Organ Mtns National Monument -Baylor Canyon Pass Trail

State: New Mexico

Trailhead Location: Aguirre Springs Campground

Park: Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument

Length: 4 miles, out-and-back

Fee: $5 for day use as of 10/25/2025

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Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument is a hidden gem in the El Paso and Las Cruces area. Most hikers know about the Franklin Mountains, White Sands, Ruidoso, and Cloudcroft. But some of the best camping, hiking, and scrambling can be found in this national monument managed by BLM.

Baylor Canyon Pass is a relaxing 4 mile introduction to the stark beauty of this area. Created by a volcanic eruption approximately 36 million years ago and subsequent tectonic uplift, the surrounding mountains are named for their organ pipe appearance.

The path gradually guides up past juniper, oak, yucca, and the occasional barrel cactus. Rabbits Ears and the Needles tower above you on the trail. And the mountains sweep down into the valley towards White Sand Dunes National Park and White Sand Dunes Missile Range.

This area can be full of wildlife. Although there was plenty of scat evidence along the trail, the only signs of life other than the occasional fellow hiker were crickets and Gila woodpeckers.

Once you make it up to the pass, there is an option to push for Baylor Peak. I didn't make the attempt on this day but will plan to in the future. Organ Peak and the Needles are also on the list. This monument will be seeing a lot of me in the future.

--Happy Hiking