The Bureau of Land Management operates a number of Long Term Visitor Areas, or LTVAs, spread across three field offices -- El Centro and Palm Springs in California, and Yuma in Arizona. These winter LTVAs vary hugely in size, with La Posa (Quartzsite) being the largest and most famous, and the 10-acre Tamarisk being by far the smallest. As it can be confusing to know where the LTVAs are, here is a summary of all the winter LTVAs that operate from September 15 to April 15 annually.
La Posa LTVA: Quartzsite, Arizona, on U.S. Highway 95 south of town. [La Posa LTVA official web page.] La Posa LTVA facilities: Dump station (one dry, one with rinse water), drinking water, trash, staffed welcome stations, pavilion, vault toilets). Yuma Field Office. 11,400 acres. Split into four areas: North, South, West, Tyson's Wash.
Imperial Dam LTVA: Senator Wash Road, North of Yuma, Arizona on California side of Colorado River. Imperial Dam LTVA web page.] Imperial Dam LTVA facilities: Separate gray and black water dumps, black water dump, restrooms with outdoor showers, trash, ramadas , pavilion, volunteer host. Yuma Field Office. 3,500 acres.
Hot Spring LTVA: Hot Spring North is on Evan Hughes Road, east of El Centro, California. Hot Springs South is south of there, on Holdridge Road. Both are reached by Interstate 8, exit 131. [Hot Spring LTVA official web page.] Hot Spring LTVA facilities: Vault toilets across from Hot Spring North; dump station and water in Holtville; on-site host, trash, hot spring. El Centro Field Office. 300 acres. Self-contained units only.
Pilot Knob LTVA: Sidewinder Road, Interstate 8 exit 164, south side. Pilot Knob LTVA facilities: Trash, host. Go to Yuma, 7 miles east. [Pilot Knob LTVA official web site.] El Centro Field Office. 220 acres. Self-contained units only.
Tamarisk LTVA: Dirt road, 2.7 miles south on Highway 98, off Interstate 8 Exit 143. Tamarisk LTVA facilities: Trash, host. Go to Yuma or Holtville. [Tamarisk LTVA official web site.] El Centro Field Office. Size unknown, but El Centro does note this is the smallest and most secluded of the El Centro LTVAs. 10 acres. Self-contained units only.
Midland LTVA: Midland Road, from Lovekin Road (which becomes Midland) 7 miles north of Blythe, California. Parking areas are both the east and west sides. Facilities: East side only. Volunteer host, entrance pavilion with open-air bookshelves, dry dump station, trash. Water is in Blythe at Miller Park. No official website. Size: 135 acres. Palm Springs Field office. Self-contained units only.
Mule Mountains LTVA: Wiley's Well Road, 9 miles south of Interstate 10, west of Blythe, California. Includes two campgrounds: Wiley's Well (14 sites) and Coon Hollow (28 sites). Facilities: Picnic table, grill and shelter at each campground site, host, dump station with LTVA permit. [More information.] 3,424 acres. Palm Springs Field office. Confusingly, is sometimes referred to as Mule Mountains LTVA and, at other times, as Coon Hollow or Wiley's Well LTVA. Self-contained units only.
Note that several summer LTVAs exist, and winter LTVAs are still usable, with different rules, in the summer. These will be covered separately.
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Sources: BLM field office websites, federal recreation plan, personal and other people's experience as related in person.
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