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I saw the summaries and comments on Victoria Mine and Arch Canyon posted on the site. I was hoping to get some general feedback from anyone who has been down to that area. A buddy and I are going down to do some cross country hiking for three days in the beginning of January and wanted to get any additional comments anyone had on the area, etc. The Puerto Blanco Scenic Road is closed till Jan 4th, tentatively, so I am considering hiking from the scenic drive east of 85 towards Diaz Spire and somewhere in that general vicinity depending on what I can see once I get some maps of the area. All feedback is appreciated.

I've hiked both Victoria Mine and Arch Canyon. The Victoria trail is typical bajada-style desert. It's pretty lush with all the organ pipe and other cacti. The mine and old store are fairly interesting. Near the mine area, the trail follows an old road. You can continue beyond the mine and explore the futher into the next couple of valleys.

Arch Canyon is a blast! Once you get back there a ways, you can scramble all the way up to the top of the cliff above the arches. The view up there is really cool, well worth the effort! It's sort of like being up on Flatiron, but without a metro area below!

I didn't do any other hiking down, there. A friend and I went down during one of the comets in the mid 90's. The night skies are pretty dark down there, and the view of the comet was incredible!

There is an untrailed route you can take called the Grass Canyon loop. It's one of the best dayhikes I've ever done. It starts and ends at the primitive camping area that is at the end of a spur road coming off the main route into the park (sorry, the name escapes me, but it's on park maps on the west side of the Ajo Mountains). You hike along the west side of the mountains, then go up Grass Canyon to a saddle, then back down the other side into another canyon, and back to the primitive camping area. Find the Falcon Guide "Hiking Arizona's Cactus Country" by Erik Molvar, it has a great description of the route (and many other great hikes in southern AZ). This hike is about 5 hours long and a bit of work, but the views and flora are great. Hope this helps. Have fun, Organ Pipe is one of my favorite places.

Ah, we'll get to do it next time.....