Half-Day Lower Salt River Rafting Tour
Description
Float down the Lower Salt River on a guided flatwater rafting trip and discover a scenic and relaxing desert oasis just outside Phoenix and Scottsdale. Swim, play, or just relax on the river and soak in the scenery. This is a family-friendly activity with options to please everyone. A little paddling is required, but your guide will steer the boat and provide fascinating information about the surrounding Sonoran Desert. A reliable source of water, the Salt River attracts a variety of wildlife, making it common for us to enjoy close encounters with animals in their natural habitat Tours take about four hours including the drive to/from the river and the duration of the tour. Bottled water and snacks, raft/paddles, a life jacket, dry bags, round-trip transportation and National Forest entry fees are included in this trip. Call for more availability potential.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Raft down a beginner‐friendly river with Cliff Creek Outfitters' guided raft tours on the Lower Salt River just outside Phoenix and Scottsdale. This class I river (the easiest rating on the international river difficulty scale) provides some of the best opportunities for viewing wildlife and bird watching in the Southwest. We often see wild horses and bald eagles during our tour! Your guides are available to teach you the natural history of the area and give you expert paddling instruction. We select our launch locations based on the current water flow to provide you with the best experience so our start and end points vary throughout the year. Water temperatures may range from approx. 60 degrees F in the winter to low 80 degrees in the summer months. Swimming is possible year‐round but it can be a bit bracing in January!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A minimum of 4 people per booking is required
- A minimum weight of 35 lbs is required
- We require solo-travelers to pay the minimum of the 4-person price. If you are a solo traveler and would like to be added on to a pre-formed group for this tour, please mention this upon booking.
Reviews(53)
The pick up van was on time/early so there was no wait at the pick up point. From there we rode to the landing point on the river where we met our guide Will and got a safety brief. The river was absolutely beautiful and Will talked about the history of the river and pointed out animals and the plant life around the river. We were able to cool off for a quick swim (note:ensure you actually have your life vest on tightly, my family is still laughing about it). We seen wild horses and played at the beach and in the end we were picked up and taken back to our car. Great time and might give the kayaks a try next time
It was great trip very relaxing our guide were great Lindsey & Mark Brown they were very helpful and great tour guides
Beautiful location. More strenuous than the description suggested, with more rowing required. Water level was low and we got stuck at one point, and at another we hit a rock and my brother fell out of the raft. Guide was knowledgeable and skilled. Viator did not communicate my request to Cliff Creek Outfitters that we wanted to be put in with another group. When I actually identified the tour provider and called them directly, I had lost the opportunity to cancel our private tour and paid for four people when there were only two of us. This was Viator’s problem, not the operators of the activity and I am less than pleased about it. If you have less than four people, call Cliff Creek Outfitters directly to schedule.
Thank you for joining us on the river and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the location and felt supported by your guide, and we appreciate your notes about the lower water levels and the extra paddling required that day. Conditions on the Lower Salt River can shift throughout the season, and feedback like yours helps us keep expectations clear for future guests. We’re also sorry to hear that Viator didn’t communicate your request. We’re glad you still enjoyed the area and your guide, and we hope the experience on the river helped make up for some of that frustration. We hope to see you again in the future!
Super easy, traveled with husband and three boys (10,8,5). Few rapids to get exciting, not too long and not too short.
Thanks for spending time with us! We're glad your hole family was able to join and find this trip the right amount of exciting. Please visit us again!
Lindsey and his partner were great. His amount of knowledge regarding the river and surrounding area made for fantastic day.
So glad that our guides made your trip extra special. Thanks for sharing this review. We hope to welcome you back in the future!
The rafting experience was pleasant and the guide (Lindsay) was extremely well versed in the ecology and history of the area, which he shared with our group throughout the rafting experience. The driver and guide were both engaging from the pickup to the launch point, and pull out to return. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable and informative river experience.
Thank you for this great feedback! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the tour on the Lower Salt River with our team. Lindsay does have a way of making tours even more special. Thanks for coming out with us, we’d love to have you back anytime!
We had a group of 8 (4 adults and 4 kids), and our river rafting trip was an amazing experience from start to finish. Our guide, Owen, was fantastic—full of local knowledge and great with the kids. He had them out of their shells in no time, joking around, having fun, and even helping polish off the snacks! The scenery was incredible, and spotting a wild horse along the way was a highlight we won’t forget. The trip itself was very easygoing with minimal paddling required, which made it perfect for all ages—our 73-year-old mom had a great time too. Highly recommend for families or anyone looking for a fun, scenic, and relaxed adventure!
Love this review! Thanks for sharing. Yes, Owen is a top notch guide and uncle! He knows how to get everyone involved. The beauty of the Tonto National Forest is always our favorite to share with guests. Glad you all enjoyed it.
Gentle float - great for seniors. Easy access. . Guides were patient and supportive. Great experience.
Glad you enjoyed the raft tour on the Lower Salt! Visit us again soon.
We did it with our kids ages 11 and 13 and it was wonderful even with rainy conditions they provided us with ponchos and it was absolutely amazing
Thanks for the great review Jorgelina! Our guides also enjoyed the time out with you all on the Salt River. Hopefully you'll come back and visit again!
Our guide, Owen, was exceptional. He elevated the Salt River rafting trip by sharing his deep knowledge of the local ecology and history, turning the journey into a highly engaging and educational experience. We arrived with no expectations and left with incredible memories, thanks entirely to Owen's expertise. I strongly recommend this trip for anyone seeking adventure combined with unique insights into Arizona's wilderness.
Thank you so much, Donna! We love hearing that our team made your Salt River rafting experience unforgettable. Owen is an incredible guide and we're glad you think so too. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. Thanks again for joining us on our rafting tour and for sharing your adventure!
