The Upper Salt River is a Sonoran Desert rat’s dream come true with 50 miles of outstanding scenery and fun whitewater on the White Mountain Apache Reservation and federally protected by Tonto National Forest just hours from Phoenix! Free flowing and dependent on sporadic winter accumulation for spring time run off (March 1 to May 15 is permit season but the river often runs in February as well) makes this ephemeral gem difficult to plan for but well worth it to those who make the effort.
Salt River Flows And Weather
Rapids and Float Notes
The 10-mile day stretch with 14 rapids can be run from 500 cfs to 20,000 cfs with super solid Class III+ skills but has many non-intuitive lines, so when in doubt…scout! 3,000 cfs and above is when things shift from technical to pushy. The canyon is 2000’ deep here and is largely basalt, dripping springs quartzite and mescal limestone and paralleled by a dirt road. This is what Salt River rafting is really all about.
Beyond mile 10 is the classic wilderness trip that rafters know the Salt River for. Although the road parallels the river on the right you will never see it again and it is very hard to access and has basically zero traffic. The whole trip is easily run in 3 days but those who know take 5 or more. Beautiful beach camps are hidden behind the relentless tamarisks and are worth having a map to find. Highlights include stout Class IV rapids such as Black Rock, The Maze, Quartzite Falls and Corkscrew. Hikes of a half day or longer are available in side canyons Cibecue, Walnut, Hess and Yankee Joe and contain quite pools and waterfalls. There are over 200 species of birds along with desert dwellers such as Coati, Javalina, Big Horn Sheep and Gila Monsters. Wolves, black bear and mountain lion are regularly seen. Ocotillo, Sotol and towering Saguaro are complimented by the exotic geology of a river that crosses 2 major statewide faults. A mini Grand Canyon if you will.
Boat Ramps and Access
All trips begin where the highway 60 bridge crosses the Salt River between the towns of Globe and Show Low, AZ just off the highway on river right. Always have your permits from the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Tonto National Forest as it is quite common to encounter enforcement. There is no limit to how many can raft the day stretch. The Salt River Wilderness is permitted by Tonto National Forest and awarded preseason by lottery. Cell reception disappears at the canyon rim.
Day trip shuttles are just 7 miles one way for a 10 mile river trip. Yes, there is a huge 3 mile river meander called Mule Hoof bend that begins at the put in at Big Eddy/First Camp. Clearance and 4 wheel drive is a necessity no matter what your app tells you as the road crosses through Cibecue Creek half way to the Hoo Doo take out. Not marked but easy to find if you use your odometer. The other clue you missed it is that the road climbs steeply up and away from the river just past the take out.
The multi-day wilderness shuttle takes about 4 hours and is all highway access. Easy to find and well marked. It has been over a decade since there have been any issues leaving vehicles there for the duration.
There are some truly difficult and highly not recommended access points at Gleason Flats and Horse Shoe bend and if you need to be told how to get there you shouldn’t be going there, otherwise you can figure it out yourself.
Salt River Shuttle Service
Salt River Rafting is the longest running outfitter and who we use. 800-425-5253. www.RaftingSaltRiver.com
Lodging and Good Eats
Globe, AZ is the base for trips here.
If you are hotel oriented we like the Best Western Copper Hills.
The Drift Inn Saloon is our favorite bar and has great eats.
Awesome to go Mexican at Los Roberto’s as well.
