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Dune weather summary: Aden Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 54°, 3 mph. Alkali Lake OHV Area, 64°, 8 mph. Amargosa Big Dune, 57°, 5 mph. Aurora Open OHV Area, 39°, 3 mph. Bangs Canyon OHV Trails, 45°, 3 mph. Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area, 57°, 0 mph. Blue Creek OHV Area, 61°, 14 mph. Boulders OHV Staging Area, 63°, 0 mph. Buttercup Valley, 70°, 9 mph. Cameo Cliffs/Hook and OHV Ladder Trail System, 54°, 6 mph. Chappie/Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, 55°, 0 mph. Cinder Hills OHV Area, 42°, 20 mph. Copper Basin Dunes OHV Area, 64°, 6 mph. Coral Pink Sand Dunes, 54°, 5 mph. Crescent Sand Dunes, 37°, 5 mph. Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park, 58°, 0 mph. Crossroads OHV Area, 73°, 6 mph. Dove Springs OHV Area, 53°, 0 mph. Dumont Dunes, 64°, 2 mph. Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 37°, 5 mph. El Mirage OHV Area, 40°, 3 mph. Escondido Draw Recreational Area, 64°, 17 mph. Fort Sage Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 46°, 1 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Fossil Creek OHV Trail, 45°, 3 mph. Gemini Bridges, 45°, 0 mph. Glamis / Imperial Sand Dunes, 64°, 8 mph. Glenwood Open OHV Area, 39°, 3 mph. Gordon's Well, 70°, 9 mph. Grand Valley Open OHV Area, 46°, 0 mph. Greater Sand Dunes SRMA, 36°, 6 mph, active alert: High Wind Watch. Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle Use Area, 64°, 8 mph. Hayfield Draw OHV Area, 63°, 0 mph. Haystack Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 53°, 7 mph, active alert: Flood Watch. Head Canyon OHV Recreation Area, 37°, 5 mph. Hog Canyon OHV Trail System, 55°, 9 mph. Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, 72°, 5 mph. Hungry Valley SVRA, 44°, 4 mph. Jawbone Canyon OHV Area, 53°, 0 mph. Johnson Valley OHV Area, 59°, 7 mph. Killpecker Sand Dunes Open Play Area, 36°, 6 mph, active alert: High Wind Watch. Knolls Off-Highway Vehicle Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA), 43°, 3 mph. Little Sahara Recreation Area, 45°, 0 mph. Little Sahara State Park, 61°, 8 mph. McCullough Peaks OHV Area, 48°, 0 mph. Mescalero Sands North Dune Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 63°, 11 mph, active alert: Flood Watch. Millican Valley OHV Trail System, 45°, 6 mph. Moon Rocks OHV Area, 47°, 1 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Nellis Dunes OHV Area, 59°, 5 mph. North Sand Hills OHV Area, 37°, 8 mph. Northwest OHV Park, 64°, 0 mph. Oceano Dunes / Pismo Beach, 55°, 0 mph, active alert: Coastal Flood Advisory. Ocotillo Wells SVRA, 72°, 12 mph. Pipestone OHV Area, 36°, 1 mph, active alert: Dense Fog Advisory. Poison Spider / Gold Bar, 45°, 0 mph. Rabbit Creek OHV Trail, 52°, 9 mph. Radar Hill OHV Area, 36°, 0 mph. Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 57°, 7 mph. Red Sands Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 63°, 5 mph. Rice Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 46°, 2 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Robledo Mountains OHV Trail System, 63°, 5 mph. Rosita Flats OHV Area, 61°, 14 mph. Samoa Dunes, 55°, 9 mph, active alert: Coastal Flood Advisory. Sand Flats Recreation Area, 45°, 0 mph. Sand Mountain Open Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 39°, 0 mph. Sand Mountain Pipeline Designated Dispersed Camping Area, 54°, 5 mph. Sand Mountain Recreation Area, 50°, 4 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Seep Springs OHV Area, 46°, 3 mph. Shoshone OHV Trail System, 39°, 0 mph. Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area, 39°, 0 mph. Silver Lake ORV Area, 55°, 3 mph. South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area, 46°, 0 mph, active alert: Frost Advisory. St. Anthony Sand Dunes, 36°, 3 mph. St. Helen Motorsport Area, 48°, 6 mph. Standard Wash OHV Area, 64°, 6 mph. Stoddard Valley OHV Area, 53°, 5 mph. Table Mesa Recreation Area, 63°, 0 mph. Virtue Flat Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 45°, 6 mph. Weiser Dunes, 45°, 3 mph. Whitewash Sand Dunes Open OHV Area and Trail System, 45°, 0 mph. Winnemucca Sand Dunes, 37°, 7 mph.

