Desert Full of Life Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument exhibits an extraordinary collection of the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. This is a showcase for creatures who have adapted themselves to the extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and little rainfall that characterize this Southwest region. Foremost among the desert dwellers who have mastered this harsh environment are the cacti. Altogether 26 species inhabit the monument, including the saguaro, and of course the monument's namesake, the organ pipe cactus. The organ pipe is a large cactus found rarely in the United States, although common in Mexico. The monument encompasses the bulk of its U.S. population. Like its fellow cacti, and other desert inhabitants, the organ pipe is tuned to the rhythms of the sun and the infrequent rains. A glutton for heat and light, it grows on south-facing slopes where it can absorb the most sun. This location is critical during winter months, when severe frosts can kill the cactus. But when it blooms, in the heat of May, June, and July, the organ pipe waits until the sun goes down to open its tender lavender-white flowers. Other types of cactus bloom at night, too, but many also bloom during the day, exposing their flowers to the sun. Day or night, the summer display of many different cactus blooms is one of the desert's flashiest spectacles, as the brilliant flowers of yellow, red, white, and pink bring color to the landscape. It is a show upstaged only by the springtime explosions of gold poppies, blue lupines, pink owl clover, and other annuals after a wet winter. Less conspicuous than the plants are the animals of the desert. Many of them, including elf owls, kangaroo rats, most snakes, and jackrabbits, ^w are creatures of the night. They hide in cactus holes, underground burrows or other cool and shaded spots during the day. Other animals, such as bighorn sheep, most birds, and most lizards, prefer daylight to darkness. But these animals also may seek mid-day shade. They tend to restrict their activity to early morning and late afternoon during the heat of summer, when air temperatures can reach 118°F and ground temperatures occasionally soar to a scorching 175°. Coyotes and javenlinas are even more adaptable, active at any time of day or night that Is not too hot To deal with the lack of water to drink, desert animals must have some way to conserve body moisture. The best example of an efficient desert water manager is the kangaroo rat. It ordinarily drinks no water and eats mostly dry food. It gets some moisture from even the driest seeds, and adds this to the water formed in the process of food metabolism. But the kangaroo rat's survival depends primarily on reducing water loss. Its urine is highly concentrated and its feces are almost completely dry. It even reclaims through its nose much of the water otherwise lost in breathing. Like other desert dwellers, human beings, too, have had to adapt to survive, or suffer the consequences. Prehistoric nomads relied on scarce springs and seeps in their travels. Later desert wanderers—Spanish explorers, missionaries, and others—sometimes entered this unforgiving environment unprepared. Many followed an almost waterless route called El Camino del Diablo—"the Devil's Highway"—as they headed west. Unmarked graves along the route are grim reminders that some did not finish their journey. In the early 1900s ranchers and miners expanded human occupation of the desert by finding and developing new water sources. Today, just as before, visitors learn quickly about thirst, heat, cactus, and rattlesnakes and find ways to safely enjoy the desert on its own terms. Now, as a protected area, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument allows the life of the Sonoran Desert to flourish under nearly ideal wilderness conditions. The monument is an outstanding natural preserve where one of the Earth's major ecosystems survives almost unspoiled. Recognizing its significance the United Nations in 1976 designated the monument as an international Biosphere Reserve. Conservation and scientific research, including studies of man's impact on the desert, will be invaluable in protecting the life of the desert. Organ Pipe Wildlife Shown here are just some of the Sonoran Desert plants and animals that inhabit Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Look for wildlife throughout your travels. Plants The plants shown here commonly occur in one or more of the six Sonoran Desert plant communities found in the park. See "A Guide to Desert Communities" on the opposite side of this folder for more information on the park's plant communities. 1 Saguaro 2 0cotillo 3 Brittlebush 4 Organ pipe cactus 5 Engelmann prickly pear 6Teddybearcholla 7 Creosotebush 8 Paloverde 9Saltbush 10 Senita cactus 11 Mesquite 12Chainfruitcholla 13 Gold poppies 14 Elephant tree Animals 15 White-winged dove 16 Gila woodpecker 17 Gila monster 18 Western diamondback rattlesnake 19 Desert tortoise 20 Javelina 21 Gambel's quail 22 Roadrunner 23 Cactus wren 24 Coyote 25 Redtailed hawk Illustration by Robert Hynes