Floating the Salt River

Floating the Salt River is a Phoenix-area tradition. Don’t expect rapids or ancient ruins, just happy weekenders tossing back beers, chatting up strangers, and having a great time. The river runs through Tonto National Forest and is one of the easiest ways to escape the city. About a half-hour drive outside Phoenix, you can leave your vehicle, rent tubes, and get bused to the drop-off point. Your float through the desert landscape can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, and there’s no overstating the importance of making room for lots of water in your cooler and keeping a cap on your head. That Arizona sunshine can be mean.