All or part of SRR's operation is conducted on public lands under special permit from the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Tonto National Forest.

Rafting the Arkansas
River in Colorado
with our sister company Independent Whitewater near Denver, CO

This Class III-IV whitewater trip covers the 52 miles of the Upper Salt River Canyon before it is tamed by the Roosevelt Lake Dam. This trip enters the Salt River Canyon Wilderness designated by the federal government in 1984 and is limited to a maximum group size of 12 people and 3 guides. This is one of the premiere multi-day whitewater raft trips in the country. Highlights of this section include the rivers namesake travertine salt banks of the NDEE or Apache. View cliff dwellings of the Salado people at Rock Creek. Float through the 1.4 billion year old white granite mini-canyon which constricts the river to nearly a forth of its average width at Canyon Creek.

Not sure if you like camping or being committed to a multiple day river trip? This is the trip for you! We run the same rafting itinerary as the full day trip, except you can camp before or after your trip. Either way 3 meals are included and you will have the luxury of having your vehicle and camping gear with you at our outfitter base which is located next to the river at Second Campground. This campground is open to the public like a state park and where Salt River Rafting has space allocated for our operation and guides. A beautiful spot in the Salt River Canyon as you can see from these pictures. Here we will build you a campfire to relax around and cook a fantastic dinner and breakfast as only our multi-talented guides can do. There is plenty of time to fish or hike. Come and discover if "roughing it" is for you! Special diets can be accommodated with prior notice.
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Two Day 20 mile Raft Trip
Meet at our Salt River Canyon office at 10am (map) to check in.
Fill out or bring 2 complete release forms. Salt River Rafting and WMAT
Get dressed for the river. For more on what to wear and bring click here.
Return to your vehicle between 3:30 and 5:00 the next day depending on river flows.
Any Two Days $325 ($370.85 w/fees)
Children 12 under $276 ($320.97 w/fees)

This trip covers 20 miles of the Salt River to the Gleason Flats river access point. This trip does not enter the Salt River Canyon Wilderness, only the 52 mile, 3,4 & 5 day wilderness trips do that as well as the exclusive Super One Day Wilderness Trip. The first day of our trip follows the same routine as the full day, including a grilled lunch on the river. At the end of the day you will have the luxury of having your vehicle and camping gear with you at our outfitter base which is located next to the river at Second Campground. This campground is open to the public like a state park and where Salt River Rafting has space allocated for our operation and guides. A beautiful spot in the Salt River Canyon as you can see from these pictures. For dinner your guides will show off their culinary skills as you relax by our riverside fire. From camp you can hike, fish, explore or just laze around the fire. In the evening the stars are phenomenal and in the morning the birding is excellent. If you enjoy moderate side hikes talk to your guides about the possibilities including Cibecue canyon, rated by author Jon Krakauer author of "Into The Wild" as one of the top ten most beautiful places he has visited. In the morning, after a hot and hearty breakfast, we break camp and continue down river. On day two many more rapids await! You will launch from camp which means you will revisit 3 of the river miles from the day before (try to get it right this time!) As you enter new terrain the travertine formation of the Salt Banks which is sacred to the NDEE or Apache will come into view. This leg of our adventure brings us deeper into the Tonto National Forest where you will witness the transformation of the massive red rock canyon into a stark white granite mini-gorge. Over a dozen rapids await, highlighted by the Ledges, Rat Trap, White Rock and Granite rapids. Saguaros, ocotillo and sotol fill the Sonoran Desert landscape along with a view of the ancient cliff dwellings of the Salado people who lived here before the Apache and European. As the raft adventure ends, the driving adventure begins. The 2 day trip is accessible by the original Apache trail/road built in the late 1800's to connect Phoenix to Fort Apache. If that road is impassable we can access the river from the Haystack Ranch road and Hwy 60/77. The shuttle return to your vehicle is scenic and exciting as well so keep that camera handy. Special diets can be accommodated with prior notice.
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This 1/2 Day option is designed for the budget minded adventurer or people with time constraints. This trip covers aproximately half the distance of the full day trip. You will launch with the full day trip and when we stop for lunch you will be taken back to your vehicle. Bring a snack as no food is included. Quite often we have half day guests decide to stay for our grilled lunch and continue on to make it a full day. Please talk to your guide at the river should you be so inclined to upgrade.
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Inflatable Kayaks aka "Duckies"
Meet at our Salt River Canyon office at 10am (map) to check in.
Fill out or bring 2 complete release forms. Salt River Rafting and WMAT
Get dressed for the river. For more on what to wear and bring click here.
Minimum age 16
Price is trip cost plus $40/day

