Hike Mount Ajo via Bull Pasture Trail Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ

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More recently we did a loop of the Ajo Mountains, which included an approach and descent of Mount Ajo via non-standard routes. It’s a much more grueling undertaking, if you’re interested.

Mount Ajo is the highest point in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and with the existence of a trail leading all the way to its summit and a paved road leading to the Bull Pasture Trailhead, it gets a fair amount more attention than most desert peaks this remote. The peak also has over 2,000 feet of prominence, so it’s got quite the sweeping summit view.

Shortly after starting from my car along the Bull Pasture Trail, I reached a junction with the Estes Canyon Trail. There is an option to include this trail to form a partial loop and add a half mile, but I decided to just stick to the Bull Pasture Trail. An initial ascent led me up to the southwest ridgeline, which the trail proceeds to trace most of the time, weaving just below a series of cliffs along the way.

I reached the end of the official portion of the NPS trail as it entered Bull Pasture, a sweeping section along the ridgeline covered in grasses with excellent views of the ridgeline leading to Mount Ajo above, but the trail continues on and I had little issue following it. Past Bull Pasture, the trail wrapped beneath more cliffs and then the trail steepened, climbing through a steep gully to reach the southern ridge.

The trail continued pleasantly to the north from here, gaining vertical more casually and skirting around various outcroppings and a sub-peak. Mount Ajo’s gorgeous western cliff face is visible for much of the time and it’s a lovely feature to have in view. A Class 2 bit leads to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mount Ajo

4808 ft

2698 rise

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Starting up the Bull Pasture Trail, Mount Ajo in the center.

Junction with the Estes Canyon Trail.

Ascending along the Bull Pasture Trail.

Bull Pasture Trail, Mount Ajo on the left.

Nice views along the trail.

Looking back along the Bull Pasture Trail.

Mount Ajo seen above.

Entering Bull Pasture, and the end of the official trail. An excellent social trail leads on the rightmost part of this photo, then up a gully to the ridgeline above.

Some water stains within Bull Pasture.

The trail wraps around some cliffs.

Heading up a gully to gain the ridgeline.

The trail steepens up the gully.

View back down as I head up the gully.

Continuing toward the ridgeline above.

Looking back down the gully, Mount Ajo in the distance, hidden by the foreground sub-peak.

The trail generally follows the south ridge of Mount Ajo, but avoids the crest usually since there are cliffs and rock outcroppings along the way.

Looking back along the south ridge.

A sub-peak along the way obscuring the view toward Mount Ajo. The trail wraps around it.

View back, Bull Pasture visible below.

Wrapping around the sub-peak.

There's Mount Ajo!

View back along the south ridge.

Approaching Mount Ajo's summit, some Class 2.

Mount Ajo summit, looking north.

Close-up of Peak 4720.

Mount Ajo summit looking back south.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!