Salt River

What do the different Class of rapids mean?

Most rivers in the world are rated on the International Scale of Whitewater I – VI.

Class I: “moving water”
Class II: “splashes”
Class III: “wet and fun”
Class IV: “big drops”
Class V: “violent rapids”
Class VI: considered “unrunnable”.

Depending on the section you’re rafting, the Salt River has Class II – V rapids.

Where is the best place to stay? 

The closest places to stay are Globe or Show Low, AZ. These two towns are on either side of the Salt River Canyon, and are within an hour of the Mild to Wild meet location. It is also quite possible to make a day trip from Phoenix or Tucson.

What is the address? 

Mild to Wild’s meeting point is located at the base of the Salt River Canyon wilderness on Apache Tribal Lands, so… There is no address! Save this Google Map Link, or use our printable directions included in your confirmation email.

How far is the Salt River from Phoenix?

The Upper Salt River is about 2-3 hours from Phoenix, depending where you are coming from.

Do we shuttle private boaters cars?

We offer a vehicle shuttle service to the take out at Roosevelt Reservoir except for 2 Day trips. Call for us rates!

Can we camp in the Salt River Canyon? 

Yes! The permit from the Apache Tribe for your rafting trip also allows you to camp near our meet location the day prior or after your trip. If you want to camp at a more developed spot, Timbre Camp is 20 minutes before arriving at the canyon which also comes with a group site.

The available campgrounds along the Salt River include:

FIRST CAMPGROUND 

This scenic spot is right by the boat launch and close to the turn off from the bridge. It’s a dry campground with no bathrooms, so plan accordingly for that sort of business!

SECOND CAMPGROUND

The road (affirmatively named Primitive Road) to get here is a bit rough, so bring the high clearance vehicle for this spot! It’s about 3 miles downstream from the Salt River boat launch, and close to the Cibecue Creek trail that leads to a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole. If you want to hike the Cibecue trail, you’ll need a permit from the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

SALT BANK CAMPGROUND

This rugged spot is about 7 and half miles from the Salt River put-in down Primitive Road. Bring the high clearance whip and be prepared to spend about an hour getting to and from the campground.

How do we get back to our car?

The shuttle roads are very precarious on this trip and we often use Jeeps to get you back to your car. On our multi day trips, you have the option to shuttle to Globe, AZ which is on the way back to our meet location. This option saves you about 2 hours. Ask about the cost of this extra service!

What is the best airport to fly into? 

From the Phoenix Airport, you can expect a beautiful 2.5 hour drive to our meet location.

From the Tucson Airport, it’s a scenic 3 hour drive straight north. 

What’s the difference between the Express, Full Day, and Half day? 

The Half Day is our shortest option with 2 hours on the water, and is the first half of the Full Day section. We’ll cover about 6 miles that include Class II and III rapids depending on the water levels and our access points. 

The Full Day trip is 12 rivers miles with more than ten Class II and III rapids. It includes a hot grilled steak lunch. 

The Express trip is the same section as the Full Day, however it does not include lunch and it runs in a shorter amount of time. This trip also starts later to accommodate those driving from Phoenix or Tucson.

Is paddling required? 

Yes, we definitely prefer that all guests paddle on this river section as most trips are run in paddle boats. We can run oar boats with paddle assist if you prefer to not paddle, just let us know in advance! This is an intermediate river section with plenty of Class II & III rapids.

Do we need wetsuits? 

Wetsuits are highly recommended on this river section as the water flows from fresh snowmelt. We provide wetsuits and boots free of charge!

How is this Salt River Different from the Salt River in Phoenix and Tucson? 

This section is often referred to as the “Upper Salt River” as it is the Salt River above Roosevelt Reservoir. This free-flowing section meanders through a 2,000 foot canyon and has plenty of Class III and IV rapids. Much unlike the float trips in Phoenix and Tucson!

When is the Salt River rafting season?  

Because this section of the Salt is above Roosevelt Reservoir, the season is early March through May when the snow is melting. Some seasons are shorter depending on the amount of snowfall in the White Mountains.

Where do we camp on Multi-Day trips? 

There are beautiful dispersed campsites throughout the river canyon. We bring the general camping equipment and supplies; Kitchen, bathroom, hand-washing stations, camp chairs, firepit, food, drinking water, etc.. We have tents and sleeping bags available for purchase if you decide not to bring your own. You’ll be given a waterproof “drybag” to put your personal gear and clothing into to keep it dry on the boat.

Why the extra fees?  

Our Salt River fees come from both Apache Tribal Lands and Forest Service. The tribe charges $20 per day per person to access the trip.