Best for swimmingArizona's Pebble Beach, 20 miles northeast of Mesa, is a popular spot to start or finish a leisurely tubing trip down the Salt River. Because no motorized boats are allowed, it's also an ideal place to swim.
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Lower Salt River: A surprisingly short drive from downtown Phoenix reaches the Salt River, where runoff from the distant mountains waters the desert. Here you can swim, float, and paddle among huge cacti, towering cliffs, and a herd of wild horses.
Fun - Wet - and Mildly Dangerous. On a hot summer day - nothing beats drifting down the salt - BUT there are safety concerns. Drownings are all too common here - dure mainly to the exposed root structure along the shore. People often lash the innertubes together, and can't manuver out of the dangerous areas.
You can swim in the Salt River, but be aware that the water is not as clean as your typical swimming pool because of all the folks and animals who use the river daily.
Yes, you can bring your own tube to float the Salt River. You will just need to have a vehicle at both the top and bottom launch sites. Is Salt River Tubing OK for kids?
The river was used for irrigation by the pre-Columbian Hohokam culture, by later Native Americans, and by early Euro-American settlers in the 19th century. It currently provides a major source of irrigation and drinking water for Phoenix and surrounding communities through the Salt River Project.
Marshmallows get very sticky when wet, making them the perfect ammunition to lob at other tubers for some lighthearted fun. They also float, so you can pick up discarded ammo and reuse it as you travel down the river.
Children must be at least eight (8) years old AND four (4) feet tall to go tubing. SRT policy requires children ages 8-12 to wear life jackets. These can be purchased at our Snack Bar for $15.
Those who don't know how to swim must wear a life vest and should avoid leaving their tube. Music- Feel free to bring speakers or portable stereos, but out of respect for others, make sure they can't be heard more than 50 feet away.
As leaves fall off and the wind blows, salt is dispersed around the surrounding land. Since the salt river is lined by Tamarisk, much of that salt falls into the water, making it salty.
The lake's turquoise waters attract sailors, its white sand beaches are popular with swimmers and sunbathers, and craggy outcroppings on Antelope Island and some shoreline areas draw hikers and mountain bikers.
One of my favorite annual trips to lead is a moonlight paddle down the Lower Salt River east of Phoenix. The Salt River is a great little trip either early in the morning, or long after the tubers have gone home—it's serene, has some nice scenery, is convenient to the metro Phoenix area, and offers easy logistics.
Salt River Tubing is set to open for 2023. Here's a guide to the iconic Arizona activity. One of Arizona's staple summer activities is back in action. Salt River Tubing in east Mesa opened for the 2023 season on Saturday, April 29.
Salt River Tubing pricing is $21. This price includes parking at the origin point, a tube to float the river on and a shuttle to the launch area and back.