Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Bowie, Arizona

Rosewood Road is a State Trust route that cuts across the desert, connecting Ss1181 to Ss1180. The trail features desert creosote, yucca trees, and sandy terrain. 4WD with high clearance is recommended. Running east to west, it offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains. There are no technical...
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This is a true road to nowhere. As you follow this road out of Bowie to get back to Hot Well Area, the trail almost disappears at times, opening up again with a good track. There are many tracks that look fairly fresh.
Learn more about Bowie to Nowhere

The Railway Trail runs alongside the train tracks and is entirely unmaintained. It is a narrow, winding route where pinstriping is likely, and it crosses numerous washes that may become difficult to navigate during or after rainfall. The trail surface is predominantly rocky, though there are occasio...
Learn more about Railroad Trail

Trail Ss1180 branches off Ss1181 and heads south across open desert terrain. Shortly after beginning, you’ll climb a small hill and enter a tight section of trees where pinstripes are almost guaranteed. Fortunately, this narrow stretch is short, and the trail widens again soon after. This is a very ...
Learn more about Ss1180

SS1181 is a wide, well-maintained gravel road that provides access to the Hot Well Dunes from the south. The route serves dual purposes, accommodating both weekend tourist traffic and agricultural vehicles, which contributes to its occasional wash boarding and rough surface in spots. Drivers should ...
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Trail Ss1134d is an emergency evacuation route for the mining operation now in place at the end of this trail. Traveling to the north, it is a wide track road that offers a beautiful view of Javelina Peak. At the end of the road, you will come to the other side of Ss1134; however, all of these trail...
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Trail Ss1134 starts at a gate off County Line Road. It is now an out-and-back trail. Keep the gate closed. The trail is gravel and sand, and lined with desert creosote. Driving north, you have a Stunning view of Javelina Peak. Several washouts have big ruts. Watch your speed. The ground is hard grav...
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County Line Road is a point-to-point route running between Ss1050 to the east and SS1178. The main section is a wide gravel road that is easy for any vehicle, though it may become muddy in wet weather—use caution. The trail is lined with desert creosote and a berm and passes Haekel Road. Beyond this...
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The Powerline Trail is a relatively straight route that follows the path of overhead powerlines and, as of March 26, 2025, is in maintained condition. Large cleared areas are found beneath each powerline tower, suggesting ongoing infrastructure work along the corridor. The trail includes a few dips ...
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Trail Ss1104 begins off Ss1106 and runs point-to-point, eventually reconnecting near Hot Springs Road. This route crosses sections of sand dunes and multiple washes, offering expansive views of Javelina Peak and the dramatic, wind-eroded dune walls. Expect frequent wash crossings and several washout...
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This is the perimeter fence of the Hot Wells Sand Dune area. It has some fun trails and is sandy, somewhat hilly, and sometimes a little rocky. The trails inside this area are mostly sandy with only a couple of sand hills, but watch out for the drop-offs, as they are abrupt and can damper your day. ...
Learn more about Hot Wells OHV Area Perimeter

This is a great little side trip from Hot Wells to Bowie. There are some technical spots, but it's mostly a pretty easy drive in the SxS and can be done in 4x4 vehicles with ground clearance. There are signs on the Hot Wells side that tell you to stay on existing trails since you are on BLM land. Th...
Learn more about Hot Wells to Bowie

Visitors entering the Hot Well Dunes must first stop at the registration area to review park rules regarding OHV use and general conduct. The trail begins as a broad, smooth track with a posted speed limit of 10 mph, passing by 11 dispersed campsites, most equipped with tables and fire rings. After ...
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East Ten Ranch Road is a long, straight dirt track that leads from Highway 191 toward the Hot Well Dunes. As of March 25, 2025, the road has been recently maintained and is generally smooth and easy to drive, though drivers may encounter occasional humps and bumps. Travelers will pass through severa...
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Ss1104 trail is a deep, sandy wash that has many different sandy washes to select from. The mapped trail line runs through the main wash channel. All wash fingers finally attach to the main wash. This is a tight, overgrown wash with many low-hanging branches and dead limbs. Most of the limbs have st...
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This is a back road into Fort Bowie. It has a few overlook locations of the Fort and travels in from Highway 186. This is a historic fort that stood for years during a conflict between the US Government and the Apache tribe. To get to the fort is a short hike but worth it.
Learn more about Fort Bowie Trail

This trail connects the Railway Trail to the paved Haekel Road, which serves as the access road to the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. The initial portion of the trail is smooth and maintained, but it soon drops into a wash with a steep descent and climb. Beyond the wash, the route becomes increasin...
Learn more about Ss1096

The trail begins with a relatively steep climb from the paved road, after which it levels out and remains fairly smooth for a short distance before becoming increasingly rocky and narrow. Pinstriping is unavoidable in these tighter sections. Numerous spurs and offshoots branch from the main route, o...
Learn more about Ss1095

Although power lines run alongside the trail, it is not a maintained road but rather a rocky track that follows a ridgeline before descending into a wash. The route is rocky, dusty, and lined with thorny vegetation, but it also offers striking views. It winds through the landscape with numerous off-...
Learn more about Ss1099

This narrow trail becomes rough almost immediately after leaving the paved road, with dips and off-camber sections that demand careful driving. Numerous spurs and offshoots branch from the main path, but some may cross onto private property where access is not permitted. Low-lying brush lines much o...
Learn more about Ss1053

Rosewood Road is a State Trust route that cuts across the desert, connecting Ss1181 to Ss1180. The trail features desert creosote, yucca trees, and sandy terrain. 4WD with high clearance is recommended. Running east to west, it offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains. There are no technical...
Learn more about Rosewood Road

This is a true road to nowhere. As you follow this road out of Bowie to get back to Hot Well Area, the trail almost disappears at times, opening up again with a good track. There are many tracks that look fairly fresh.
Learn more about Bowie to Nowhere

The Railway Trail runs alongside the train tracks and is entirely unmaintained. It is a narrow, winding route where pinstriping is likely, and it crosses numerous washes that may become difficult to navigate during or after rainfall. The trail surface is predominantly rocky, though there are occasio...
Learn more about Railroad Trail

Trail Ss1180 branches off Ss1181 and heads south across open desert terrain. Shortly after beginning, you’ll climb a small hill and enter a tight section of trees where pinstripes are almost guaranteed. Fortunately, this narrow stretch is short, and the trail widens again soon after. This is a very ...
Learn more about Ss1180

Rosewood Road is a State Trust route that cuts across the desert, connecting Ss1181 to Ss1180. The trail features desert creosote, yucca trees, and sandy terrain. 4WD with high clearance is recommended. Running east to west, it offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains. There are no technical...
Learn more about Rosewood Road

This is a true road to nowhere. As you follow this road out of Bowie to get back to Hot Well Area, the trail almost disappears at times, opening up again with a good track. There are many tracks that look fairly fresh.
Learn more about Bowie to Nowhere

The Railway Trail runs alongside the train tracks and is entirely unmaintained. It is a narrow, winding route where pinstriping is likely, and it crosses numerous washes that may become difficult to navigate during or after rainfall. The trail surface is predominantly rocky, though there are occasio...
Learn more about Railroad Trail

Trail Ss1180 branches off Ss1181 and heads south across open desert terrain. Shortly after beginning, you’ll climb a small hill and enter a tight section of trees where pinstripes are almost guaranteed. Fortunately, this narrow stretch is short, and the trail widens again soon after. This is a very ...
Learn more about Ss1180