5 days around Tuscon
Feb 9, 2015, 8:24 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,886
Route 286 down toward Baboquivari Peak is also fantastic, especially in the very early morning with the sun on the mountain. As Lost says above, though, these aren't highways, they are state routes like any other in Arizona. Also, being on the rez has no relevance as to whether they are safe or not.
At night I would drive much, much slower (if at all) on these roads because of the risk of hitting someone walking across the road or hitting wildlife wandering around. Furthermore, if you ditch you may wait a long, long time for anyone to come along who can help you get back out.
Last edited by Wilbur; Feb 9, 2015 at 8:28 am Reason: spelling
Feb 9, 2015, 8:42 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,032
AZ Routes 85 and 86 have some really outstanding views between Ajo and Tucson. The Tohono O'odham Nation covers some truly beautiful desert west of Kitt's Peak. My daughter once said, "It is like a Road Runner cartoon!" when driving there. Both roads are in good condition, at least they were last year - ignore TripAdvisor.
Route 286 down toward Baboquivari Peak is also fantastic, especially in the very early morning with the sun on the mountain. As Lost says above, though, these aren't highways, they are state routes like any other in Arizona. Also, being on the rez has no relevance as to whether they are safe or not.
At night I would drive much, much slower (if at all) on these roads because of the risk of hitting someone walking across the road or hitting wildlife wandering around. Furthermore, if you ditch you may wait a long, long time for anyone to come along who can help you get back out.
Route 286 down toward Baboquivari Peak is also fantastic, especially in the very early morning with the sun on the mountain. As Lost says above, though, these aren't highways, they are state routes like any other in Arizona. Also, being on the rez has no relevance as to whether they are safe or not.
At night I would drive much, much slower (if at all) on these roads because of the risk of hitting someone walking across the road or hitting wildlife wandering around. Furthermore, if you ditch you may wait a long, long time for anyone to come along who can help you get back out.
1. First night, leave PHX at 6pm and drive to Ajo and overnight there. See Organ Pipe the next day (start early) and the drive to TUS at the end of the day and try to get there before night fall. Spend the next 4 days doing the stuff around TUS.
2. Skip Organ Pipe completely and just do 5 days in TUS.
The people on TA seem to be leaning towards option 2. Is Organ Pipe worth visiting or should I skip?
Feb 10, 2015, 8:34 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,886
Organ Pipe is unique and has some great walking and hiking and bird watching, and it is glorious when the desert is in bloom. On the other hand, the temperature and the Border Patrol can really make it a miserable place, depending on the time of year you visit.
If you can get there in the winter or spring, and you like hiking, it can be well worth your time to go down 85 and spend some time at Organ Pipe. In the late summer it can be hot (duh). Just the drive down 85 is pretty cool, and if you decide to get out and hike, great. However, people often claim that this is the only place to see organ pipe cactus, which isn't true - my neighbor next door has some, as does the guy down the street.
A word about the Border Patrol. For some reason I have had some weird experiences with them, and so have my hiking and birding buddies, in and around Organ Pipe. Despite the fact that we are the most obvious tourists from the valley you could ever see, we have been stopped and questioned multiple times on route 85 on a single trip, and this isn't unique. Adding to the frustration was that these were not at alll positive interactions. Further other things we saw on that same trip indicated that the BP was utterly wasting their time and our tax dollars just hassling people at convenient spots rather than actually doing their job. In any case, [removed OMNI/PR political characterization/argumentation] in that part of the state, so be prepared to be stopped, to show identification, to prove you own or have rented your car, to answer a lot of damn fool questions, and to generally waste a certain amount of time. You may experience the same sort of thing if you visit the Sierra Vista area or Bisbee. Rant over.
If you can get there in the winter or spring, and you like hiking, it can be well worth your time to go down 85 and spend some time at Organ Pipe. In the late summer it can be hot (duh). Just the drive down 85 is pretty cool, and if you decide to get out and hike, great. However, people often claim that this is the only place to see organ pipe cactus, which isn't true - my neighbor next door has some, as does the guy down the street.
A word about the Border Patrol. For some reason I have had some weird experiences with them, and so have my hiking and birding buddies, in and around Organ Pipe. Despite the fact that we are the most obvious tourists from the valley you could ever see, we have been stopped and questioned multiple times on route 85 on a single trip, and this isn't unique. Adding to the frustration was that these were not at alll positive interactions. Further other things we saw on that same trip indicated that the BP was utterly wasting their time and our tax dollars just hassling people at convenient spots rather than actually doing their job. In any case, [removed OMNI/PR political characterization/argumentation] in that part of the state, so be prepared to be stopped, to show identification, to prove you own or have rented your car, to answer a lot of damn fool questions, and to generally waste a certain amount of time. You may experience the same sort of thing if you visit the Sierra Vista area or Bisbee. Rant over.
Last edited by cblaisd; Feb 17, 2015 at 10:55 pm Reason: Please take political characterization/argumentation to OMNI/PR
Feb 10, 2015, 3:12 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,032
Organ Pipe is unique and has some great walking and hiking and bird watching, and it is glorious when the desert is in bloom. On the other hand, the temperature and the Border Patrol can really make it a miserable place, depending on the time of year you visit.
If you can get there in the winter or spring, and you like hiking, it can be well worth your time to go down 85 and spend some time at Organ Pipe. In the late summer it can be hot (duh). Just the drive down 85 is pretty cool, and if you decide to get out and hike, great. However, people often claim that this is the only place to see organ pipe cactus, which isn't true - my neighbor next door has some, as does the guy down the street.
A word about the Border Patrol. For some reason I have had some weird experiences with them, and so have my hiking and birding buddies, in and around Organ Pipe. Despite the fact that we are the most obvious tourists from the valley you could ever see, we have been stopped and questioned multiple times on route 85 on a single trip, and this isn't unique. Adding to the frustration was that these were not at alll positive interactions. Further other things we saw on that same trip indicated that the BP was utterly wasting their time and our tax dollars just hassling people at convenient spots rather than actually doing their job. In any case, [removed quote of now-deleted material] in that part of the state, so be prepared to be stopped, to show identification, to prove you own or have rented your car, to answer a lot of damn fool questions, and to generally waste a certain amount of time. You may experience the same sort of thing if you visit the Sierra Vista area or Bisbee. Rant over.
If you can get there in the winter or spring, and you like hiking, it can be well worth your time to go down 85 and spend some time at Organ Pipe. In the late summer it can be hot (duh). Just the drive down 85 is pretty cool, and if you decide to get out and hike, great. However, people often claim that this is the only place to see organ pipe cactus, which isn't true - my neighbor next door has some, as does the guy down the street.
A word about the Border Patrol. For some reason I have had some weird experiences with them, and so have my hiking and birding buddies, in and around Organ Pipe. Despite the fact that we are the most obvious tourists from the valley you could ever see, we have been stopped and questioned multiple times on route 85 on a single trip, and this isn't unique. Adding to the frustration was that these were not at alll positive interactions. Further other things we saw on that same trip indicated that the BP was utterly wasting their time and our tax dollars just hassling people at convenient spots rather than actually doing their job. In any case, [removed quote of now-deleted material] in that part of the state, so be prepared to be stopped, to show identification, to prove you own or have rented your car, to answer a lot of damn fool questions, and to generally waste a certain amount of time. You may experience the same sort of thing if you visit the Sierra Vista area or Bisbee. Rant over.
Thanks for all the advice!
Last edited by cblaisd; Feb 17, 2015 at 10:56 pm
Feb 11, 2015, 9:56 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Aluminum, WN B+
Posts: 929
The cacti generally bloom in May, so I don't think you'll see that. We have had some abnormally warm weather the past couple weeks (mid 80s), so you might see other plants blooming.
If you're coming from the east coast who knows if you'll get another chance to visit Organ Pipe. I say do it. It's just a couple hours from me so I can always put it off (and then I never get around to it
).
As far as the border patrol, there are a lot down there (like every other car). I've never had a problem at the checkpoints; it's usually one or two random questions that give the nearby drug dog enough time to take a quick sniff. The longest I've spent stopped in one was maybe 10 seconds. I've never once had to show ID, reg, etc...
If you're coming from the east coast who knows if you'll get another chance to visit Organ Pipe. I say do it. It's just a couple hours from me so I can always put it off (and then I never get around to it
).As far as the border patrol, there are a lot down there (like every other car). I've never had a problem at the checkpoints; it's usually one or two random questions that give the nearby drug dog enough time to take a quick sniff. The longest I've spent stopped in one was maybe 10 seconds. I've never once had to show ID, reg, etc...
Last edited by Lost; Feb 11, 2015 at 10:06 am
Feb 11, 2015, 12:05 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Aluminum, WN B+
Posts: 929
The north side (towards Mt Lemmon) or the east side (towards Saguaro East) are very nice. The area around UA isn't too bad either, and is more centrally located. Parts of the south side can get a bit questionable.
Tucson sucks to get around because for many destinations you'll need to drive miles and miles of city streets, and Tucson is the pothole capital of the world.
Tucson sucks to get around because for many destinations you'll need to drive miles and miles of city streets, and Tucson is the pothole capital of the world.
Feb 11, 2015, 12:22 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Aluminum, WN B+
Posts: 929
One other random note since you'll be doing a lot of outdoors stuff: The Oracle Control Road that goes from Oracle up the northeast side of Mt Lemmon is a high clearance 4WD road. I've heard of some GPSs giving directions up it, so don't use it (it might even be closed this time of year).
The Catalina Highway (the main road from Tucson) up the south side of Mt Lemmon is paved and fine for all vehicles.
The Catalina Highway (the main road from Tucson) up the south side of Mt Lemmon is paved and fine for all vehicles.
Feb 11, 2015, 1:57 pm
#26
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Are there any hotels in Ajo? That's a REALLY small town in quite literally the middle of nowhere.
I would just drive Phoenix to Tucson and get setteled in a hotel there, then make Organ Pipe a day trip from Tucson the next day.
Phoenix to Tucson is only two hours, so it would give you tine to do some other things on your itinerary in Tucson that afternoon.
I would just drive Phoenix to Tucson and get setteled in a hotel there, then make Organ Pipe a day trip from Tucson the next day.
Phoenix to Tucson is only two hours, so it would give you tine to do some other things on your itinerary in Tucson that afternoon.
Feb 11, 2015, 2:25 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,886
Pothole Capital!
Feb 12, 2015, 7:08 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,706
I was just there Super Bowl weekend. Really fun, a nice tour of the underground complex that occurs hourly, delivered by former Air Force vets who actually conducted shifts in these Titan silos. Hourly tours have about 10-12 in the group and I swear I was the only American - lots of British/Australian accents. Recommended.