Rivers & Lakes

Salt River

Tube, cruise or relax on the banks of the Salt River and its popular desert lakes.

This blue-green ribbon winding through Central Arizona has attracted people for centuries. From the ancient Hohokam inhabitants who built irrigation canals and communities along the shores of Rio Salado to today’s residents and visitors who appreciate the river for recreation, the Salt River is one of the Phoenix metro area’s most cherished resources.

Tube the Salt

Ask any local about the Salt River and they will likely share a story about tubing the Salt. Outfitters in Mesa provide the tubes and shuttle visitors upstream for floats that take 2-4 hours depending on the river’s current and which put-in spot visitors choose. All Salt River floats are wild adventures that require very little effort other than watching the surroundings pass by and reapplying sunscreen. Families with small kids (tubers must be at least 8 years old or 4 feet tall) hop off the shuttle at the first stop for a more mellow float. The more adventurous tubers go to the final stop that brings stretches of rapids into the ride.

Lake Life

Dams along the Salt River create recreation reservoirs for visitors to enjoy. Five lakes close to the metro area offer splashy fun during the warmer months and natural retreats outside of the city year-round. To the northeast of the metro, Saguaro Lake features a guest ranch in a secluded valley and cruises aboard the Desert Belle. Follow the river east to discover Canyon Lake below red-rock cliffs — the port for cruises aboard The Dolly Steamboat. Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake are the most remote of the Salt River reservoirs. Tempe Town Lake is technically the fifth lake on the Salt River. This urban stretch of water recreation is surrounded by high-rises and highways, but it’s water in the desert all the same.

Cultural Connections

The Salt River has supported residents and communities in the harsh desert environment for centuries. While many historic ruins were covered when the river was dammed to create reservoirs, many remnants of the indigenous communities are protected today. Tonto National Monument preserves mind-boggling cliff dwellings above Roosevelt Lake. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa community operates Huhugam Ki: Museum, with artifacts and events that honor the contributions of early inhabitants along the Salt River.

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