(Last revision
Map of developed BLM sites:
http://www.blm.gov/az/outrec/camping/camp_map.htm
(new link)
and http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/dev_camps.html .
Newsletter: http://www.desertusa.com/newsletter/nov06.html
Main page for AZ BLM: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html (BLM Arizona is moving information into the new categories
listed on the left side of this page.
New: Organ Pipe Cactus National
Monument & Campgrounds (
We've found some real
Gems on BLM land,
like Hot Wells Dunes recreation
area (N32.52359 W109.42541 Elev 3447), 25 miles north of Bowie
AZ (I-10) or 25
miles south of Safford
AZ,
(HY 70) with 105 degree F hot tubs fed from an old
oil well attempt that struck a huge hot artesian aquifer in 1920, and
it's been flowing ever since. The fee is $3 a day, $1.50 with Golden age
pass, trash collection only, no drinking water or dump. Another opinion: Hot Well Dunes
is the S**T! I love that place, But
part of its wonder is it's remoteness and it is virtually unknown but to
locals. Not only are the hot tubs great for the bones they are great for the bod after a day of hard dirt bike riding in the dunes! Hot
Wells Dunes IS a designated off road recreation area and so, should remain that
way. Though the place is often free of people particularly in the summer, count
on the fact that it will load up on weekends and holidays with dirt bikes,
quads, dune buggies and jeeps and if you find these things annoying I strongly
recommend skipping this gem. They have paved the dirt road from Safford all the
way to
http://www.blm.gov/az/sfo/hot_well/hotwell.htm .
2009 BLM link and info on tub repairs.
2008 News
article regarding proposed rules relate to vehicle rider capacity, clinging to or being towed
by a vehicle, safety flags, vehicle use, public nudity, firearms, pets, speed
limit, camping, waste disposal and length of stay.
Chloride, AZ 2006.
The road into town is
CR125 off U.S. 93 at about MM 52 ½ north of
Kingman. At Grasshopper Junction. It is 4 miles
east to town. When you get to the 4-way
stop sign in Chloride, turn right and go one
block to
hoops. Turn left. Immediately on your right you will see the
back of false front stores where old
Wild West gunfights are staged Saturday's at High Noon.
Until a few days ago there was a sign
on the side of the first building that
said "Cyanide Springs" but apparently they are working on the buildings there and
the sign is down. At the end of that
group of buildings, maybe half a block, on your
right you will see a large dirt parking
lot. On the right of the lot is a large open Quonset hut with a couple
of fire engines parked inside.
There is a path there that leads into
the parking lot. Easiest is to go to the end of the block and turn
right. Almost to the end of that block, after you turn right, you will
see on the right a single wide
manufactured trailer that is the library. There is a sign there. Just before the
library is a road to the right that enters the parking lot. Turn right and find your parking spot on the
big dirt lot.
According to all the
town folks I have asked, stay as long as you want.
No charge. I have been here two and
half weeks and enjoying every day of it. If I can do so, intend to stay
here until it cools down in
Quartzsite, spend two to four weeks there on free BLM land, and
then go to the Slabs, Niland, CA., until next April. Much more about the Slabs on my web page.
Addy in sig lines.
The first few days here were 100 to 102
degrees, with a decent breeze, but it is now in the 80's and 90's and
the ten-day weather.com forecast is for
more of the same relatively cool days. Zip code is 86431, in case you want to check the weather.
The library has free wifi. They have one computer inside for net
access. I am parked just across the
entrance road from the library. Signal
is excellent. I sit in comfort at the table in my trailer and log on.
Run my generator as often as I want and no one is around to say a
word. At Grasshopper Junction on U.S.
93 at the
booze. Right expensive compared to
Walgreen, Walmart, or Smith's Market in Kingman. Block ice at Grasshopper
is $1.29. In Chloride at the Miner Market, buck seventy-five. I get ice
at Grasshopper if I happen to be
coming back to Chloride, but get it in
C every other day. Miner Market has only gallons of milk. Three something. I am a big consumer of milk and ice. I try to do some purchases in
Chloride to help support the
local merchants here. Post office is at the 4-way stop.
