Hiking Near the Mexico Border : Organ Pipe Cactus NM

The Palo Verde and Victoria Mine trails are surprisingly beautiful hikes in Organ Pipe National Monument Arizona. Leaving directly from the Visitor Center you’ll enjoy seeing Organ Pipe cactus along the way.

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I Write with the Older Hiker in Mind

I tailor my hiking reviews to over 50 hikers. This is not to say the hike will be easy or short, older hikers are very capable, I’ve seen 70 year old hikers that can out hike most people. But what I am putting out there is special considerations for our older bodies.

You might notice I have a trail difficulty rating number listed below, please see my Hiker Resource Page to see how I come to this rating.

Basic Trail Information for Palo Verde and Victoria Mine Combined Trails

Trail Name: Palo Verde and Victoria Mine Trails
Location: Organ Pipe National Monument Arizona, United States
Length: 6.7 miles combined (2.2 for Palo Verde & 4.5 for Victoria Mine)
Elevation: ~1700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate. The hikes themselves are not difficult but the length may make it slightly more challenging.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Elevation Gain: ~300 feet
Type of Trail: out and back
Who I Recommend this to: anyone who loves a hike in the desert
What season did I go: fall, winter and spring
Gear Recommendations: sun covering for all of your skin and eyes
Cell service: spotty
Water availability: no. You can fill up at the visitor center
Special Requirements: there is a fee to enter Pipe Organ National Monument
Must see feature: Organ Pipe Cactus and Victoria Mine

Read about my other Arizona Hikes here.

Location of Palo Verde and Victoria Mine Trails in Organ Pipe NM

My Experience Hiking in Organ Pipe National Monument

After staying on public lands for a few days just outside Organ Pipe National Monument I rolled into the Kris Eggle Visitor Center early morning in my Minnie Winnie RV I live in. The desert can be very hot and lacking shade I knew I needed to arrive early, even this February day.

After visiting the visitor’s center for my obligatory sticker to place on my hiking board I ate some breakfast, changed into my hiking clothes, lathered the sunblock on, filled my water jugs (I always carry 2 liters), grabbed my daypack and headed out.

I wanted to hike the Victoria Mine Trail but to get there I had to first jump on the Palo Verde trail that leads to the Twin Peaks campground after about 1 mile.

Sidenote: unlike most National Monument and Park trails dogs ARE allowed on the Palo Verde trail.

There are Saguaros and Creosote bush everywhere! And one of my favorite desert plants – the Ocotillo!! Which seem to be coming into bloom this late February. But where were the Organ Pipe Cactus, the park is named for?

The Organ Pipe Cactus are more illusive than other plants in the area but that’s what made finding them special. One caveat, most were off trail so pics were hard to capture from a distance. I try to always stay on trail for the health of the plants and animals. So I didn’t capture the beautiful Organ Pipe Cactus unless I could from the trail.

The Victoria Mine Trail is fun! It winds up and down and around the desert with great views of Mexico and the nearby mountains. Washes here were plentiful in plants, like a big cactus garden.

I didn’t see anyone heading out, which made me a bit nervous. This trail is very close to the Mexican border and there are signs to be alert for illegal activity in the area. I started to wonder if I was on a trail not traveled much by hikers. I don’t mind being out on trail alone but I also don’t like the feeling of being alone where a potential dangerous situation could occur. My hiker self reassured me that I was ok since I noticed a lot of footprints heading out to the mine.

Victoria Mine was about 3.5 miles from the Visitor’s center. I quickly captured some shots of the mine shaft and buildings left standing in the area and headed back.

To my delight, I ran into no less than 50 hikers on the trail back. Where were they on the way out? This eased my mind, I wasn’t alone out here. I spoke with a few about how amazing it is out there and what great weather we’re having, typical hiker chit chat.

On my way back wind started to kick up, like it usually afternoons does in the AZ deserts. This made keeping my sun umbrella difficult to manage. I don’t enjoy wearing hats or long sleeve. I hike very hot and hats give me a headache. So I bought a great sun umbrella from Six Moon Design specifically to protect me from the sun’s rays.

The 7.6 mile hike took me about 3 hours. I would have actually gone slower to take in the scenery but I really wanted to get out of the sun.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is definitely a good detour down highway 85 in Arizona. It’s a lesser traveled park so the crowds are more minimal and it’s just as beautiful as any other desert park.

Helpful Takeaways

Suggested gear and information for this hike that I found very helpful and made the hike a much more pleasant experience.

There’s no shade on this trail, bring shade and cover your skin
Watch for rattle snakes when it’s warm out. They will warn you if you’re listening for their rattle. If you see one back off, be calm and it should move away.

Online Resources for this Trail

Please Leave No Trace when enjoying the outdoors
My hike on AllTrails of Organ Pipe NM
Organ Pipe Cactus NM homepage
Victoria Mine Trail hike on Organ Pipe NM webpage

FAQs for Palo Verde and Victoria’s Mine trails for Older Hikers

Are dogs allowed on Victoria Mine Trail?

No. But they are allowed on the Palo Verde trail that runs between the Kris Eggle Visitor Center and Twin Peaks campground.

Can you enter Victoria Mine?

No. You cannot enter the mine itself. All mine shafts are closed, sealed, and securely fenced off to ensure public safety and protect roosting bats.

Is it safe to hike in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument?

Yes, it is safe to hike and explore this national monument. It’s advised to stay on trail and in designated areas where there are more people and patrols.
The park is located on the U.S.-Mexico border in Ajo, Arizona and does have a history of cartel and smuggling activity, the vast majority of visitors experience no issues.