Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - Road Closures (U.S. National Park Service)

Hwy 85 runs south through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Due to our proximity to the International Boundary with Mexico, some areas near the border are closed for construction and visitor safety concerns.

Closed Roads: Conditions at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument periodically lead to closures of some roads and sections of the park. The following roads are closed indefinitely to vehicle traffic until further notice.

Pozo Nuevo
Camino de Dos Republicas
South Puerto Blanco Drive
North Puerto Blanco past the five-mile gate

Backcountry Areas: The following areas are closed to use until further notice.

All backcountry areas are closed to overnight use. Many backcountry areas are open for day hiking only. Check at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for the most current closure information.
Red Tanks and Lost Cabin Mine trail complex are closed to all visitor use.
Dripping Springs area from west of Pinkley Peak to North Puerto Blanco Drive is closed to all visitor use.
Bates Mountains, Kino Peak and all areas south of the Bates Well Road, including areas along the Pozo Nuevo Road are closed to all visitor use.
Sweetwater Pass area is closed to all visitor use.

Open Roads: Some areas of the park are too beautiful to close for very long, currently these roads as well as Hwy 85 are open to visitor use.

Ajo Mountain Drive is a 21 mile loop drive which is open and beautiful.
The first five miles of North Puerto Blanco Drive is open in both directions, providing access to the Pinkley Peak picnic area at the five mile gate turn-around point.
Alamo Canyon is open and beautiful for hiking into the canyon or camping in the primitive campground, click here for more information on camping in the Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground.
The Bates Well road is subject to periodic annual closures due to Sonoran Pronghorn fawning season from mid-March through mid-June. This time frame can vary year to year depending on the needs of the pronghorn. Check at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for current information on the Bates Well Road.

Please be aware of your surroundings in all areas of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This is a wild place with natural and man-made hazards. Please be aware of your abilities and respect the laws of nature, as well as the laws of our state and nation.