Trail Overview
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 occasional stretches of soft sand. It offers striking views of the surrounding landscape and passes through a dense field of Jumping Cholla cacti, which bear fruit in March. There are no amenities along this route--no access to water or trash disposal--and cell service is limited. Dispersed camping is not permitted or possible along this trail.
History
Around two million years ago, a shallow lake covered what is now southeastern Arizona. As the lake dried up, its sandy shores were shaped by wind into the dunes that define today's Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. In the late 1920s, while drilling for oil in the San Simon Valley, workers unexpectedly struck geothermal water. The resulting artesian well still produces over 250 gallons per minute at a temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Today, the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area spans 2,000 acres of BLM-managed sand dunes, offering off-highway vehicle recreation, camping, and soaking in natural hot tubs fed by the artesian spring.