The watering hole in Chloride is D.J's Cafι and Saloon. I frequent it often. It is two blocks from the
parking lot so I drink and walk, not always exactly steady, back to my rig.
Right nice, clean place and lots of nice folks. 16 oz Bud draft is
$1.75. Long necks or 12 oz. aluminum cans I think are $1.50. Great fish fry
for 6 bucks on Friday, very
filling, and a menu of various bar foods is also available when
open. Make sure you try their homemade
salsas. I have a couple photos of the bar in the Chloride album on my Yahoo photo
page.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rwoods4108/my_photos .
Also: Roy Purcell rock murals http://www.chlorideaz.com/purcell_murals.html.
Shep's Yesterdays is a
family-type restaurant with various singers or DJ's throughout the week. Prices are
comparable to other full-service restaurants elsewhere. It can be a bit
expensive for my little income. I
believe prime rib is on the weekends. Fish fry Friday for about the same as the
watering hole. No draft beer. Long necks, $2.00. Small number of seats
at a very small bar. Many regular 4+ seat tables. I brought in about 30 gallons of water in 6
and 1 gallon containers. A
dozen or so two liter bottles filled
with water for dishes. There may be a source of water in town but I
have not asked around yet. There is a RV park in town. Don't know anything
about it yet but I read in a
local paper that the owners are musicians. Me, too: pedal steel,
lead, and bass,
and this week I am going to stop by and meet them. Should
have more about the RV park later. I'll check about availability of a dump. For now, the
nearest one I know about is in Kingman. Fifteen or so miles south. In
stationnot the Chevron, if you are
coming into town from the eastand a Family Dollar and General Dollar. It
is always nice to know they are around so I can save some bucks. There
is no gas or propane available in Chloride, unless the RV park has
propane and I don't know, yet. Get it in Kingman or
minimum on propane.
If you get gasoline in Kingman, look around at the many stations there. A station across
from the J was six cents cheaper.
Unfortunately, I didn't look until I had filled at the J. Dump and water are free at the J. My small
trash bags from the TT I
have been dumping at the J when in town. Kingman should have all the supplies you
need. Walmart, Auto Zone,
laundry, Walgreen Drug, K-Mart, all within a reasonable
driving distance and easily reached via
short runs on the I-state. Make sure you check Smith's Market right next to
Walmart and get their special flyer. I
shopped their loss leaders and got some real cheap perishables. Then, drove next door to
Walmart and finished out most of my shopping list. Across the highway
from Smith's is Walgreen. If you need booze and tobacco, get their
flyer and compare prices vs. Walmart.
If you need Saw Palmetto, like I do,
Walgreen's is the place to get it right cheap. 300
capsules for eleven bucks or so.
Kingman is not RV friendly. No overnight parking in lots. K-Mart and Wal-Mart have
signs up about a local Kingman law. J had none the first night I arrived there.
I overnighted at the J before coming to Chloride.
Hell, don't worry about parking in Kingman. Come on a few miles north to
Chloride. Chloride folks are friendly and appreciate your business.
Quartzsite Additional info at http://www.theadamssfamily.com/CG/Quartzsite.htm
updated
New 11/06:: http://www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/quartzite.html
has a lot of info on Quartzsite.
Quartzsite,
in western
At this time
of the year, 2,000 vendors of rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and everything
else imaginable create one of the world's largest open air flea markets in
Quartzsite. Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and
handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds, collectors and
enthusiasts, making Quartzsite the place to be the first two months of each
year
From: "Dick" <hkporter717@y
Subject: another part-timer??
I spent 5 winters in the dessert south of
From: Elaine
Subject: Quartzsite & Yuma
"We will spend time in
We go to Quartzsite every year and this year the RV show in the tent will be
from January 21-29 so would suggest that as the best time. Yes that is also
when the most people are there but there is more to do and if you really want
to experience Q that is the time. I wouldn't plan on getting into a campground
during those times. Most people dry camp On BLM land anyway.
