UPPER CANYON OF THE SALT RIVER

Upper Canyon Map

GLEASON FLAT TO HORSESHOE BEND

Inspiring canyon vistas and heart-pounding rapids have made the Upper Canyon of the Salt River the most popular day section in Arizona.

You will be greeted with a shot of refreshing mountain water in rapids like Bump and Grind, Maytag Rapid, and Exhibition Rapid.

Stop by for a riverside lunch of sizzling fajitas and finish out your rafting adventure in the company of Arizona’s silent sentinel the Saguaro cactus.

Don’t want your trip to end here? Consider booking a multi-day adventure and continue through the Middle Canyon and Lower Canyon of the Salt River.

A printer-friendly, souvenir-quality version of this map is great to bring along when visiting us.

Printer-friendly version of this map pdf

Rafting Trips Through the Upper Canyon

Full-Day

Enjoy our most popular Salt River rafting trip. Exciting class III-IV rapids greet you 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.
Trip Info

Half-Day

Raft with us in the morning on this fast-paced, short and sweet Salt River Half-Day section featuring exciting class III white water. 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.
Trip Info

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, enjoy 10 miles of exciting Class III and IV rapids of the Upper Salt River Canyon.
Trip Info

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. This is the perfect trip for family, friends, and groups.
Trip Info

2-Day

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

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.
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4-Day

Get away into the remote and stunning Salt River Wilderness, tackle white knuckling white water 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. Our most popular wilderness trip!
Trip Info

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, view scenic, ecological and geological treasures on one of the premier white water wilderness trips in the West.
Trip Info