Construction expected to last six months
Staff Reports
SAFFORD — The Bureau of Land Management’s Safford Field Office will soon begin improvements to camping areas, roads, and other amenities at the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area using funding from the Great American Outdoors Act.
Construction is scheduled to start the week of June 1 and is expected to wrap up by Jan. 26, 2027. The project will focus on repairing and replacing aging recreation facilities while enhancing access throughout the popular site northeast of Safford.
“This work will improve the visitor experience while protecting the area’s natural resources,” BLM officials stated in a release. Planned upgrades include enhancements to camping areas, completion of a campground host site, relocation of hot tubs to better protect them from flood damage, and improvements to roads and walkways for safer and easier access.
The Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area will remain open to the public throughout the project. However, visitors should anticipate periodic disruptions to developed amenities, including trash receptacles, vault toilets, and some established campsites, as work progresses.
Dispersed camping, off-highway vehicle use, and hiking will remain available across most of the area. Officials are asking the public to pack out all trash, respect construction zones and equipment, and avoid active work sites for safety.
Advance notice will be provided through signs at the site, updates on BLM Arizona social media channels, and local radio public service announcements ahead of major work periods.
For more information or to check current conditions, contact the BLM Safford Field Office at blm_az_sfoweb@blm.gov (mailto:_az_sfoweb@blm.gov) or by phone at 928-348-4400.
The Hot Well Dunes area is known for its unique geothermal hot tubs, expansive sand dunes suitable for off-roading, and opportunities for dispersed camping in the desert landscape. The improvements are part of broader efforts under the Great American Outdoors Act to address maintenance backlogs at public lands and recreation sites.