ⓘ
Aden Hills Off-Highway… 54° 3 mph Alkali Lake OHV Area 64° 8 mph Amargosa Big Dune 57° 5 mph Aurora Open OHV Area 39° 3 mph Bangs Canyon OHV Trails 45° 3 mph Barnwell Mountain… 57° 0 mph Blue Creek OHV Area 61° 14 mph Boulders OHV Staging Area 63° 0 mph Buttercup Valley 70° 9 mph Cameo Cliffs/Hook and OHV… 54° 6 mph Chappie/Shasta Off-Highway… 55° 0 mph Cinder Hills OHV Area 42° 20 mph Copper Basin Dunes OHV Area 64° 6 mph Coral Pink Sand Dunes 54° 5 mph Crescent Sand Dunes 37° 5 mph Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park 58° 0 mph Crossroads OHV Area 73° 6 mph Dove Springs OHV Area 53° 0 mph Dumont Dunes 64° 2 mph Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area 37° 5 mph El Mirage OHV Area 40° 3 mph Escondido Draw Recreational… 64° 17 mph Fort Sage Off-Highway… 46° 1 mph Fossil Creek OHV Trail 45° 3 mph Gemini Bridges 45° 0 mph Glamis / Imperial Sand Dunes 64° 8 mph Glenwood Open OHV Area 39° 3 mph Gordon's Well 70° 9 mph Grand Valley Open OHV Area 46° 0 mph Greater Sand Dunes SRMA 36° 6 mph Hackberry Lake Off-Highway… 64° 8 mph Hayfield Draw OHV Area 63° 0 mph Haystack Mountain… 53° 7 mph Head Canyon OHV Recreation… 37° 5 mph Hog Canyon OHV Trail System 55° 9 mph Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area 72° 5 mph Hungry Valley SVRA 44° 4 mph Jawbone Canyon OHV Area 53° 0 mph Johnson Valley OHV Area 59° 7 mph Killpecker Sand Dunes Open… 36° 6 mph Knolls Off-Highway Vehicle… 43° 3 mph Little Sahara Recreation Area 45° 0 mph Little Sahara State Park 61° 8 mph McCullough Peaks OHV Area 48° 0 mph Mescalero Sands North Dune… 63° 11 mph Millican Valley OHV Trail… 45° 6 mph Moon Rocks OHV Area 47° 1 mph Nellis Dunes OHV Area 59° 5 mph North Sand Hills OHV Area 37° 8 mph Northwest OHV Park 64° 0 mph Oceano Dunes / Pismo Beach 55° 0 mph Ocotillo Wells SVRA 72° 12 mph Pipestone OHV Area 36° 1 mph Poison Spider / Gold Bar 45° 0 mph Rabbit Creek OHV Trail 52° 9 mph Radar Hill OHV Area 36° 0 mph Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area 57° 7 mph Red Sands Off-Highway… 63° 5 mph Rice Canyon Off-Highway… 46° 2 mph Robledo Mountains OHV Trail… 63° 5 mph Rosita Flats OHV Area 61° 14 mph Samoa Dunes 55° 9 mph Sand Flats Recreation Area 45° 0 mph Sand Mountain Open… 39° 0 mph Sand Mountain Pipeline… 54° 5 mph Sand Mountain Recreation Area 50° 4 mph Seep Springs OHV Area 46° 3 mph Shoshone OHV Trail System 39° 0 mph Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area 39° 0 mph Silver Lake ORV Area 55° 3 mph South Cow Mountain OHV… 46° 0 mph St. Anthony Sand Dunes 36° 3 mph St. Helen Motorsport Area 48° 6 mph Standard Wash OHV Area 64° 6 mph Stoddard Valley OHV Area 53° 5 mph Table Mesa Recreation Area 63° 0 mph Virtue Flat Off-Highway… 45° 6 mph Weiser Dunes 45° 3 mph Whitewash Sand Dunes Open… 45° 0 mph Winnemucca Sand Dunes 37° 7 mph

Halloween

Happy Halloween from Full Throttle Trader

Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area

Ride in the sand and soak in hot tubs

Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area riding area
Entry points1 verified
Size2,000 acres
Conditions72° · 5 mph

Trip check

Before you go

  • Permit status not confirmed. Check with the managing agency.
  • Dumping sewage or gray water is not allowed. Public nudity, especially in hot tubs, is not allowed. The use of firearms, including BB and pellet guns, and archery is prohibited.

Guide

About this area

Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area offers the opportunity to ride 2,000 acres of sand dunes and set up a camp in a unique recreation spot in Arizona.

Camping

Camping is restricted in certain areas, including parking lots and posted prohibited zones. Camping is limited to 14 days within a 28-day period.

