Add initial revision of Hot Well Dunes writeup.

content/posts/guides/tourism/hot-well-dunes.md

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+---
+draft: false
+pinned: false
+hidden: false
+title: "Hot Well Dunes"
+subtitle: "BLM hot springs near Safford AZ"
+feathericon: "droplet"
+author: Bug
+date: "2025-12-27T19:45:00-07:00"
+started: "2025-12-27T19:00:41-07:00"
+lastmod: #"2025-12-27T19:00:41-07:00"
+toc: true
+images:
+tags:
+  - tourism
+series:
+  - hot springs
+categories:
+  - guides
+aliases:
+  - /posts/guides/tourism/hot-well-dunes
+---
+
+Hot Well Dunes is one of the few hot springs near Safford Arizona which are not invite-only. I finally made my fist visit in December of 2025!
+
+## Misconceptions
+
+There are a few things in the reviews which people had completely wrong. I'd like to dispel them right off the bat:
+
+1. The $3 fee is for ANY activity on the property,and comes with being able to stay an overnight.
+1. The pools drain at sunset. This is because they are solar and the drains are always open.
+1. Haekel Road may be slightly washboarded but it is paved well enough to go 45+ mph.
+
+## Access
+
+### Best
+
+I highly recommend approaching from Haekel Road off of Highway 70[TBD] near Safford. It is paved and has a speed limit of 45mph which is very easy to do. The road is slightly washboarded but not anything like a dirt or gravel road.
+
+### Acceptable
+
+Tanque Road off of Highway [TBD] is dirt until you get to Haekel Road. I found it to be a fairly pleasant drive though, and it has some very peaceful dispersed campsites on it for those not looking to overnight in the fee-based recreation area.
+
+### Never Again
+
+I love exploring, especially when I end up going places that others will never want or need to. 🙃
+
+Therefore I highly recommend **avoiding** the roads between Bowie and Hot Well Dunes. It was ***extremely*** dusty and pretty washboarded. The town also has no services other than a small gas station near the interstate. I'd do Tanque Road over this any day, I will not be going back to this route. 😂
+
+## Fees
+
+It is $3 per day for any use of the area. This includes any activity, regardless of whether camping, soaking, or riding the dunes. It allows 1 overnight stay with checkout being 2PM the next day. The fee kiosk can be found once you've entered the land.
+
+There is also a $30 yearly pass available at the BLM office in Safford. This pass is still subject to the 14 nights of camping in a 28 day period before needing to relocate 25+ miles away.
+
+From what I hear the camp host does go around and check on folks every few days. I did not meet them though since I only visited twice and camped elsewhere.
+
+## Pools
+
+There are two concrete pools, both very similar sizes and designs. One is more central to the park-like area, and the other is more nestled in to the corner and has more plant coverage for privacy.
+
+The temperature seemed the same to me, as well as the fill rate. They each have a small pool within their fenced regions which get filled with the overflow. The temperature felt about the same but are likely a bit cooler, although they're a bit too small to really get a good soaking. I was told people use them to rinse their feet before getting into the main pools.
+
+I got there around sunrise each day and confirmed the pools were near-empty. If it got cloudy then the water would stop and the pol levels would reduce. Learn from my mistake; do not get in until the water is at least covering the 2nd step! I got in too early and it got cloudy, the water went under the first step and was only lukewarm since the air and cement were stealing the heat. Not fun!! 😅
+
+## Camping
+
+There is both designated (numbered sites with fire rings and sometimes picnic tables under shelters), as well as dispersed camping (wild camping, parking wherever you'd like with no amenities) in the park. Each require paying the fee.
+
+For free camping, many sites can be used on Haekel Road and Tanque Road. I was also told there is dispersed camping north of Highway 70[TBD] in the Gila Box area. I have not confirmed the quality of these sites or roads.
+
+## People
+
+I met a kind older man my first day there, a Saturday. We chatted for an hour or so before 3 local youths from a nearby town arrived. They seemed kind enough so we invited them in, then realized they were with a pack of 8-12 people playing normie music from a stereo. Not my scene, and I had already been in for a while, so I left and the older man chose to as well.
+
+I visited the next Wednesday and had a much different experience. I met a kind person who joined me and ended up becoming a friend, and I only saw one person get in the other pool. I stayed until at least noon and saw no one else indulge in either pool. So, next time, I'll be skipping the weekends.
+
+Both visits there was someone playing a radio or TV very close to the more private western pool. It was quite distracting, enough that I chose the more open eastern pool on my second visit since their camp noise was already going on by 08:00 / 08:30. It was quite obnoxious.
+
+I also noted quite a few grumpy men who'd have nothing to do with even waving on Saturday. If they saw me in the pool they'd just turn around and leave. Not sure what that was about, if it wasn't for the Wednesday experience I may have written off the place!