Apart from the Ajo Mountain Drive and the Puerto Blanco Drive, the only other maintained road into the superb backcountry of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is to the head of Alamo Canyon; this is one of the larger ravines in the Ajo Range, the mountains that form the eastern boundary of the preserve. The road is a wide, somewhat bumpy gravel track that leaves AZ 85 between mileposts 65 and 66, and for 4 miles climbs gently to 2,320 feet, crossing desert filled with cacti as varied and densely-growing as any other place in the monument (see QTVR). Organ pipes are plentiful, as are saguaro, opuntia and echinocerei. It ends at a parking area and a small primitive campground - together with the main site near the visitor center, these are the only two places where vehicle-based camping is permitted.
A Trail: Just to the south runs the course of Alamo Wash, a seasonal stream that flows after recent rainfall from the nearby canyon, which can be explored by a 1 mile footpath. This starts off wide and level - it was once a jeep track, leading through the relatively open land of the lower canyon, past the ruins of an old stone building and a disused well; the path is easy but has no shade. After about 2 miles it becomes less clearly defined, and merges with the rather overgrown dry streambed.
Views: Upstream, the main canyon becomes narrower and divides several times. A good vantage point is obtained by climbing above; this is not too difficult and after ascending a few hundred feet one obtains excellent views over the desert to the west (see QTVR). The cacti on the hillside seem especially pristine and there is also a good selection of wildflowers, but not much sign of wildlife.
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