Facilities

• Artesian well hot tubs — water arrives at about 106°F
• Tubs are typically full from roughly one hour after sunrise until one hour before sunset, and drain overnight
• Campsites, restrooms, picnic areas and parking, maintained from the recreation use fee
• 2,000 acres of sand dunes

Full agency description

Sound like a day at the beach? The sands at the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area were a beach surrounding a lake approximately two million years ago. What remains today is one of the most unique recreation spots in Arizona. Hot Well Dunes provides the opportunity to ride 2,000 acres of sand dunes, set up a camp, and then soak in relaxing hot tubs, all in the same location. However, please be considerate of your neighbors who may not be here to participate in the same activity as you. This is the only way this area will continue to be available to have fun in the sand, sun, and water. Supplementary RulesVisitors come to the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area to participate in many different activities. To ensure that everyone’s visit is enjoyable, please note the following:Vehicle Rider Capacity: Operators must use the designated seat and can only carry additional passengers if the vehicle is designed for it. Clinging and Towing: Towing objects or people and clinging to vehicles is prohibited. Safety Flags: All off-road vehicles must display a safety flag, except for certain types of vehicles like RVs, pickups, and passenger sedans. Flags must be bright orange or red, at least 6x12 inches, and mounted 8 feet high. Vehicle Use: Off-road vehicles are not allowed in areas with metal railings or marked as prohibited. Nudity: Public nudity, especially in hot tubs, is not allowed. Firearms and Archery: The use of firearms, including BB and pellet guns, and archery is prohibited. Pets: Pets must be leashed or otherwise physically restricted at all times. Speed Limit: The speed limit is 10 mph

At a glance

Quick facts

Camping limit
Camping is limited to 14 days within a 28-day period to ensure fair access for all visitors.
Managing agency
Bureau of Land Management

Rules

Rules

Specific to Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area

  • Rider capacity: operators must use the designated seat, and may only carry passengers if the vehicle was built for them
  • 🔴 Towing objects or people, and clinging to a moving vehicle, is prohibited
  • Off-road vehicles are not allowed in areas with metal railings or posted as prohibited
  • Speed limit 10 mph on the main access road and within 50 feet either side of it, and within 50 feet of any campsite or any group of three or more people
Show all 11 area-specific rules
  • Firearms — including BB and pellet guns — and archery are prohibited
  • Pets must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained at all times
  • Public nudity, including in the hot tubs, is not allowed
  • Dumping sewage or gray water is not allowed
  • 🪖 ARIZONA — HELMET: DOT-approved helmet required for any operator or passenger UNDER 18. Exception: a child properly secured in a child-restraint system in a vehicle with a roll-over protection structure.
  • 📋 ARIZONA — OHV DECAL: machines built primarily for unimproved terrain and weighing 2,500 lb or less must display a valid Arizona OHV decal to ride public and state trust land. Non-residents need the Arizona decal — Arizona has required it since 1 September 2019 and does not recognize another state's OHV program.
  • 📋 ARIZONA — being street-legal does NOT exempt you from the decal. Vehicles over 2,500 lb fall outside the requirement.
Standard OHV rules (4)

Common equipment, registration and trail-use rules still apply.

  • ⭐ RIDE TO THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARD, NOT THE LEGAL MINIMUM. What is written below is what the managing agency requires. A helmet, eye protection, a flag and proper gear are what get you home — wear them whether or not the law where you are riding insists on it.
  • 🔴 Safety flag required on every off-road vehicle — bright orange or red, at least 6 x 12 inches, mounted 8 feet high. RVs, pickups and passenger sedans are exempt
  • 📖 CHECK THE LAW YOURSELF — these requirements come from Arizona Game & Fish — OHV Program. Rules change, and you are responsible for compliance: www.azgfd.com
  • 🗺️ NO SIGNAL? TAKE AN OFFLINE MAP. BLM publish free GEOREFERENCED PDF maps that show your live GPS position with no cell service, in the Avenza Maps app or similar. Download the map for this area BEFORE you leave tarmac: www.blm.gov

Permits

Permits & registration

Permit and registration details

Recreation use fees of $3.00 per vehicle are collected at the site. These fees are used to improve and maintain access roads, campsites, restroom facilities, hot tubs, picnic areas, and parking areas. The permit and fee are not required for vehicles in tow.Visitors can purchase an annual pass for $30 from the Safford Field Office. Call 928-348-4400 with questions.

State residents
Arizona residents: any OHV designed primarily for unimproved terrain and weighing 2,500 pounds or less must display a valid Arizona OHV decal to ride on public or state trust land.
Out-of-state riders
Out-of-state riders: Arizona does NOT honour OHV permits or registrations from any other state. Non-residents must buy an Arizona non-resident OHV decal — $25 plus processing — before riding. Your home-state sticker does not count.
Bureau of Land Management official page (current closures & alerts)

Permit and registration rules change. Confirm current requirements with the managing agency before you ride — you are responsible for compliance.

Trip support

Fuel, food & local help

Pump gas & diesel

  • ⬅️ HAEKEL ROAD APPROACH — Safford, AZfuel

    FROM THE NORTH — then 25 miles of BLM road · Safford is your last services. From there it is seven miles east on Highway 70 and then 25 MILES down Haekel Road with nothing on it.

  • ⬆️ FAN ROAD APPROACH — Bowie, AZfuel

    FROM THE SOUTH · Small. Fill properly in Safford or Willcox rather than counting on Bowie.

  • 🔴 NOTHING AT THE DUNESfuel

    APPLIES TO ALL THREE APPROACHES · All three access roads — Haekel, Fan and Tanque — are long runs with no services. Arrive full and carry your own water.

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