Salt River Rafting: 10 miles of Class II–III whitewater
The biggest rapid hits right at the end, offering a grand finale before you reach the beach.
This full-day guided rafting trip on Arizona's Salt River puts you in a self-bailing raft for 10 miles of Class II–III whitewater with a few Class IV drops, paddling through desert canyon cliffs and stopping for a grilled steak lunch at an established riverside camp. The trip runs 6 hours total, includes all gear (helmets, wetsuits, splash jackets, PFDs), a trained guide, and shuttle service back to your vehicle on rugged Apache Road. Children from age 8 are welcome; participants should have moderate fitness and be ready to paddle.
6h
Step-by-step itinerary
Full day Salt River rafting trip
- Meet at Salt River satellite location
- Sign waivers and suit up
- Walk down to river with guides
- Attend safety orientation
- Raft 10 miles of whitewater rapids
- Stop for hot grilled steak lunch
- Continue rafting with more rapids
- Run biggest rapid near take out
- Paddle to beach for trip end
- Shuttle back to vehicle along Apache Road 1
The Experience
You meet at the Salt River satellite location on the Fort Apache Reservation between Globe and Show Low, sign waivers and suit up — wetsuits included if you're rafting in March or April. A short walk takes you down to the river with your guides, where you'll get a safety orientation before hopping into the boats. Then you paddle straight into 10 miles of continuous Class II and Class III rapids that run the entire trip, with the canyon walls rising around you and the current pushing you through one after another.
After a couple of hours on the water, you pull over at an established camp for a hot grilled steak lunch. The break gives you time to rest, reconnect with your crew, and take in the raw desert landscape before heading back into the boats for more rapids. The trip builds toward its finale: the biggest rapid sits right by the takeout, a Class IV drop that sends you off the water with a surge before you paddle over to the beach where the day ends.
Your guides average 2,000 river miles and handle all the technical work — the boats are state-of-the-art self-bailing rafts, and you get helmets, wetsuits, wetsuit boots, splash jackets and personal flotation devices. A specially designed 4-wheel drive vehicle shuttles you back to your car along Apache Road, which the operator notes is often just as exciting as the rafting itself. The whole experience is 6 hours from start to finish.
What’s included
- The trip includes all paddling gear (self-bailing raft, helmet, wetsuit, splash jacket and personal flotation device).
- a trained guide with an average of 2,000 river miles of experience.
- a grilled steak lunch at the riverside camp.
- shuttle service back to your vehicle on Apache Road.
- and all taxes and fees.
Operated by Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
Is this one for you?The guides speak English and lead the trip at a pace suited to mixed groups, so families with kids from age 8 and groups of friends at different fitness levels can paddle together comfortably. The 6-hour commitment means you get the full Salt River experience — 10 miles of continuous rapids, a hot lunch break and the canyon scenery — without an overnight commitment.
Traveler reviews
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Salt River Rafting: 10 miles of Class II–III whitewater★ 5.00 (31)6hENUS$ 241
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Top questions
What class of rapids will I paddle on the Salt River?
The Salt River trip runs continuous Class II and Class III rapids throughout the entire 10 miles, with a few splashy Class IV drops mixed in — the biggest one sits right by the takeout. You'll be paddling the whole time, not watching from the boat.
Do I need rafting experience to book this trip?
No experience is required, but you do need at least a moderate level of physical fitness and the ability to paddle. All participants paddle, and the guides handle safety and navigation. Children from age 8 are welcome on the trip.
What's included with the rafting trip?
The trip includes the raft, all safety gear (helmet, wetsuit, splash jacket, personal flotation device), a trained guide, a grilled steak lunch at the riverside camp, the shuttle back to your vehicle, and all taxes and fees. Wetsuits are standard in March and April.
How long does the full-day rafting trip take?
The trip runs 6 hours total, from the time you meet at the satellite location through the final shuttle back to your vehicle on Apache Road. You'll spend most of that time on the water paddling rapids and taking riverside breaks.
Where do I meet for the Salt River rafting trip?
You meet at the Salt River satellite location on the Fort Apache Reservation between Globe and Show Low, Arizona. It's a short walk from there down to the river where your guides will meet you for the safety orientation.
Is there a lunch break during the trip?
Yes — after a couple of hours of paddling, you stop at an established riverside camp for a hot grilled steak lunch. The break gives you time to rest and take in the canyon scenery before heading back into the boats for more rapids.
Salt River Rafting: 10 miles of Class II–III whitewater
6h · EN
from US$ 241 per person
★★★★★★★★★★5.0031 reviews
