Floating the Salt River is one of the best ways to cool off in the intense summer heat of Phoenix, Arizona. The city is no stranger to temperatures soaring well over 110°F everyday with relentless sunshine.

Finding water sources is definitely key to surviving summer in Phoenix. And luckily there are plenty of places in the area such as Canyon Lake, Saguaro Lake, Lake Pleasant, and of course the Salt River. While laid-back days at the lake are relaxing, taking a float trip down the Salt River is perfect if you’re looking for a little more excitement.

In this post I will be telling you everything you need to know about floating the Lower Salt River. Including what you’ll need and how to plan your trip if you want to float this river on your own.

Salt River Float Route

The Salt River stretches for approximately 200 miles but the most popular float route to take is to start at the Water Users Recreation Site outside of Mesa which can be found at this pin. You will float downstream and end at Pebble Beach.

There’s a few other starting and stopping points on the river, but if this is your first time floating the Salt, I think this route will suit you the best. It’s easy to access and a chill part of the river.

Where to Park/Shuttle System

If you intend to float the Salt River on your own, you will need to have 2 cars. One car to park at the beginning of the float, and one car to park down where you end the float.

Since my boyfriend and I were tubing together we drove separately and I parked my car at Pebble Beach and he parked his car at the Recreation Site upstream. Just remember to take all your car keys with you on the float.

If you don’t have two cars to use, luckily there is a shuttle bus system run by Salt River Tubing. They are located right off of Bush Highway just a few minutes down from the end of this float trip.

If you only need to book the shuttle, it will cost $22 per person. But if you need a shuttle and rental tube it will be $28. You can book online here.

Things You’ll Need to Float the Salt River

• River tubes or kayaks (we used these tubes from Walmart for $5)
• Water shoes
• Dry bag for storing phone, water bottle, car keys (this is the one we have)
• Towels in your car for after
• Hat
• Sunscreen

Life jackets are recommended for young children and for people who are not comfortable swimming. They’re optional but my partner and I felt confident enough without them since this river is pretty slow.

Floating the Salt River FAQ

Below I’ll answer a few questions you may have before floating the Salt River.

How Much Does it Cost?

The only thing that will cost other than tubes, is a Tonto National Forest Recreation Pass. This is a day pass valid for all recreation sites within the Tonto National Forest.

You can purchase a pass onsite at the beginning of the float at the self pay kiosks.

However, we have always just set our America the Beautiful Pass on our dashboard instead of purchasing a Tonto Pass and it has always worked for us. 

What Should I Wear?

Most people will just opt for a swimsuit since you’ll probably want to get in the water at some point to cool down. Just make sure it’s something comfortable and secure.

If you want to limit sun exposure, you could wear a lightweight long sleeve swim shirt like this.

I would also highly recommend water shoes just because you will be stepping on rocks as you enter and exit the water. These are the ones I use now and I love them.

How Long Does the Float Take?

We were on the river for about an hour and a half. We didn’t make any stops along the way.

You can certainly go further on the river past Pebble Beach which will obviously add on some more time, but if it’s your first time or just want a simple and quick float, I recommend following the classic route.

Plan for this route to take about 2 hours total. Your float time will also depend on how fast the river is flowing that day. Since this river is completely controlled by the dams.

How Are the Currents on the Salt River?

For the most part, this section of the Salt River is fairly calm. There is one part in particular that can get a little rough though. 

Towards the end you can expect a small section with some stronger rapids near what’s known as Pirates Island. 

You will come upon a fork in the water, one route to the left and one to the right with Pirate’s Island in the middle. 

The river picked up speed right before the island and it naturally took us down the left side of the island. 

The water here is a little bit shallower so it creates these stronger currents that may knock you around a little bit on your tube.

You will have to try to paddle here to keep yourself in the middle of the river to avoid going into the trees on the river bank (like I did).

These rapids also go very fast so it can feel a little chaotic for someone’s first time floating. But as long as you are still sitting in your tube or kayak, you will be fine here. 

There are stronger rapids on the right side of the island too, so I don’t think it really matters which way you go here. 

Is This Float Trip Good for Beginners?

Yes floating the Salt River is good for beginners. This was my first float trip and it was overall a great experience.

Despite the little section of rapids at Pirates Island, it is a slow moving and easy float. The rapids aren’t too crazy, but just enough to make it a little exciting.

Starting the Float

Once you’ve parked your car at the Water Users Recreation Area, you will see a trail that leads down to a beach by the river on the right side of the parking area. There are many little trails here that lead down to the river but there’s one main trail that many people will be walking as well.

At the beginning the current is very slow and the water isn’t deep so you can easily walk out into the river so you can get your bearings and get yourself situated on your tube. 

I’d also recommend that you attach your tube to everyone else’s in your group with a rope (our tubes came with one) so you don’t float away from each other before getting in.

You’ll get an amazing view of Four Peaks from the start as you slowly float away.

During Your Float

You really won’t have to do a whole lot of paddling throughout the float. Like I said earlier, this section of the Salt River is pretty calm. The water will naturally guide you in the proper direction. 

It is overall a very peaceful experience. The scenery is gorgeous and a great way to see the desert landscape in a new way.

The only thing to remember is that when the water picks up speed or you hit the rapids at Pirates Island you do have to paddle yourself a little to keep from getting too off track. 

Watch for Wildlife

On our float we saw two groups of wild horses and a couple of Great Blue Herons. 

Wild horses are very common to see at the Salt River. They can be seen standing in the water near the riverbank eating the kelp.

They are really such a special sight to see. You never would think that wild horses can survive out in the Sonoran Desert, but as long as they have the Salt River, they will thrive.

It’s important to respect the wildlife at the Salt River and never approach the horses. They are wild and this is their home. Watch them from a distance.

Ending Your Float Trip

Once you begin to see a bridge in the distance, that’s when you know your exit is coming up soon.

Pebble Beach is located right under the bridge that Bush Highway passes on above. You will see the concrete bridge from a ways away.

Once you start coming closer to the bridge and beach, you will have to paddle yourself over to the right side of the river so you don’t miss your stop. Once you get close enough to shore to where you can touch the ground, you can start walking up to the beach.

And that will conclude my complete guide to floating the Salt River in Mesa, Arizona! I hope this give you more insight for what to expect and thank you so much for reading!