Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument U.S
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12 National Park Service Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument U.S. Department of the Interior December 2015- November 2016 Cactus Chronicle A True Desert Experience Awaits Superintendent’s Welcome Whether you are here for 2 hours or 2 weeks, there are plenty of opportunities to explore Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Any trip should start at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center. A fifteen No matter how long your stay, there are many minute movie, exhibits, and park rangers are available to answer your questions. treasures awaiting your discovery. Take the time to explore the 2 Hours or less: spirit and secrets • All Day: of the park. The • Stop by the Kris Eggle Visitor Center • Drive the Puerto Blanco Scenic loop. variety of plants watch the 15 minute film, explore the This trip will take 4-6 hours, and a high and animals found exhibit hall, and stroll the nature trail. in the desert is clearance vehicle is required. astounding. I • Drive the North Puerto Blanco Drive • Explore the Ajo Mountain Scenic hope you will to the Pinkley Peak Picnic Area (10 Drive and hike the Bull Pasture/Estes take advantage of miles round-trip, for great views of the Canyon Loop Trail. our exhibits and desert and cacti. ranger programs • Visit Quitobaquito Springs and learn about the • Do a short hike around the fascinating ways that campground. • Join a Ranger for a guided van tour plants and animals have adapted to living in the Sonoran desert. 2-4 Hours: One day not enough? • Tour the Ajo Mountain Scenic Drive. Stay the night at Organ Pipe Cactus and Camping, hiking, birding, photography, Road is 21 miles round-trip on a experience the calmness of the desert after exploring – the list of ways to enjoy and graded dirt road. Be sure to pick up a understand Organ Pipe Cactus’s natural beauty dark. Camping is available at Twin Peaks free road guide at the Kris Eggle Visitor and history is unlimited. Experience your Campground. Primitive and backcountry America, make Organ Pipe Cactus National Center. camping is also available. Monument your own special place and have a • Take a moderate hike in the Senita safe and memorable visit. Basin area. Mailing Address Inside Visitor Center Services / Special Programs.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .2 Organ Pipe Cactus National • Attend a ranger led hike or location The Kris Eggle Visitor Center is A visit to Organ Pipe Cactus can begin a Ranger Programs/ Hiker Shuttles. 3 Monument open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Stop by for lifetime of experiences enjoying your national talk. Scenic Drives .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .4 10 Organ Pipe Drive an informative slide presentation, a parks. In 2016, the National Park Service will Adventure Guide & Safety . 5 Ajo, Arizona 85321-9626 • Visit Quitobaquito Springs 1/10 mile stroll on the handicapped- celebrate its 100th birthday. As we celebrate Hiking & Camping Guide.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6, 7 accessible nature trail, the nature and 100 years of preservation and stewardship, we Bird & Flower Guides.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10, 11 E-mail museum exhibit room, bookstore, invite you to Find Your Park, no matter where Map of the Monument.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..12 [email protected] and answers from a park ranger or that may be, and to be inspired by all of these special places. volunteer at the information counter. Phone 520-387-6849 ext 7302 Ranger led talks, walks and guided -Brent Range tours are offered from January Website Superintendent through March. www.nps.gov/orpi 2 11 National Park Service Information and Services U.S. Department of the Interior Flower Guide When Does the Sonoran Desert Bloom? Emergencies Accessibility Fires Firearms If you are lucky, you may see Sonoran Desert wildflowers Organ Pipe Cactus For 24-hour emergency The Kris Eggle Visitor At Twin Peaks As of Feb. 22, 2010, the desert carpeted in flow- grow quickly and in large National Monument response, call 911. The Center, restrooms and Campground fires federal law allows people ers. After heavy winter rains, numbers after it rains. Once Protecting 516 square miles of closest medical clinic is the 1/10 mile nature trail are permitted only in who can legally possess plants burst into bloom, the soil dries, plants die Sonoran Desert, Organ Pipe Desert Senita Community are fully accessible, and campground, fire grills firearms under federal, some flowering only days back. Desert wildflowers are Cactus National Monument is Health Center in Ajo, certain ranger programs using pressed logs, Arizona and local laws after receiving water. Other not only beautiful, but they a sanctuary for diverse species 520-387-5651. The closest are accessible. Ask for an charcoal, or firewood. to possess firearms plants wait patiently for the are essential to the survival some endangered. The park was hospitals are in Phoenix accessibility brochure at Wood fires are prohibited in Organ Pipe Cactus summer rains to come. of many desert creatures. established by President Franklin and Tucson. the Visitor Center. at Alamo Campground. National Monument. Buckhorn cholla Pincushion cactus Teddy bear cholla D. Roosevelt in 1937 and has since Gathering dead or down It is the visitor’s been recognized as a Biosphere Visitor Center Entrance Fees wood is prohibited. Reserve by the United Nations. The Kris Eggle Visitor • $12 per vehicle, $4 per responsibility to Over 95 percent of Organ Pipe Center is open daily pedestrian or bicyclist. understand and comply Good for seven days. Western National with state, local, Cactus is designated wilderness. