The Arizona desert is known for its dramatic landscape, including towering cacti and sandy, rolling dunes. The sand dunes in the state are some of the most picturesque in the country, and a popular destination for hikers and photographers.
Arizona is a state that is known for its beautiful landscapes and it also has some of the best sand dunes in the United States. The desert terrain of Arizona is home to many different types of plants and animals.
This desert is one of the best destinations for sandboarding all thanks to the shifting dunes.
Arizona Sand Dunes
Below are some of the amazing places you can get sand dunes in Arizona. Check them out:
1. Yuma Sand Dunes, Yuma AZ
In the extreme southwestern corner of Arizona, you will find the Yuma Desert. This desert extends more than 40 miles along the country’s boundary and around 12 miles to the north.
Yuma Desert is a massive desert that is popular for off-road recreational activities. The North dunes share a border with Sonora, Mexico.
The Yuma Sand Dunes attract all manner of visitors from across the globe. And while most of the visitors visit the sand dunes to have fun, some are for serious business.
For example, movie producers love the landscape and some of your favorite movies might have been shot in Yuma Sand Dunes.
2. Ehrenberg Sandbowl
Ehrenberg Sandbowl offers you and your loved ones 2000 acres of soft sandboarding experience.
The dunes have a moderate height and they are easily accessible thanks to the wide network of roads and trails throughout the desert.
The Ehrenberg sand dunes are close to the Colorado River, making it a perfect destination for family vacation. One thing I would like to point out is that Ehrenberg desert is really hot.
I recommend you have the right gear when visiting any desert in Arizona.
The park is open all through the year so you can visit in winters or summer but if you prefer summer then carry lots of water to avoid dehydration. Another downside of visiting during summer is that OTV riding might be prohibited due to the heat.
You can swim during summer at the Colorado River or try out kayaking and boating during winter.
Related Read: Here are the best sandboard wax
3. Hot Well Dunes
The history of Hot Well Dunes is quite an interesting one. According to the historians, about two million years ago, this place was a beach surrounding a lake. At the moment all is left is 2000 acres of dunes that provide an amazing place for recreational activities.
Aside from sand skiing, you can camp and soak yourself in the hot tubs in the evenings for ultimate relaxation. While in Hot Well Dunes, you’re advised to be considerate of other people who might come after you.
You’re supposed to remain disciplined and keep the sand dunes and hot tubs clean and avoid littering. There are no amenities other than the vault toilet so be prepared to park in and park out everything when leaving.
4. Parker Dunes
Do you want to be in a desert wilderness? Parker Sand Dunes is the place to be. With sand dunes ranging from 30 to 120 feet but unfortunately, these dunes are not suitable for sandboarding.
The sand dunes are covered with vegetation which makes it hard to sandboard. Furthermore, the Parker Dunes have no trails making it hard to access the dunes. If you’re a hiker and enjoy such terrains and landscapes then it will be more fun for you.
You can go camping or go sand duning at the Copper Basin Dunes OHV area. The area has designated routes for offroad riding.
5. Imperial Sand Dunes
Imperial Sand Dunes are located 20 miles from Yuma AZ and this place is the largest offroad recreation center in the United States.
The Imperial Sand Dunes are popular globally and they border Sonora, Mexico.
The dunes extend 40 miles from North to south and the south most dunes lie in Sonora.
Annually, there are so many people who visit the dunes. Some of these people carry their own ATVs and Buggies to ride the dunes.
You can view the recreational dune buggy area and the protected natural area from Osborne Overlook highway 78 and also get a glimpse of Plank Road (historical site) from interstate 8.
RV camping is allowed in all areas designated for vehicle use and the sites are available on a first come first serve basis. You can camp in camping areas like Midway and Grays Well site along Grays Well road, Gecko and Roadrunner grounds and Buttercup.
All these camping grounds offer bathroom and trash facilities. Cars require use permits and those permits are usually valid for a period of seven days. There are also seasonal permits that run from 1st of October to 20th September of the following year.
There are rental shops for buggies and ATV’s. If you want to ride the dunes and you can simply rent from the nearby shops.
It is advisable that you bring enough water because it does get really hot in summers and the heat also makes the sand really hot so you should try your best to get the perfect outfits.
Another tip is to be careful when riding the dunes. Be careful and alert.
How To Get To Hot Well Sand Dunes
If you’re coming from Safford, drive 7 miles east on Highway 7, when you reach BLM’s Haekels road, turn right and drive 25 miles to the area.
Tanque road provides express access to Highway 191. If you’re coming through Fan Road from Bowie drive two miles north on Central Avenue road.
Cover 1 mile east on Fan then drive north on Donahue for a mile. Drive east on Rosewood and drive 6 miles to Haeckel. After reaching Haeckel, drive 9 more miles north to the site.
Sand Dunes In Arizona: Frequently Asked Questions
Can you Sandboard In Arizona sand dunes?
Yes. There are several places that offer recreational activities like sandboarding. If you want something bigger than Yuma AZ then you can try out Imperial Sand Dunes which are the largest of all the sand dunes in the United States.
How Much Does It Cost To Ride The Hot Well Sand Dunes?
It will cost you $3 to ride the Hot Well Dunes. The dunes are open all year around and have sparse vegetation. Perfect for beginners, the dunes are low-lying, and thus low-speed riding is recommended.
Does Arizona Have Bugs?
There are lots of bugs over 250 in Arizona and there are also scorpions and crickets and many other types of insects.
Can I Ride ATV in Arizona?
Yes, you can ride an ATV in Arizona deserts but there are several things to put in place before you do if you’re planning to ride the ATV on the road. Your ATV has to have all the equipment like horns, fuel tank caps, brake lights, and rearview mirror.
Just like with other vehicles, you’ll also need a driver’s license to ride an ATV on the road and all the highways. Lastly, you will need to obtain an OHV decal and a certificate of title.
Final Word
The sand dunes in Arizona are beautiful and unique natural features that should be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike. While they may be less well known than some of the other natural wonders of the state, they are definitely worth a visit. Try and visit the sand dunes in Arizona for your next holiday and get to ride down the dunes with ATV’s.
