NPS · Wilderness area · Arizona

Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness

Located at the heart of the vast and lush Sonoran Desert, Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness hugs the Mexican border and celebrates a desert full of life: 550 species of vascular plants, 53 species of mammals...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Wilderness312,600 acresNPSAZDesignated 19782 campgrounds within 10 mi
Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationWilderness
Managed byNational Park Service
StateArizona
Size312,600 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1978, by Congress
Center point32.0376, -112.8580
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29)

Boundary map

2 outlines

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 1 more is within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

NPS · Inside
Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground
Reservable4 sites
NPS · 0.2 mi
Twin Peaks Campground
Reservable209 sites

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas
National Monument · Adjacent
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
National Register listings within 15 miles · 7 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

312,600 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

The National Park Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness in?

Arizona.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1978.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

1 federal campground sits inside the boundary, including Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground. 2 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 32.038, -112.858. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 29 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (adjacent). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness?

7 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Gachado Well and Line Camp and Milton Mine.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.