GLOBE, ARIZONA

GLOBE, ARIZONA THINGS TO DO

Springtime Rafting Near Globe

Coming to Globe, AZ this spring? No Globe vacation is complete without experiencing the area’s best whitewater rafting. And you won’t find a better Salt River Canyon whitewater rafting outfitter than Arizona Rafting.You can experience world-class whitewater rafting or visit one of the many ancient Native American ruins on the same day. Or, you can take your time hiking in the White Mountains and soaking up culture in the nearby White Mountain Apache Tribe and San Carlos Apache Reservations.

Globe, Arizona visitors are some of the best repeat customers we have, coming back year after year to raft the beautiful Salt River Canyon.

Salt River Rafting Trips

Join us on a Salt River Rafting adventure out of Globe today!

Full-Day

Join us on our most popular Salt River rafting trip. Experience exciting class III-IV rapids at every turn, including Maytag, Grumman, and Overboard. Test your skills with the hot action waves of Exhibition and the infamous Mescal Falls. An optional hike and riverside lunch are included.
Full-Day

Half-Day

Raft with us in the morning on this fast-paced, short and sweet Salt River Half-Day section featuring exciting class III whitewater. Get soaked with our first exciting rapid, Kiss and Tell, and end the trip at our private beach for the shuttle back to the starting point.
Half-Day

Sprint

Get all the thrilling rapids of the popular Full-Day trip with a later start time and on-boat snack. Offering the perfect mix of adventure, desert scenery, and exciting whitewater at an exhilarating pace, this trip will take you down 10 miles of exciting Class III and IV rapids of the Upper Salt River Canyon.
Sprint

Campout

Join us on our exhilarating full-day trip with rustic riverside camping and dinner the night before or after your trip. Secret bends and intricate boulder gardens mingle with exceptional class III and IV white water, making this a perfect trip for family, friends, and groups.
Campout

2-Day

Tackle the entire Salt River Wilderness on our fast-paced 2-Day Salt River Expedition trip! Requiring intense paddling and teamwork, this trip travels 42 miles through the extremely remote Salt River Wilderness. View giant saguaro cacti and hillsides blanketed with colorful desert wildflowers.
2-Day

3-Day

Raft 46 miles of challenging rapids and camp on remote riverside beaches on this 3-Day adventure in the Salt River Wilderness. With no shortage of exciting whitewater, raft through some of the oldest exposed rocks in the world and explore narrow side canyons leading to oasis-like habitats.
3-Day

4-Day

Get away into the remote and stunning Salt River Wilderness, tackle white knuckling whitewater, and enjoy the desert beauty on this 51 mile, 4-Day journey. Each day, explore new and challenging rapids and side hikes to remote Indian ruins or lush canyons. This is our most popular wilderness trip!
4-Day

5-Day

Treat yourself to a hidden gem by exploring every aspect of the Salt River Wilderness on this truly amazing 5-Day getaway. Floating at a relaxed pace over 51 miles, you'll view scenic, ecological, and geological treasures on one of the premier whitewater wilderness trips in the West.
5-Day

Globe, Arizona History

The history surrounding Globe, AZ begins much earlier than the town’s establishment in 1876. Nomadic people found their way into the area almost 7,000 years ago, but it was the Salado culture (named for the Rio Salado or “Salt River”), established around 700 years ago, that had the earliest historical impact. They built and inhabited a large pueblo-style living site, now referred to as Besh-ba-Gowah in the town. Visiting Besh-ba-Gowah is one of the many highlights of a Globe vacation.

The much larger Apache Tribes further to the north and east lived and traded with the small pueblo tribes for many years until the arrival of the Spaniards in the 1600s. For many years and many battles, the Apache defended the land but were ultimately defeated. In 1871, many Apaches remained to reside on the newly formed San Carlos Apache Reservation.

During the get-rich-quick days of mining during the late 1800s, many early tries at establishing mines in the area were unsuccessful. Silver was finally discovered, and in the early 1870s, many claims were staked and an influx of pioneers settled in and established the town of Globe. However, it was an increase in the interest in copper in 1881 that really allowed the town to thrive. Copper mining is still very much alive today in Globe.

In the decades to come, Globe endured countless historic events such as murders, stagecoach robberies, outlaws, lynching’s, and Apache raids—many of which included the likes of Geronimo, the Apache Kid, and Phineas and Ike Clanton, who were involved in the infamous shootout with Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral. Today, however, Globe is just a small Arizona town embedded with a rich history that continues to form.

For help planning your Globe, AZ vacation, check out the following informative links:

Lodging 
From basic to unique, there are many great places to stay in the area.

Restaurants 
Globe has a great selection of dining choices to tempt your taste buds.

Activities and Travel Info 
Make your spring vacation one you’ll be talking about for years to come. Rafting is just one of many fun and exciting activities to try. Others include mountain biking, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and golf, to name a few.

The Salt River is a Great Escape from Globe

There is no end to the list of activities and attractions near Globe, AZ. You can hike or take a whitewater rafting trip through the Salt River Canyon, visit Saguaro National Park, or walk through history at the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.

If visiting Phoenix is more to your liking, take some time to shop in Scottsdale, walk amongst the natural rock formations in Papago Park, visit history itself at Tovrea Castle, catch an exciting baseball game during Spring Training, or watch a NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway.

An Arizona whitewater rafting trip through Salt River Canyon is a memorable experience. Enjoy a breathtaking drive near Roosevelt Reservoir and Apache Lake along the Apache Trail or explore the unspoiled beauty on a hike in the Salt River Canyon.

Don’t forget to visit many other vacation towns and destinations on your Globe, AZ vacation, including Miami, Peridot, San Carlos, Superior, and Show Low.

  • 5 star ratingRafting the Salt I've been doing this trip annually with a middle school group and it is the highlight of the year. The scenery is incredible, the... read more

    Fred W Avatar
    Fred W
    6/18/2019

    5 star ratingAlways a good experience with these guys on the Upper Salt River, especially in banner runoff years. It ran 4400 cfs this March, well above... read more

    Stu W. Avatar
    Stu W.
    6/16/2019

    Did a Saturday trip with Wilderness Aware (WA) on the Salt River. Was absolutely amazed at the wonderful experience . From the moment... read more

    Shawnie Patterson Avatar
    Shawnie Patterson
    2/26/2018