5 Amazing Sand Dunes in Arizona Everyone Should Visit at Least Once

Arizona is known for containing some of the most beautiful natural areas in the United States. Millions of people flock to the Grand Canyon and other tourist destinations in the state each year. Arizona is also home to some of the best sand dunes in the country. Let’s dive into the state’s five can’t-miss dunes.

1. Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area

Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area (ISDRA) stretches from southeast California into Arizona. The dunes extend for over 40 miles in a band averaging 5 miles wide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. In some places, dunes at the state park reach 300 feet high!

The open area of the main dunes allows all types of vehicle recreation. Off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts can roam the dunes in sand rails, dirt bikes, or dune buggies. Formed from the windblown sands of Lake Cahuilla, the recreation area is also teeming with desert wildlife.

Those looking to enjoy a quieter trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes will appreciate the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness, which encompasses over 26,000 acres. Visitors can walk, ride horses, or explore the area’s wildlife. Animals spotted at ISDRA include burrowing owls, roadrunners, desert spiny lizards, gopher snakes, and much more.

You may also want to snap a quick photo of the dunes. According to Visit Yuma, the dunes have served as a movie location for films such as Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, The Scorpion King, and Jumanji: The Next Level. ISDRA can be accessed via Highway 78 located East of Brawley, CA, or by Interstate 8 west of Yuma, AZ.

2. Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area

Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area offers a unique experience about 30 miles south of Safford, AZ. Here visitors can enjoy the typical allures of the dunes. With 2,000 acres of rolling dunes, there’s plenty of space for OHV riders to let loose.

Many visitors choose to camp at Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. According to Visit Arizona, the area’s campgrounds are complete with two tubs filled with hot artesian well water for campers to soak in after a long day. Access to the dunes, campgrounds, and hot wells is only $3 per vehicle.

From Safford, travelers can reach the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area by following Highway 70 east to Haekel Road. You can also access Haekel Road via Highway 191.

3. Ehrenberg Sandbowl

The Ehrenberg Sandbowl is located in Ehrenberg, AZ, in La Paz County. It is a popular destination for OHV enthusiasts and offers nearby camping, as well as a variety of roads and trails to explore in this 2,000-acre area. Use I-10 to reach Ehrenberg, AZ.

Though the dunes at the Ehrenberg Sandbowl are smaller, AZ Offroad reports that it provides a rare opportunity to drive almost anywhere within its boundaries. The trails are open for any kind of vehicle use and the park contains several different types of hills. Entrance fees cost $5 per vehicle.

4. The Wave

The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located in the Coyote Buttes of northern Arizona/southern Utah. This location is not made up of dunes in the way you might traditionally think of them.

According to National Park Services, sandstone forms from groundwater containing dissolved minerals flowing through and around the sand grains below the water table.

This leaves behind calcium carbonate, which glues the grains together and forms the stunning rock formations seen here. Arizona’s The Wave is believed to have taken shape 190 million years ago.

The Wave offers a chance to experience incredible views and scenic hikes. Visitors can also explore The Boneyard — an area where prehistoric dinosaur tracks are embedded into the earth.

5. Cattail Cove and Three Dunes Campground

Three Dunes Camp Ground offers some of the best camping in the state of Arizona’s Cattail Cove State Park. Enjoy fishing, swimming, or lounging by the waters of Lake Havasu in this beautiful location.

Additionally, the Three Dunes Trail features 6.5 miles for hikers to explore. Though Three Dunes may not offer the most thrilling experience for OHV enthusiasts, there are certainly dunes in the area.

According to Go Lake Havasu, “sand dunes” surrounded by jagged rock cliffs stand several hundred feet high, less than one-half mile south of the entrance to Topock Gorge. Those traveling through the Topock Gorge can see the vastness of the dunes all the way from the north end of Topock Gorge.

Summary of 5 Amazing Sand Dunes in Arizona

The photo featured at the top of this post is © folgt/iStock via Getty Images