Floating the Salt River is one of our favorite summer activities! When it reaches triple digits, we love to head to the river to cool off. It can be a little overwhelming to figure out how to do it with kids so I put together this blog post to help you get started.

Transportation

You will need two vehicles (and two drivers) to float the river. Each car will need a Tonto Pass ($7) to park in the parking lots. First, we drive both vehicles to our ending spot. Put your parking pass on the dashboard of vehicle 1, park, and DON’T FORGET YOUR KEYS. I like to leave towels and a change of clothes for the kids in this vehicle.

Everyone gets in vehicle 2 with everything you plan to take on the river. Drive vehicle 2 up river to where you plan to put in. Put your parking pass on your dash, park, and prep for the river.

What to Take

While you can definitely tube down the river, we prefer to use paddle boards. With a paddle board you have control over your speed and direction and kids have more space to move around. According to Arizona law, children 12 years and younger are required to wear a US Cost Guard approved life jacket. I also recently learned that even if you are over 12, you are required to have a life jacket on your paddleboard for each rider (even if you aren’t wearing it).

The next things are pretty obvious but worth the reminder. We plan on about 64 ounces of water and electrolytes per person but on a very hot day I would bump that up to closer to a gallon just to be safe. Sunscreen is a MUST since you will not be in any shade while on the river. I personally prefer to have everyone wear long sleeves SPF swim shirts to protect against the sun. Don’t forget to put sunscreen on the tops of your feet and backs of your legs!

You’ll definitely want to wear water shoes for getting in and out of the water and for any time to stop to play along the shore. The banks are pretty hot and rocky plus there’s always the risk of broken glass or trash.

These next items aren’t a requirement but definitely make the adventure more enjoyable. I love wearing a hat to give me some sun protection and try to convince my kids to wear one too. Bucket hats with a drawstring under the chin are helpful so it doesn’t get blown off or lost in the river. Snacks are super helpful to have to keep kids happy on the float. We usually stop halfway through and sit on the shore for a snack break. Granola bars, jerky, goldfish, and fruit snacks have all been favorites. Be sure to take your trash with you! If you plan to take pictures, I would bring a waterproof phone case to put around your neck.

Other random items include a ziplock bag for keys, a backpack for snacks and water, and carabiners to secure your water bottles to the board.

Lower Salt River

Water Users Recreation Area

This is the biggest parking lot and most popular launching spot. We prefer to start here because there are two good sets of “rapids” that we like going through. There’s a dirt path down to the water and a wide entrance for everyone to put in. If you want to skip the rapids, start at Blue Point Recreation Area. If you want to hit the rapids veer left whenever there’s a fork!

Blue Point Recreation Area

This spot is by the bridge and very popular as well. There’s a large parking lot and lots of people like to set up along the river here to hang out for the day. When my kids go with their youth group, this is where they start for a little bit shorter float.

After the bridge there is a pretty big bend to the left in the river and trees that hang down. This spot usually causes people in tubes to get caught and depending on how fast the water is moving, paddleboards to tip over. It’s definitely navigable but just be aware.

This stretch between the bridge and Goldfield Recreation Area is my favorite. There’s places to stop along the shore, wild horses, and calm water. This stretch also has the mud cliffs. There’s a place to bank your board on the left and shallow water for the kids. Plus prime people watching because there is a rope swing on the cliffs and lots of people that are way more daring than I am.

Goldfield Recreation Area

This is where we usually get out. There’s a big sign on the left telling you it’s coming up and then you will see lots of people exiting. The shore is very rocky (this is where your shoes will come in handy) and a long, uphill sidewalk. We’re usually pretty exhausted by this point so carrying the board and a kid who is inevitably too tired to walk is a workout!

Coon Bluff Recreation Area

If you decide to go this far, it’s absolutely beautiful! The water is super calm and the bluffs are really beautiful. There’s significantly less people on this stretch too which is nice.

Phon D Sutton

We paddled to this ending spot recently and really enjoyed it. Calm water and a shorter walk from the water to the parking lot. Only downside is going this far takes a long time and the kids were beyond done by the time we got there. If I were to go to Phon D Sutton again I would start at Blue Point Recreation Area (the bridge) to shorten the time.

Granite Reef

I’ve never been to this one but I want to check it out before the end of the summer!

Exiting the River

This is the least enjoyable part because everyone is always tired. We carry the boards up to the car (vehicle 1 that we parked first), deflate our boards, load everything up, and change the little ones into dry clothes. Next we drive to where we started and pick up vehicle 2 (kids are usually asleep by this point) and head for home.

