SAFFORD, Ariz. – The Bureau of Land Management is improving public access to the 2,200-acre Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, a popular off-road and utility vehicle riding area in Safford, funded through the Great American Outdoors Act.
Work on the northern 15 miles of Haekel Road starting from US 70 will begin on March 24, 2025, and take approximately four months to complete. Public access to the southern portion of Haekel Road and the dunes will remain available via Tanque Road and Fan Road. Road closure signs will be posted during work periods. Updates will be available through BLM Arizona social media channels and local radio public service announcements.
The BLM received close to $14.4M in Great American Outdoor Act funding in 2022 to complete recreation improvement projects to Haekel Road, the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, and the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. These projects will replace aging recreation facilities and improve road systems to enhance recreation experiences at each location.
