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Hot Well Dunes

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Trail Map

Other Names

Hackel Rd, San Simon River, Gold Gulch Wash, Starvation Flat, Tanque Rd, San Simon Valley, Bowie

Last Known Status

Open

This unique recreation area features hot springs, onsite camping and limited amounts of shade.

The name comes from an artisan well that produces 250 gallons of hot water (106F) per minute. A couple of concrete soaking tubs have been built for the hot springs and they were actually pretty clean. There are 10 developed tent/RV sites that include fire grills and vault toilets, as well as a day-use area.

Trails consist mainly of sandy washes and one main sand dune, with multiple dirt dunes surrounding it. (The sand is pretty firm, so you can still have plenty of fun without a paddle.) The area is very popular, especially during the weekends and the summer days can be very hot.

OHV Area Map... Nearby ATV OHV Areas...

REGULATIONS

Permit Required	Yes	AZGFD sticker required
Dates Open	Year-Round
Other ATV Stickers Accepted	No	All non-residents must purchase an Arizona OHV decal.
Spark Arrestor	Yes	A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles.
Noise Limit	Yes (96 dB)
Whip Flags	Yes (96 inches)	Whip Flags Required For Safety
Maximum Vehicle Width	No Restriction
Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes	Permitted
ATVs	Permitted
UTV & SXS	Permitted
SUVs & Jeeps (registered)	Permitted
Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered)	Permitted
2 Stroke Engines	No Restriction
MX Helmet Required	Youth Only	required for persons under 18 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.)
Camping	Some Areas
Campfires	Some Areas
Night Riding	Yes	Not Recommended
Trail Blazing	Some Areas
Rule Enforcement	Few/Periodic

TERRAIN

Approx Size	2,000 acres (3 sq mi)
Miles Of Trail	5
Climate Type	Desert
Elevation	3300 to 3500 ft.
Trail Maintenance	Not Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained
Loose Dirt	None
Hard Pack	Little
Sand	Mostly	paddle or sand tire recommended for best experience
Mud	None
Dust	None
Rocks	Little
Trees	Few
Steep Hills	Some
Water Crossings	None
Small Jumps	Many
Large Jumps	Some
Berms	Some
Sand/Gravel Pits	None
Single Track	None
Roads	Few
Intersections	All
Rider Traffic	Some
Shade	Few
Ranges/Gunfire	None
Hazards	Few	(hazards not marked) steep dropoffs
Novice	Mostly
Amateur	Some
Expert	Little

TYPE OF AREA

Area	Motorized Trails, Off-Road Dunes

Land

BLM

GPS POINTS

KEY SERVICES

Gasoline	30+ Miles (NW)	Chevron/Safford
Diesel	30+ Miles (NW)	Safford
Water	30+ Miles (NW)	Roper Lake State Park (928) 428-6760
RV Hookup	30+ Miles (NW)	Roper Lake State Park (928) 428-6760
RV Disposal	30+ Miles (NW)	Roper Lake State Park (928) 428-6760
Campground	30+ Miles (NW)	Roper Lake State Park (928) 428-6760
Conv Store	30+ Miles (NW)	Bashas/Thatcher (928) 428-6238

FEES & PASSES

Parking	(None)
Entry	Yes ($3.00 per vehicle)
Riding	(None)
Camping	(None)
Comment	Annual Permit - $30.00

RATINGS

Pros	unique area has hot tubs, sandy trails & dunes to explore, has nice picnic tables & shade ramadas scattered around, reasonable fees
Cons	far away from any major cities (long drive), no services
Our Rating	Very Good
Recommended Stay	1-2 Days Fall/Winter
Comments	(Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Nearest City

Bowie, AZ

Trail Map

From: Tucson, AZ
1) Take I-10 East to town of Bowie (Exit 362)
2) Follow road 1.8 miles to N. Central Ave.
3) Turn left on N. Central Ave., continue 2 miles
4) Turn right (east) on Fan Road (you will see a blue sign that says "Hotwell Springs"), continue 8.3 miles
5) Turn left (north) on Heckle Road (you will cross a cattleguard and see a BLM sign on the right), continue 8.1 miles
6) Look for main entrance on the right (east).

OFFICIAL CONTACTS

Contact Info

BLM - Safford Field Office
711 14th Ave
Safford, AZ 85546-3321
(928) 348-4400
blm_az_sfoweb@blm.gov
www.blm.gov

Contact Info	Arizona State Parks (602) 542-6942 (602) 542-2146 mrogers@azstateparks.gov meberhart@azstateparks.gov azstateparks.com
Comment	Arizona State Parks OHV Grants Program