There are 14 day free areas and Long term areas for $30 for two weeks. The long
term areas have water and dump available at a central place. We prefer being
walking distance from most things and not having to drive in the traffic and
worse trying to find a place to park. You will either love it or hate. I think
one of the differences is whether you go alone or have a group
of friends. We love being there with our group of friends but we have heard
people who go for the first time alone who hate it (of course others hate it no
matter what, we had friends who came who hated the "dirt", it is
desert!) Outside of
practice during Feb & March. It is free to watch and you can even talk to
them. Great little museum on base and the restaurant has great food at a good
price. Be sure everyone in your group has ID on them or you won't get in. The
old prison in
From: Jon
Subject: Quartzsite & Yuma
I suggest that you call ahead right now and reserve
the RV park of your choice in both locations for the time periods that you have
scheduled. Lots of
info on the web regarding both locations. If you don't do it now, you will NOT be able
to do it unless the diesel/gas situation keeps thousands (and I mean thousands)
of people from coming south. The
population of Quartzsite increases from a normal population of about 2500 to
750,000 or more during Dec-Mar each year. The population of
From:
Unknown
Yuma Wal-Mart security guards are instructed
to knock on RVers doors and have them move on.
The second to last paragraph mentions an RVer with
the outdoor grill and chairs set up outside the RV. (There are always a
few RVers still ignorant of recommended overnight parking protocol, making the
rest who do it right, look bad anyway.)
Free dry camping solutions when coming through this area: BLM lands
outside
Date:
Subject: Quartzite RV show
Go with a group of friends. If you don't have
groups to go with join Escapees immediately.
Then join a subgroup called "BOF"s. Both Boondockers and Boomers will
have big groups there, most of whom won't know each other but it wont matter,
you will be part of the group and invited to happy hour and other group
activities. Numerous other groups will meet and be together such as Hams,
Newmar owners, Lazy Days owners, Escapees chapters, LoWs and on and on. Surely
you can
find a group. It adds so much to the experience.
From:xxxx Last week we stayed 3 days at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument campground and would recommend it in a minute. It only cost $6.00
a night with Golden Eagle pass. No hook ups. Generators allowed 2 hours in the
morning and between 4 and
PER NPS:
We are located along the US/Mexican Border,
south of Ajo, west of
Scenic Drives: The easiest way to
see the splendor of this park is to take a scenic drive.
Our most popular is the
During the winter and early spring
(January-March) guided van tours are available, be sure to sign up at the
The
During the winter season motorized tours of
the
New addition 11-2007:
want.
station. Be careful of any parks in
Here are some suggestions:
http://www.pimaair.org/
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ Titan II missle silo
and museum. Even the wife liked this one
http://www.b2science.org/ Biosphere 2 near oracle
http://www.theshadydell.com/dots.html Unique trailer park in
Bisbee arizona, has a vintage diner
http://www.discoverbisbee.com/ Very nice Bisbee arizona
http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/kartchner.html cavern and
campground
http://www.tombstoneweb.com/ historical site, boothill was
interesting
http://www.rvtravel.com/publish/rvgilbertraycampground.shtml
Info on
the campground others suggested
http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/Camping%20in%20the%
20Tucson%20Area.pdf. Camping around
http://www.visitsedona.com/ on your way to flagstaff, Nice state
park near cottonwood Dead horse state park.
http://www.meteorcrater.com/index.php meteor crater
http://www.nps.gov/pefo petrified forest and painted desert
national
park
************************
Subject: Re: Picking a spot you like to go
to. If you want to see a really
well-maintained state park with great personnel drive to
Marlene Richards
See where we are located:
http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=2152
Visit our web page. http://home.earthlink.net/~gordonrrichards/
Safford
We've found some real Gems on BLM land,
like Hot Wells Dunes recreation
area (N32.52359 W109.42541 Elev 3447), 25
miles north of Bowie AZ
(I-10) or 25
miles south of Safford AZ, (HY
70) with 105
degree F hot tubs fed from an old oil well attempt that struck a huge hot
artesian aquifer in 1920, and
it's been flowing ever since. The fee is $3 a day, $1.50 with Golden age
pass, trash collection only, no drinking water or dump.
We also like Fortuna Pond free camping area near
rough gravel for 3 miles...20 mph max in our motorhome. We go here if we
want a pretty place in the area for more than one day. No facilities.
BLM area.
http://www.blm.