These inflatable kayaks (Ik's) or "duckies" are generally used at lower flows. Either solo or with a friend you will navigate the river yourself along with a guide in his own ducky, kayak or small raft to show you the way. We consider this a HIGH ADVENTURE trip that requires above average physical condition and a "git 'er done" attitude and a minimum age of 16 years. Please look at these photos to see what we mean by this. That being said, no experience is necessary. Keep in mind that inflatable kayaks are much more physically challenging than rafting. Getting stuck on rocks, falling out of the ducky and rescuing yourself with or without the aid of the guide are typical experiences. Before you head down river you will be required to demonstrate a self resucue in the calm pool at the put in. A self rescue entails exiting your kayak into the water and getting back into the craft with or without the assistance of the guides.

This trip is run separate from the raft trips for your safety (not being run over by a raft), logistics (duckiers generally take longer than rafters to get down the river), and enjoyment. We maintain a high client to guide ratio. Our minimum group size of 4 requires 2 guides; one in a small oar powered raft to handle any circumstance, usually fatigue. Another guide will be in a kayak or ducky to show you the way down the river. These quality and safety measures are what account for the higher cost of the inflatable kayak trip.

We maintain the right to alter or cancel your ducky trip at the river based on river conditions and or other safety reasons. Trip cost will be adjusted accordingly or refunded if so desired.
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Boy Scout Whitewater Merit Badge
Meet at our Salt River Canyon office at 9am (map) to check in.
Fill out or bring 2 complete release forms. Salt River Rafting and WMAT
Get dressed for the river. For more on what to wear and bring click here.
With food (2 meals) is $190 ($213.42 with fees)
Without food is $165 ($187.97 w/fees)

Salt River Rafting has been working with Boy Scout Troop 451 of Mesa, AZ over the years helping scouts obtain their Whitewater Merit Badge. Due to the guides familiarity with the program, Wendy Beaver of the Mesa District has certified 7 of our guides to run and award the BSA Whitewater Merit Badge with our course on the Salt River. All of our guides have CPR/First Aid Certification, many with EMT, Wilderness First Response and Swiftwater Rescue Technician Certifications. Your group leader and scouts should be familiar with and have completed the required steps towards the Whitewater Merit Badge:

BSA Swim Test
BSA Safety Afloat
Kayaking BSA Requirements
Safe Swim Defense
Safety Code of American Whitewater
Whitewater Merit Badge Requirements
Whitewater Merit Badge Workbook please bring this completed!

At the river the boys will complete ALL 13 components of the Whitewater Merit Badge Requirements including participation in a whitewater trip and the 160 second whitewater gate test.

This is an overnight camp out trip. It starts with a 9am meeting time at the river, 1 hour earlier than our other trips. There is a half day of rafting to our camp, just over 6 miles. After a beach side grilled lunch, course work will be done on the river until dinner time. After dinner is your time at camp. The next day starts with breakfast and then a wrap up of any course work needing to be completed along with all paper work.
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We are the only outfitter offering this action packed adventure. Normally the only way to see this part of the canyon is on a multi-day trip. This trip enters the Salt River Canyon Wilderness designated by the federal government in 1984 and is limited to a maximum group size of 12 people and 3 guides. Here's how we do it. From Bernie's Hideway we drive 30 miles up the north side of the river to Gleason Flats at the edge of the Apache reservation. After a short warm up on the river we enter the federally designated Salt Canyon Wildernss and challenge Eye of the Needle and Black Rock Rapids. Ready set go! 20 miles of river in one action packed day culminating with Quartzite and Corkscrew Rapids. Deli lunch is included. Have your game face on for this one and be ready to work hard! Check the Wilderness Schedule to join or start a group to reach the preferred group size of 4 or more.
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Check the Wilderness Schedule