Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument · Arizona

Desert View Nature Trail

1.1 mi loop · Watch the Sunset from Desert View Trail: 1.2 mi loop in the Service's write-up · about 200 ft of climbing · 1,701 ft–1,862 ft

1,701 ft 1,706 ft · 1.0 mi high 1,862 ft

Watch the Sunset from Desert View Trail 1.2 mi loop · the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · no dogs · entrance fee applies · season While Desert View trail can be experienced all year round, please be aware that summer and fall temperatures can reach upwards of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Please plan your activities accordingly and practice desert safety.

Start Desert View Trailhead

Hiker with backpack and camera stares out at mountains in the distance on a desert trail at sunset.
A small hill along the trail provides colorful sunset views of the monument and Mexico. Photo: Photo/K Ceballos

Searching for that quintessential desert sunset? The Desert View trail has your back! This short, 1.2 mile (1.9 km) easy to moderate trail can be reached from Twin Peaks Campground and loops around striking stands of organ pipe cacti. Desert View Trail offers great views for sunrise or sunset.

Start your hike about half an hour before sunset so you can reach the highest point of the trail - on the western side of the loop - just as the sun is starting to set. Sit on one of the benches and watch as the desert bajadas below are painted pink and gold. While watching the sun dive into the horizon, make sure to glance back at the Ajo Mountains and watch them develop into shades of pink and red.

As you complete the loop on your hike out, be cautious where you put your feet. Watch out for rattlesnakes and cholla balls . Listen for the hooting of the great horned owl, and look upwards as the first stars start to make their appearance.

Distance: 1.2 mile (1.9 km) loop

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Accessibility Trail terrain is uneven, rocky and steep in some sections. Hikers of many different abilities have hiked this route in the past. If you are curious about accessibility for your needs please contact the park. While pets are not allowed on this trail, service animals are allowed.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 25 trails in Organ Pipe Cactus National MonumentFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.