Twin Peaks Campground Organ Pipe Cactus Nation Monument
02052026 I arrived about 1730 and found space 101. This is a popular place and I noticed there were a lot of class B camper vans. The campground is all paved, but I was surprised how un-level it the space was, about 6-7 inches down in the front. I was able to cut that in half with a traction board and a block. This is a different kind of camping that I’m used to, but I knew the spaces would be close together. I think I need to be around other people more, even if I don’t know them. It provides exercise for my people skills. I’m here for three nights. Tomorrow I plan on taking one of the hikes that start from the campground.
02062026 Victoria Mine - Senita Basin Trails Had my coffee and breakfast. My water pump is making noise, so I did some troubleshooting and wrapped one of the pipes that was banging against the bedbox, that seemed to improve it, but the pump is still shaking when I turn the tap on. But it was getting late in the morning and I wanted to make the Victoria Mine hike. So I started out at 1030 and finished at 1245. The hike was mostly flat with some steps down to transition the washes. Once away from the campground, you are surrounded by saguaro and organ pipe cactus, ocotillo and palo verde trees. Great view of the Pozo Redondo Mountains to the east.
02072026 Kris Eggle Visitor Center Beautiful cool morning. There are a lot of people out here camping, but this site is quiet for all of that. I got more steps than I needed yesterday, so I started off, after breakfast, to walk the perimeter trail, but I found the Palo Verde trail that goes to the Visitor center. There was a small museum and a gift shop inside the visitor center. I got a couple of stickers. I was surprised to see that entrance was not free, although included in the camping fee, but if you are just stopping by, you need to pay.
After a nice walk, I had lunch. At about 1500, I got the bike out and road around the park. I wondered why most of the tow vehicles had their hoods propped open. Turns out this is to prevent rodents from nesting in the engine compartment. I noticed some of the vans were doing too. Maybe there is a problem with rodents here. When I returned to Vannie, I propped her hood open.
02082026 Arch Canyon Trailhead Double Arch Checkout is 1200 so I took my time with coffee and breakfast. I brought in my Moon Shade and camp stove the night before so I was mostly packed up. I was through the dump station by 1115 and headed out of the park. I took a nice scenic drive on the Ajo Mountain Drive starts across highway 85 from the visitor center. It is a 21 mile scenic loop up through the desert canyon and to the Arch Canyon. The Arch Canyon Trail is an easy 2 km hike up the south side of the canyon.
At the end, I was tempted to bushwack/rock hop up closer to the arches, but the temptation passed. After all, there is no Geocache there. But it was obvious that others had made the climb. I had a nice walk and drove the rest of the loop before heading home.
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