Add to and alter the Hot Well Dunes article.

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

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ 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"
+date: "2025-12-27T19:30:00-07:00"
+started: "2025-12-27T19:00:00-07:00"
+lastmod: "2025-12-28T13:30:00-07:00"
 toc: true
 images:
 tags:
@@ -19,17 +19,22 @@ categories:
   - guides
 aliases:
   - /posts/guides/tourism/hot-well-dunes
+  - /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!
+Hot Well Dunes is one of the few (if not the only) hot springs in southeastern Arizona which are public rather than invite-only. I finally made my first visit in December 2025!
+
+## Summary
+
+Easy to access BLM recreation area with public hot springs only 25 miles from Safford AZ. The pools are only usable when the sun is out and cost $3 per day or $30 per year.
 
 ## 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.
+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 because they run off of solar and the drains are always active.
+1. Haekel Road may be *slightly* washboarded but it is paved well enough to go 45+ mph.
 
 ## Access
 
@@ -43,19 +48,27 @@ Tanque Road off of Highway [TBD] is dirt until you get to Haekel Road. I found i
 
 ### Never Again
 
-I love exploring, especially when I end up going places that others will never want or need to. 🙃
+I love exploring, especially when I end up going somewhere horrible and can save people the time from ever needing to do it themselves. 🙃
 
 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
 
+### Daily
+
 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.
+### Yearly
 
-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.
+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 per normal BLM rules and guidelines.
 
-## Pools
+### "Can I get away with not paying?"
+
+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. I didn't mind paying the fee since they're keeping the grounds clean, providing trash and toilet services, and ensuring people aren't getting rowdy.
+
+## Amenities
+
+### 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.
 
@@ -63,12 +76,16 @@ The temperature seemed the same to me, as well as the fill rate. They each have
 
 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
+### 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.
 
+### Toilets
+
+There are vault toilets at the hot spring area, at the fee paying area, as well as around some of the designated campsites. They seemed well maintained and stocked with plenty of toilet paper, so no need to carry in your own like at the Verde Hot Springs.
+
 ## 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.
@@ -78,3 +95,13 @@ I visited the next Wednesday and had a much different experience. I met a kind p
 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!
+
+## Conclusion
+
+In future years I'll likely purchase the yearly pass and begin camping down there once the daytime temperatures drop to the low 80s or high 70s. I can hop between the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area and spots further away such as Gila Box and upper Haekel Road to ensure I maximize my 14 days down at the hot springs.
+
+This gets me further from the Tucson area, which does not have as good of a camping experience due to the mass of local airports and the distance it takes to get from camp to any amenities. If only Safford had a Natural Grocers, then I wouldn't need to go to Tucson at all! Other than visits to Govinda's, of course. ;D
+
+I'd love to hear if you stop by the hot springs and how your experience goes! My email address can be found at the bottom of the page. :)
+
+Peace and wellness to you and yours! <3