When you really want to get away from it all, head down south to Organ Pipe. The desert is lush and almost foresty here, with tall saguaros and organ pipe cacti dominating the landscape.
Here's the best romantic hike in the park:
Arch Canyon, Organ Pipe National Monument (short, strenuous)
Drive along Hwy 85, through the small towns of Ajo and the unlikely-named Why. Continue on into Organ Pipe National Monument.
Take a right onto the graded dirt Ajo Mountain Loop Road, and park at the signed Stop 13. The 4 mile roundtrip starts at the picnic area and follows a gentle wash for the first half mile. Views of the arch tower 720 feet overhead. Past the �Caution� sign, the path changes character by climbing up a primitive route behind the arch.
The trail is loose and slippery in spots, and not for faint-of-heart couples. Follow the stacked cairns to the high point, and carefully descend to the arch. The eroded opening looms 36 feet overhead and spans a 90 foot-wide gap. Altogether a magnificent locale to take in the sunset together, but remember to tote a headlamp along for the precipitous descent!
Best of the Southwest




Save to Del.icio.us




