Looking for a scenic drive to take in Arizona? Try driving through the Salt River Canyon! This route winds through dramatic cliffs with sweeping vistas that make every mile an adventure.

Often known as “The Other Grand Canyon” or “The Mini Grand Canyon,” this breathtaking canyon offers all the rugged beauty you’d expect from the state’s wild landscapes.

The Salt River Canyon is approximately 2,000 feet deep whereas the Grand Canyon is nearly 6,000 feet at its deepest point. 

Even though these two canyons have a massive difference in size, they have very similar features including the visible layers of rock and steep vertical cliff drop offs.

At the rim before descending the canyon you’ll be surrounded by ponderosa pines, oak trees and green shrubs dotting the landscape.

As you drive to the bottom near the river, you’ll find an abundance of prickly pear cacti, yuccas, and ocotillos. 

In this post I dive into everything you need to know before setting out for what I believe to be one of the best scenic drives in Arizona.

Everything from permits, to what road conditions are like, to fun things to do in the canyon, will all be covered below!

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Where Is the Salt River Canyon?

The Salt River Canyon is located in eastern Arizona about a 2.5 hour drive from the Phoenix, making for a great day trip for city dwellers.

The portion of the canyon you can drive through is located right on US Route 60 which runs between the major towns of Show Low and Globe. 

So if you happen to be taking a road trip from either Phoenix or Globe up to the Show Low, Snowflake, or Holbrook area you’re going to have to drive through the canyon because the highway runs right through it!

Below I have inserted the map of the scenic drive showing the route we took from Globe to Show Low.

As you can see, the part of the canyon you drive through encompasses a small section of the highway and is about halfway in between these two towns.

Even before you reach the canyon, the drive is still incredibly scenic. You’ll get views of Four Peaks, Mount Turnbull, and the other rolling mountains of the Tonto and Apache Sitgreaves National Forests.

For reference, Phoenix is about an hour west of Globe not shown in the photo.

Things to Do at Salt River Canyon

Besides just driving, there are a few other activities and things to see around the Salt River Canyon. 

Visitor Center

The nice thing about this drive is that there is a small visitor center at the bottom next to the river that has bathrooms. They are just pit toilets and there are no sinks.

You’ll also find a few infographics on the Native American tribes who lived here, so it’s worth a quick stop.

There are a few good paved walking trails here that lead you to viewpoints of the river and bridge.

Viewpoints

There are several pull offs at many points throughout the drive. 

There are viewpoints up on both canyon rims, down at the river, and at a few places in between!

One of the best overlooks is at a pull off close to the canyon’s north rim where you will see just one single palm tree. From here, you can walk down a short set of stairs overlooking Apache Falls and the long flowing river.

Hiking in Salt River Canyon

If you’re only passing through or just taking a day trip to the area, I would recommend hiking the Apache Falls Trail.

It is the best trail in the area to hike because it is easily accessible to people driving through the canyon.

This hike is a 0.8 mile round trip and on completely flat ground. 

It starts at the bottom of the canyon and follows the Salt River upstream. 

On the way you’ll take in views of the massive canyon walls, desert wildlife, and the rushing current of the river. 

The trail is composed of gravel and large rocks in spots. You can easily do this hike in tennis shoes or sports sandals. Hiking boots aren’t necessarily required. 

You know you’ve reached the end when the trail begins to drift off to the right onto an area full of rocks where you can easily get down to the waterfront.

Keep following the rocks, toward the sound of the rushing waterfall until you can see it.

The Apache Falls is very unique because of the way you’re looking down at the waterfall as it flows beneath you.

The views you get from this trail looking up at the canyon walls are insane. If you’ve ever hiked rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, it’s a little similar but obviously on a much smaller scale.

Parking & Trailhead Info for Apache Falls

Do note that a permit is technically required to park this trailhead. You are not able to get them on site. 

We didn’t have one and neither did another visitor we met while hiking, but we were only on the trail for 30 minutes or less. 

You can either get a White Mountain Apache Salt River Canyon permit for $15 on their website, or you can get a San Carlos Apache Recreation Permit for $10 at the Circle K in Globe.

If you are going to go any deeper into the canyon to hike on any other trails (like Cibecue Falls) I would say you need a permit.

