March 26 - Organ Pipe National Forest, Ano, AZ

Celebrating Bill’s birthday as we make our way to our last Arizona stop in Organ Pipe National Monument near Ajo. Organ Pipe National Monument is an International Biosphere Reserve in the Sonoran Desert. It was established to preserve the ecological wonders of the country. 

A scenic drive across the desert to get here. Large Saguaro cacti all along the way with some chollas and wildflowers. . 

Hills with forests of saguaro. We haven’t seen that many saguaro in one spot before. 

When we arrived at the BLM land where we would boondock for the next 2 nights, we had saguaro right out our front door. 

Organ Pipe Monument covers 330,000 acres. From our camping spot, it was 23 miles to the visitor center with the desert scenery all along the drive. 

We hiked among all the desert plants. 

This is a huge example of an Organ Pipe cactus. Not sure I had ever seen one before. 

Back at the camper, Bill grilled his birthday dinner - steak and potatoes. 

March 27 - into the park we go for more cacti viewing.