Free Camping near Safford and Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area
Welcome to our guide for FREE camping on BLM land near Safford in Southern Arizona. The location is ideal when visiting scenic Mount Graham and just a short drive from the famed vineyards of Wilcox. As a bonus, it is one of the best areas to search for mysterious Saffordites – fascinating little black stones not found elsewhere!
In this guide, we provide maps with directions, updates on road conditions, locations of most campsites, and availability of amenities such as cell coverage, water, and toilets.
Our Experience
It is one of our favorite FREE places to camp in Arizona and we generally stay at least 1 week. BLM officials are seen almost daily in the area which is much appreciated. Their presence ensures that folks do not abuse this natural desert area.
It is never crowded with plenty of space for everyone to enjoy some privacy with a sense of safety in numbers. Just be prepared for strong winds and watch the weather forecast. Fortunately, the main camping areas are safe from flash floods.
Our favorite camp area is 11 miles from the Walmart in Safford with only a few hundred yards of decent dirt road! This area is the most popular meaning there are almost always other campers nearby for peace of mind when we leave the trailer for a day of exploring. We describe this area in detail below.
Mount Graham provides the most incredible background for photos, especially at sunrise when it is clear. The area is surrounded by mountains framing the vast desert landscape with photo opportunities in any direction regardless of the time of day.
We enjoyed hiking in the desert while looking for Saffordites! If you want to learn how to find them, please read our article, How to Find Mysterious Saffordites in Arizona
Sightseeing
There are plenty of attractions within an hour’s drive. We went wine-tasting in Wilcox, soaked in the hot springs of Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, explored Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, and drove to the summit of Mt Graham.
Cell and TV
Our Verizon service worked well but we did not receive any TV channels. We do not watch much TV anyway.
Water and Sewer
There are many water vending machines in town starting at 25 cents per gallon. We opted to get drinking water from a spigot in the picnic area behind the baseball fields at Graham County Fairgrounds.
The FREE dump station at the Safford Water Reclamation Plant (turn north at Kempton Chevrolet) works great! Just sign the log book upon arrival in the building to the left. Arrive before 3 pm.
About the BLM land near Safford
Safford is surrounded by BLM land but we caution you to be aware of your location at all times and to avoid accidental trespassing. The land boundaries are confusing and you must negotiate many cattle fences and private or State Trust parcels.
Fortunately, there are huge pockets of public lands near Safford, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), that are available for dispersed camping. We recommend you study the BLM maps before arriving in Safford and also visit the BLM office in Safford to learn more about the restrictions, rules, and land boundaries.
Online Map
Online, look at the interactive map – BLM Interactive Recreational, and zoom to the Safford area. BLM land is shown in yellow.
Safford BLM Field Office
711 14th Ave. Safford, AZ 85546
You can buy paper maps for a small fee. The office staff is friendly and helpful.
Maps and Directions
We highly recommend the Avenza Maps App!
Unfortunately, there are no maps for this area and we suggest you use this article for directions.
The most accessible camping area is southeast of Safford along Haekel Road. From Safford, travel seven miles east on Highway 70. Turn right (south) on BLM’s Haekel Road and proceed towards the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. You can camp almost anywhere along this 25-mile stretch of paved road!
6 BLM Camping Areas
A warning – when it rains, the ground surface in this BLM area gets soft. Should you plan to arrive after heavy rain or with rain in the forecast, consider Areas 1 or 2 as your first option and park close to the road.
Then there’s the wind! It is not unusual to experience 25+ mph winds for several days. We suggest you park facing the prevailing winds to minimize shaking.
You can see the exact location of these areas and sites on our interactive Google Map shown above.
Area 1 – Haekel Road near US 191
There are two camping areas soon after the turn from US 191 onto Haekel Road. These sites are perhaps better suited for quick overnight stays because they are closer to the roads with some highway noise.
C1 is a large area on the west side of Haekel Rd with room for 4 or more large RVs.
C2 has room for one or two RVs on the east side.
Area 2 – Haekel Road where it turns East
This is the most popular camping area and it is our favorite! There are many options to choose from.
C3 is a very large camping area with room for a dozen or more RVs and plenty of space in between. If you own a large Class A, go here!
C4, C5, and C6 are individual sites on the mesa’s edge. C4 or C5 are our recommendations.
Area 3 – Haekel Road extension
At first glance, this area is near perfect. When Haekel Road turns East, continue straight down the slight hill (a dirt road) and choose one of 7 or more sites on the left.
The views are spectacular and the sites are far apart.
However, after heavy rain, the road and the sites get soft and muddy. When dry, we love this area.
Area 4 – Haekel Road after the turn East
The two sites are a bit close for our liking, but we go to C15 when the other areas look crowded. Easy in and out from the tarmac road.
Area 5 – Away from the crowds but close to Safford
As shown on our map above, there are 3 to 6 sites a bit further south along Haekel Road if you want privacy but prefer to camp close to Safford.
Area 6 – All the way down to Hot Well Springs – Dispersed
Countless sites on either side of Haekel Road – too many to show. Some require a high-clearance vehicle.
Choose any power or gas maintenance road and find a clearing away from water sources.
Cell service does get worse as you drive further away from Safford.