The kids may be all be back in school, but the weather still feels like summer vacation! Looking for a cool and wet adventure? Spend a day this weekend tubing the Lower Salt River rapids in beautiful Tonto National Forest near Mesa, Arizona! Enjoy a “floating picnic” and experience the natural wonders of the Salt River! I took my teenagers and their friends last weekend and we had a blast enjoying the cool water and warm sun while we floated for four hours. The last time I was there was over twenty years ago and I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to go back!
Some important safety tips to ensure you have plenty of fun in the sun:
-Children must be at least 8-year-old and 4 feet tall for tube rental & shuttle bus service.
-Life vests are recommended for children, all non-swimmers and inexperienced swimmers. Life vests are available to purchase for only $5. We were all strong swimmers, but we did see plenty smart & safe people wearing life vests.
-No glass containers are allowed at Salt River Tubing or the Lower Salt River Recreational Area. (Coolers are inspected to strictly enforce this.)
Drink lots and lots of water while tubing. It is recommended to drink at least 1-2 bottles of water per hour while floating to help prevent dehydration.
-Rent a cooler tube to store your drinks and snacks. Tying tubes is not recommended, but we did tie a rope onto the cooler tube and took turns holding the rope…we didn’t want our water and snacks to float away!
-Bring an old sheet or extra large towel-the rental tubes are black and heat quickly in the sun. We wet our sheets and it instantly cooled the tubes!
-Closed toe shoes are suggested to protect against cuts, scrapes, and bruises while walking to & from the Salt River’s entry & exit points. We also found wearing shoes helpful to protect our feet from the River’s rocky bottom during some of the river shallow areas.
And of course…sunscreen should be applied BEFORE and DURING your floating trip!
When: Hours are 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily.
Last tube rental is at 1:30 p.m.
Last shuttle pickup is at 6:30 p.m.
Open Memorial Day weekend through September.
Where: 9200 N. Bush Highway, Mesa.
Admission: $17 for tube rental and shuttle; $14 for shuttle only. ($30 for lost or stolen tube.)
For more information, visit: saltrivertubing.com