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Parks Association Come explore the wonders and the except Thanksgiving • Free with Interagency and federal firearms wild of the Sonoran Desert! The Association is our laws. Federal law and Christmas. There is and Organ Pipe Cactus partner and operator a 15 minute film, short Annual passes prohibits firearms in Superintendent of the park bookstore, certain facilities in the Brent Range accessible nature trail, • Free with Golden Age, located in the visitor center exhibits and park store. Senior, and Access monument. These are Mailing Address lobby. It sells educational identified by signs at Organ Pipe Cactus National Ranger led talks, tours and lifetime passes. books, post cards, local hikes are offered January public entrances. If you Monument arts and cultural items. Mexican gold poppy Mojave lupine 10 Organ Pipe Drive through March. Pets have questions, please Ajo, AZ 85321-9626 Pets must be on a leash at contact the Arizona Lost and Found all times. Pets are allowed Internet Access Department of Public Phone Free public wifi is available Contact the Kris Eggle in campgrounds, picnic Safety at (800) 256-6280 520-387-6849 at the Kris Eggle Visitor Visitor Center at 520-387- areas, the Palo Verde and or visit their website E-mail Center. After hours, 6849 ext. 7302. Campground Perimeter http://www.azdps.gov/ [email protected] visitors can access the trails, and monument Services/Concealed_ Web site wireless from outside the roads. Weapons/. http://www.nps.gov/orpi building. Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ OrganPipeNPS Fairy duster Desert marigold The National Park Service cares for special places Special Programs saved by the American Special eduactional and recreational opporunities for the public will be offered throughout the season. Check with people so that all may a ranger, at a bulletin board, or at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for more information. Programs are subject to change experience our heritage. and cancelation. All programs take place at the visitor center unless otherwise noted. These programs run January 2016 through April 2016. Lecture Series: Humanitarians In the Border Patrol 101: Healthy Parks, Healthy Chief Talks: Speakers include biologists, Desert Join agents from the U.S. People: Meet members of the archaeologists, rangers and Join representatives from Border Patrol in the Kris Join instructors for monument’s management other specialists who delve local organizations to learn Eggle Visitor Center beginning yoga classes at team and learn about more deeply into subjects about humanitarian relief Auditorium to explore their Organ Pipe Cactus. No how different divisions in tied to Organ Pipe Cactus. efforts in the desert. role and mission. experience requitred. the park work towards a common goal. 2:00pm 2:00pm Second and fourth Check bulletin boards or First and third Wednesdays Check bulletin boards or 11:00am Wednesdays of the month. at the Kris Eggle Visitor of the month. at the Kris Eggle Visitor First and third Thursdays of Teddy Bear Cactus Barrel Cactus 1 hour Center for schedule. 45 minutes Center for schedule. the month. 20 minutes How do you say that? Gila: HEE-lah. As in Gila monster, Gila woodpecker and Gila River. Full Moon Hikes: Night Sky Talks: Ajo: AH-ho. Spanish for garlic; also a Tohono O’odham word for a Hike the Desert View Trail with a Ranger under the light of the full moon. Explore the night sky with a park ranger. Programs will include a short copper-colored pigment. Ocotillo: OH-koh-TEE-yo. A very thorny plant, often mistaken for Dress warmly, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a flashlight and water. Meet program, followed by night sky viewing through a variety of devices, the ranger at the Group Campground. inlcuding telescopes. Bajada: ba-HAH-dah. The gravely slope at the base of a mountain a cactus. The ocotillo has the ability to sprout leaves within 48 hours range. Many diverse species take advantage of the bajadas’ well of rain. drained soil. They are good places to look for wildlife. January 23, February 22, and March 23 January 9, February 8, April 7 Saguaro: sa-WA-roh. Arizona’s tallest cactus (growing to over 70 Check bulletin boards for times. Check bulletin boards for time and other special night sky events.