But since Apache Falls is practically right off the highway, it seems to be an area more open to visitors. There was no one preventing people from driving to the trailhead or monitoring the area when we visited.

You can find the trailhead by taking Primitive Rd from US 60 at the bottom of the canyon. If you’re coming up from Phoenix/Globe, the turn will be on your left after you cross the bridge.

This is a gravel road that you can probably do in a sedan, but you will be much more comfortable in a high clearance vehicle. It’s pretty rocky in spots.

You can get the directions from clicking this link, but getting driving directions from AllTrails will also get you to the trailhead.

Salt River Rafting

If you want to experience the canyon in an exhilarating way, then whitewater rafting the Upper Salt River may be for you. 

Now this is something we didn’t do, but it is another option for something fun to do in the area. 

You do need a boat permit to float this section of the river, which are only available March 1st to May 15th each year.

This section of the river has Class III-IV river rapids and require prior experience/ knowledge in whitewater boating. 

You can click here to learn more about rafting and the permit you must get for it.

FAQ on Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive

Fees or Permit Required?

It is free to drive this route and you do not need any permits if you are only driving on US 60 and not going off to any gravel side roads in the area.

Do I Need a High Clearance Vehicle?

High clearance or 4 wheel drive is not required to take the scenic drive through Salt Canyon. The road the entire way on US 60 is completely paved.

How Difficult is the Drive?

Below is a photo of the highway going through the canyon.

As you can see there are a lot of tight curves, just like switchbacks on a trail.

So you will not be able to drive 70 MPH like you can on most sections of US 60. You will have to take it slow. This is only a two lane road. 

It can be a little nerve wracking driving down and around the corners, but as long as you aren’t going too fast you’ll be fine.

Don’t take your eyes off the road too much to look at the scenery, that’s what the pull offs are for! 

How Long Does the Drive Take?

I would say plan to spend at least 2 hours in the canyon including the drive to rim to rim, stopping off at the overlooks, and hiking.

Can You Camp Here?

There are campgrounds located along the river in which you’ll need a White Mountain Apache Tribe permit to stay at. They do not include amenities like your average public campground.

They are mostly used by rafters who are rafting the Upper Salt River.

If you do want to camp at the campgrounds, you can purchase your permit for $9 online here. 

You will want a high clearance vehicle to get to these primitive, natural campgrounds. 

Campers on IOverlander have reported recently (March 2024) that they’ve car camped overnight in the parking lot of the visitor center, but I don’t think that this is technically allowed.

We didn’t try it, so I can’t say for sure how it is so camp there at your own discretion. 

Can You Walk on the Bridge?

Yes! There are two bridges crossing the river. 

The red one is for vehicles, and the smaller gray bridge is only open to foot traffic.

The bridge is completely paved so it is easily accessible for non-abled and abled bodies to cross! You get fabulous views from the bridge. 

You can access the bridge by taking a short walk from the visitor center.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

Any time of year is generally a good time to take the Salt River Canyon scenic drive. 

There are just a few things to know in certain seasons. 

In summer, temperatures will be pushing 100℉ inside the canyon. It would not be advisable to hike or be outside for too long while at the bottom by the river. 

But, if you’re looking for something fun to do while trying to beat the heat in Phoenix or Globe, taking this drive is a great idea. You can easily only get out for a few moments at the pull offs to take in the views. 

In winter, the rims of the canyon are no stranger to snow. Ice on these roads can be dangerous if you’re not prepared and driving cautiously. 

Snow on the rims would make for awesome scenery, but just be updated on road conditions and be monitoring the weather in the area before you set out for this drive in winter.

I would say spring and fall are both amazing times to visit because these seasons in Arizona have the mildest temperatures and weather.

In fall, you’ll see trees along the drive changing into a vibrant yellow. 

And in spring you’ll be treated to fields of wildflowers as you drive.

Whether you’re from Phoenix looking for a way to get out of the house, or if you’re just on a road trip taking US 60 through eastern Arizona, I know you will enjoy the scenic drive through the Salt River Canyon.

Plus, taking a day trip from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon is a little too much to do in one day, so this is a great alternative if you want something similar but much closer.

I hope you got some valuable information from this article and now know what to expect on your trip to this one of a kind destination. Thank you for reading!