Safety

Water, sunscreen and life jackets are the obvious safety concerns. If you are feeling nervous about taking your kids on the river, I would plan to do a kid free float to get a handle on it first. The thought of rapids can be a little intimidating but I think they add to the level of fun! Just keep your board straight and paddle into the rapids. The only time I’ve flipped over was when my son and I weren’t working as a team while paddling and got turned sideways in the rapids. We fell off but luckily all of our things were strapped down. We flipped the board back over, got back on, and went on our way.

As always, check the weather before going so you don’t end up out there in a storm. It’s also helpful to check the water levels too so you know if they are high enough to float.

I’ve seen videos of stampeding horses and that frightens me. I remind my kids to be quiet and respectful if we are passing a heard so that we don’t startle them. They are so beautiful to see!

Helpful Tips

If you visit National Parks frequently, an America the Beautiful annual pass is worth it and can be used in one of your parked vehicles. Or if you visit Tonto National Forest a lot then a Tonto annual pass may also be worth the purchase.

Saturdays and Holidays get BUSY and parking lots get full and cars get turned away. If you’re going on a Saturday or Holiday I would plan to get there no later than 7am. We’ve found that weekdays around 3pm are our favorite time to go. It’s not quite so hot and not as many people.

The party crowds can be a little bit of a nuisance if you’re with your kids. Foul language, drinking, loud music, cigarette smoke, and disruptive behavior aren’t my idea of a peaceful time on the river. My advice is to go on a weekday or early Saturday morning to avoid the party crowds. The wild college kids are usually on tubes and we just paddle past them if it’s ever a problem. For the most part everyone is pretty chill and just there for a good time.

Sometimes I get discouraged by the amount of trash I see out on the river. We make it a game with our kids to see who can collect the most beer cans and the winner gets bragging rights until next time. It’s a great way to teach our kids the importance of picking up our trash and showing respect for the outdoors.

Bottom Line

We LOVE the Salt River and feel so lucky that we have this amazing natural resource in “our backyard.” It’s a wonderful way to get out and enjoy nature when it’s too hot to hike. Peacefully floating down the river and happening upon the wild horses really is a magical experience. I hope you and your kids get a chance to experience the beauty of the Salt River sometime soon!

Packing List

• Paddle Board ( we’ve loved all of our Body Glove inflatable SUPs)
• Life Jackets (these are very comfortable and have held up well for several years – infant, child, adult)
• Hat
• Sun Glasses (I’m obsessed with these)
• Sunscreen
• Water bottles (we like to use these and attach them to the board with carabiners)
• Water Shoes
• Tonto pass (sold at some of the parking lots) or America the Beautiful pass for each car you are parking

Optional

• Inflatable Paddle Board Pump (this is the one we have)
• Waterproof Phone Case
• Cooler
• Snacks
• Backpack or Dry Bag
• Ziploc bag for keys

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take tubes?

Yes, of course! I just prefer a paddle board because I have more control and more space for the kids. Tubes also take longer since there are some slow parts to the river. I see people with a small paddle with their tube and I think that’s a great idea. Or you could take rope and attach to a person with a paddle board. My kids have floated it many times with their church youth group and with their Scout Troop in inexpensive tubes.

Can I take my dog?

I think so. I haven’t read for sure anywhere if it’s not allowed but we’ve taken our dog multiple times. He loves it but I don’t because it’s one more body to keep track of!

How long will it take?

Depends. There a lot of factors like where you are getting in and out, how much you paddle, how many times you stop, how fast the river is flowing, etc. Here’s a general idea of how long it will take on a paddle board:

• Water Users to Blue Point: 1-1.5 hours
• Blue Point to Goldfield: 1-1.5 hours
• Water Users to Goldfield: 2.5-3 hours
• Water Users to Phon D Sutton: 4.5-5 hours

These are the combinations of entrances and exits we have done.

Do I have to buy my own paddle board?

I’ve heard good things about renting from Wildhorse Paddle Boards in Mesa.

Is it safe to do with kids?

This is a risk you will have to assess for yourself. How comfortable are you on the water? Do you have experience paddle boarding? If you’re nervous to take your kids, I’d definitely do a trial run without them so you know what to expect.

Do you have any other helpful resources?

Wildhorse Paddle Boards on Instagram

River App to check water levels

Info about Tonto Passes and where to buy them

I hope all this information is helpful to you. Happy adventuring!