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Hike Arizona: Southwest

Ben Avery Trail, Eagletail Mountains

Mt. Ajo

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Table Top Mountain, Vekol Valley

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was established to protect the rare Organ Pipe Cactus and 26 other cacti species, as well as more than 200 species of birds and other animals, many of which are unique to this area. Three distinctive divisions of the Sonoroan Desert converge here, representing six plant communities. The uniqueness of this habitat is attested to by the rarity of the Organ Pipe Cactus itself, and the even more rare Senita Cactus, both of which are found nowhere else in the US.

Hikes at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

These are the only trails currently open in the monument. All other trails are closed indefinitley due to an increase in illegal border activity. Camping is currently only allowed in the Twin Peaks and Alamo Canyon Campgrounds. All backcountry areas are closed to overnight camping/backpacking. In addition, some of your trail mileages are inaccurate. You may want to contact the monument to get accurate and up-to-date distances, etc.

http://www.nps.gov/orpi/
520-387-6849 x 7302

From The Visitor Center
• Palo Verde Trail (pet friendly).
• Visitor Center Nature Trail (accessible)

From the Twin Peaks Campground
• Palo Verde Trail (pet friendly).
• Desert View Trail.
• Campground perimeter trail (pet friendly).
• Victoria Mine Trail, please stay on the trail.

From the North Puerto Blanco Drive
• Pinkley Peak ("front" side only)

From the Ajo Mountain Drive
• Estes Canyon Trail (Ajo Mountain area).
• Bull Pasture Trail (Ajo Mountain area).
• Arch Canyon Trail (Ajo Mountain area).

From Highway 85
• Alamo Canyon Trail (trailhead down a dirt road between mile markers 65 and 66)
• Grass Canyon Trail (park at the Ajo Mountain Wayside Exhibit at mile marker 63)

The Old Sonoyta/Ajo Highway is open (from the Ajo Mountain Drive).

Table Top Mountain, Vekol Valley

Hike:
The BLM trail starts at 2300 feet and climbs gently through the mountain's desert foothills for about 2 miles before turning steeply up the slope in switchbacks for another 1.5 miles. Apparently quite rocky near the top, with minor exposure possible. Elevation at the summit is about 4300 feet. The relatively flat summit includes a 40-acre island of desert grassland.

Further trail information can be found in an Arizona Highways article from November, 1995.

Best Time of Year to Hike: fall through spring

Length: 7 mi round trip

Elevation Change: +-2000'

Range of Elevation: 1420' (Bush Highway) to 3200' (Golden Dome)

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather Conditions: Gila Bend

Drive:
Exit I-8, (exit 144) at Vekol Valley Interchange approximately 26 miles east of Gila Bend and 34 miles west of Casa Grande. Travel south on Vekol Valley Road 2 miles to the Vekol Ranch turnoff and continue south on the dirt-surfaced road to the right, using the map. It is 15.3 miles from I-8 to Table Top trailhead.

Please note that the drive includes 13 miles of primitive dirt road, and a high clearance vehicle (though not necessarily 4WD) is recommended. Please let me know if you have such a vehicle that you could drive.

Drive time is expected to be 2 to 2.5 hours each way. Hike time will be 3 hours up, 1.5 hours down, plus probably half an hour on the summit. A 7:00 AM departure from Phoenix would therefore get us back home between 4 and 5 PM.

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Trip Report

updated July 30, 2011