Kayaking the Salt River Foxtail Trip
Description
Starting at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, you and your group will kayak UNGUIDED down a scenic five mile stretch of river as it moves it's way through the Tonto National Forest. Participants often witness wild horses, birds and other wildlife that cool off in the river during the summer months. We have the special privilege of being the only kayak rental company located right on the Salt River, so our trips launch directly from our site. Each reservation includes a kayak (or with advance request a paddleboard), paddle, PFD/personal flotation device and return shuttle to starting site. This is an UNGUIDED kayaking experience. While this is primarily a scenic float there are sections of swift water and kayakers often tip out – so be prepared to get wet.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 12 years & 4'6" tall
- Maximum weight is kayak/275 lbs & paddleboard/260 lbs.
- NO double kayaks/only singles
- Not recommended for participants who do not know how to swim.
- Participant must be comfortable with an UNGUIDED river excursion. While this is primarily a scenic float, there are sections of swift water and kayakers often tip out - so be prepared to get wet.
- Must sign a waiver prior to arrival. Waiver link email will be sent to you after booking, please call if you do not receive the email.
- Dress to be in the heat and to get wet!
- Service animals or pets are not allowed on kayaks for the safety of the animal
Reviews(2,842)
My husband and I went together and had a really great time. We had never kayaked before and were a little nervous that it was self guided but it was absolutely fine. My husband fell in the water 3 times so make sure you wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet! Property is beautiful to see as well. I will say I’d recommend going earlier in the day because there’s a lot of people tubing on the weekends
My 13 year old son and I enjoyed a peaceful morning kayak. It was a great way to start our day and beat the summer heat. It was picturesque and super easy to follow the directions. My son was hoping for more rapids, but he did spot an otter, fish, birds, and a few wild horses.
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re so glad you and your son got to spend a peaceful morning on the river together and saw so much wildlife along the way! Hopefully your son will get his fill of rapids on a future adventure! Thanks again for paddling with us!
Enjoyed the kayaking very much! I was terrified as I cannot swim and panicked a bit when I found out they do no have kayaks built for two people! I made it and actually did quite well navigating just like the video said to do. Would recommend for any newbie!!
Thank you so much for the awesome review! We’re so glad you gave kayaking a try, even with those initial nerves! We love hearing that the trip was a great experience for a first-time kayaker. Hope to see you back on the river again soon!
We totally loved our kayaking trip and highly recommend it to others. We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers and no prior kayaking experience (only paddle boarding). The safety video was a bit intense and made my husband nervous, but once on the river all was good. We went on a Sunday and parts of the river were packed with tubers and paddle boarders making it challenging to navigate around, but still doable. Luckily we saw 3 wild horses right at the end of our journey. Amazing!!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're so happy to hear your family had such a great first kayaking experience with us. We know the safety video can feel a bit intimidating, but we're glad it helped prepare you and that you felt comfortable once you were out on the river. Sundays can definitely be a little busier, especially during the summer, but we're happy to hear you were still able to enjoy the scenery. Seeing three wild horses at the end of your trip is such a great way to finish the adventure! We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome your family back for another paddle in the future!
Lovely, easy experience. Everything was exactly as they described.
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy to hear your first kayaking experience was such an easy and enjoyable one. We appreciate you choosing to paddle with us and hope to see you back on the river again soon!
The staff were relaxed, organized, and fun. River is gorgeous! We saw several wild horses. Bring water!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed your time on the river and that our team helped make the experience fun and easy. Seeing the wild horses is always such a special bonus! We hope to welcome you back for another paddle soon!
It was great experience. My fiance and I had a fantastic time. We ended taking a little extra time because of the tubing area but the part before that was so fun just being him and I.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We're so glad you and your fiancé had a fantastic time on the river. It sounds like you were able to enjoy some peaceful moments together before reaching the busier tubing area, and we're happy to hear that part of the trip was especially memorable. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you both back for another paddle soon!
When I visit, I always go kayaking here; this was my 4th time, and it's the best experience for the value. The staff is always very friendly,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing to kayak with us again and again! Knowing this was your fourth visit truly means so much to our team. We're thrilled to hear you've always had a great experience and that our staff has made you feel welcome every time. We can't wait to welcome you back for your next adventure on the river!
Fast and easy check in, clear direction and friendly staff! Everything you want out of an experience like this! The excursion lasted about 2 hours, well worth the money! There is something to be said about kayaking in a large river in the desert! Truly amazing!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear that everything from check-in to the trip itself was easy and enjoyable. There's definitely something special about floating down the river surrounded by the beauty of the desert, and we're so happy you got to experience it. Thank you for choosing to spend part of your day with us. We hope to welcome you back for another kayaking adventure soon!
Everything was just awesome! There was six of us and everyone had a blast. There was a good amount of swift water/rapids for a thrill and slower water to paddle and sit back and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. We did see wild horses on the sides of the river. Everyone at the Guest Ranch was very helpful and friendly. I would totally recommend! We all are hoping to get back out again soon!
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad your whole group had such a great time on the river. It's awesome to hear you enjoyed the mix of fun rapids, relaxing stretches, beautiful scenery, and even got to see the wild horses! Thank you so much for the recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
