Half Day Pre-Trip Information
When to Meet
| Show Up | Depart | Return |
| 9:15 am | 10:00 am | 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm |
What to Bring
- Swimming suit and/or shorts
- Sunglasses with securing strap
- Fleece jacket or synthetic insulating layer on colder days
- Hat or visor, which can be worn under your helmet
- Waterproof sunscreen. This is important. We are close to the sun!
- Lip balm with SPF 15+
- Tennis shoes, water shoes, or secure sandals. No flip-flops or Crocs.
- Water bottle
- Cash for souvenirs and tipping your guide at the conclusion of the trip
- Tip: Do NOT wear cotton on the river! It can make you colder!
What We Provide
- Wetsuit
- Wetsuit booties
- Splash jacket
- Lifejacket, helmet and paddle
- Professional guides
- Transportation back to your car at the end of the rafting trip
- Comfortable changing facilities
All cool weather items are included in the cost of Salt River trips!
Where to Meet
Your trip will meet in the Salt River Canyon at the junction of Highway 60 and the river between Highway Mile Markers 292 and 293. For specific GPS directions, please visit our directions page.
From Phoenix:
Go to Globe on Hwy 60 East. Go all the way through Globe and on the east side of town, there is a left-hand turn at a stoplight going toward Show Low. Highway 60 turns here! (If you miss the turn, you will be on Hwy 70 going toward Safford).
From Tucson:
Get on Hwy 77 North. As you enter Globe on the east side of town, there is a right turn onto Hwy 60 going toward Show Low.
Once you turn at the stoplight in Globe on Highway 60, it is 45 minutes to the river. At the river bridge, go across the bridge to the north side of the river and immediately turn left onto the dirt road and watch for our sign.
Head downstream about 100 yards on the dirt road and look for the Arizona Rafting trailers and vehicles in the parking area on your right. The parking area is just downstream of the bridge, so don’t go too far or you’ll miss us!
Weather Conditions
| MONTH | AVERAGE LOW | AVERAGE HIGH | AVERAGE RAIN |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 30ºF | 60ºF | 1.57 in. |
| March | 34ºF | 64ºF | 2.17 in. |
| April | 39ºF | 73ºF | 0.83 in. |
| May | 45ºF | 80ºF | 0.63 in. |
Important Trip Info:
- Half-day trips begin at our office and take out at 1st Camp
- Click here for a map of the Upper Canyon
For additional lodging and activity information, check out our area info page, or contact the Globe, Arizona Chamber of Commerce at 928-425-4495
Reservation/Cancellation Policies
Bookings made more than 14 days in advance require a 50% deposit to confirm. 14 days prior to your trip, the balance will be automatically charged to the credit card provided. Bookings made within 14 days of the departure date require payment in full.
Cancellation Policy (NON-discounted reservations)
If your group or any person in your group cancels more than 14 days before the trip’s check-in time, a full refund will be provided. If cancellations are made within 14 days, no refund will be provided for any reason.
Cancellation Policy (DISCOUNTED reservations)
If your reservation has a discount applied and you wish to cancel, you will not receive a refund. You may reschedule or receive a trip credit (digital gift card code).
Cancellation Insurance
Cancellation Insurance is available for 7.5% of the trip cost. Insurance purchased for individuals is non-transferable. If purchased, a refund would be provided minus an additional 7.5% cancellation fee up to 72 hours prior to check-in time. Anything cancelled less than 72 hours, but at least 24 hours in advance would receive a non-refundable gift certificate valid for one calendar year from the date of cancellation. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not eligible for a refund for any reason. Guests who opt out of Cancellation Insurance are subject to the 14-day Cancellation Policy.
No exceptions will be made. This includes, but is not limited to road construction, undesirable weather, poor road conditions, COVID or other illnesses.
Late Arrival Policy
It is your responsibility to arrive for your trip on time—typically 30-60 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.
We will not wait for late arrivals. Please take into account travel time, weather, road construction, etc.
Water Policy
Arizona Rafting reserves the right to move your group to a more appropriate section of the river due to extremely high or low water conditions.
We will give you as much notice as possible of conditions that may affect your scheduled trip. Note that if an alternate section of the river is available to your group, no refunds or credits are given.
Weather Policy
Arizona Rafting trips run rain or shine. We will not cancel or cut short trips due to rain and/or thunderstorm conditions (including lighting).
Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs or alcohol are not to be consumed before or during your trip. This includes marijuana. Marijuana remains illegal on White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands and US Forest Service Federal Land. No refund will be given to those drinking alcohol or using drugs prior to the trip. On multi-day camping and rafting trips, alcohol may be consumed while at camp. Please remember that rafting trips operate in a very remote area with difficult access for emergencies. Try to avoid glass containers.
Pregnancy
We do allow pregnant guests to participate in rafting.
Each person rafting will be required to sign a liability release form prior to trip departure. Each youth under the age of 18 years old will need a parent or guardian to co-sign their liability. Please click here to download and print our release
Will I receive a safety orientation prior to my trip?
Prior to boarding your raft, you will receive a complete safety orientation.
Is it appropriate to tip my guide?
Tipping is appropriate, particularly if you have received exceptional customer service.
If you believe a tip is appropriate, we recommend an average tip of $10-$15/guest/day. You will have the opportunity to tip your guide directly at the conclusion of your trip.
We always appreciate hearing from you so that we can recognize extraordinary customer service, and we also appreciate hearing from you if you feel that there are areas that we can improve upon. We strive to exceed your expectations!
What happens if I arrive late for my trip?
To provide our guests with the best possible customer service, we attempt to launch our trips on time. We operate in a remote location with a small staff. If you are late, it is possible that your trip will have launched and no one will be in the office.
Due to the extraordinary logistics and limited seating on our trips, we cannot offer full or partial refunds for any reason. Please plan your travel times accordingly.
What is the weather generally like on the Upper Salt River?
Daytime highs in the Sonoran Desert are typically mild with highs ranging from 65 to 90 degrees. Chances of rain or a late season cold front necessitate planning for a full range of weather conditions.
Wetsuits are available when you check in if the weather is cool or the water levels are high.
I cannot swim. Can I still go rafting?
Many of our participants cannot swim. We provide U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices designed to float you face-up in whitewater. Personal flotation devices are required to be worn at all times.
Do I need to wear a helmet?
Helmets are required and provided by Arizona Rafting.
Can I bring anything along with me on the raft?
Each raft is equipped with a waterproof bag for any small items you may need during the day.
Should I bring a water bottle on my raft trip?
We do not carry drinking water on your raft and recommend you bring your own bottle. Water bottles can sit on the floor of the raft.
Do you have a retail store?
We have a small selection of retail including last-minute items such as sunscreen and lip balm. Plan to check out our t-shirts and hats after the trip.
SPOTS ARE FILLING FAST!
BOOK YOUR TRIP NOW
Choose from half-day and full-day trips white water rafting in Arizona on the Salt River. We offer trips up to five days long. Here’s what you could be missing out on:
