Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

South-west of Tucson, against the Mexican border is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (another park where dogs are not permitted on trails).  On our way there we went through the small village of Why and got diesel at the Why-Not Garage.

We spent a couple of days in the park doing driving tours on some of the dirt roads.  Of course we saw many cacti (we have thousands of cactus pictures!).

Organ Pipe Cactus

This Organ Pipe cactus has a crest growth on one of the new arms

Crested Organ Pipe Cactus

A very prickly looking cactus

This is called a Darning Needle Cholla

Brittlebush blooming in the foreground

A double arch visible from one of the roads

Our last day in Arizona was spent driving from the Organ Pipe Cactus Monument to Yuma.  On the way we visited the Painted Rocks Archaeological site near Gila Bend, AZ.  There was a primitive campground there but it was so hot that day we decided to drive on in air conditioned comfort and stop in Yuma for the night.

Rock art near Gila Bend