Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area

Hot Well Dunes OHV Recreation Area is a little known off-road park in the middle of nowhere in southeast Arizona. 2 million years ago, the sands in this area were part of a beach surrounding a large lake. We are lucky to be allowed to explore all over the 2000 acre park without worrying about following trails. The entire park is a wide open to all types of vehicles. An added bonus is after a long day of playing in the sand, you can relax in one of the naturally fed hot tubs. Back in 1928 when workers were drilling for oil 1900 feet below the sand, the 106° water came bubbling up and has been kept flowing ever since. Visitors are now able to relax in the mineral rich water while enjoying the desert scenery. Because the well runs on a pump powered by solar panels, they only operate during the day. Get your soak in before dark. This park is remote, so the crowds can be much smaller compared to other large dune areas in the southwest United States. The park requires a daily fee of $3.00 for each motor vehicle entering the park. This minimal fee even includes camping. For vehicles entering the dunes area, they require a safety flag on all types of vehicles.