Tubing along the Salt River is a beloved summer activity for locals and visitors seeking relief from the desert heat. While Tucson lies about two hours from the Salt River’s tubing hot spots, this adventure offers a unique opportunity to enjoy cool freshwater, scenic desert vistas, and a vibrant, social atmosphere. Known for its mix of relaxation and fun, this activity combines natural beauty with an engaging way to beat the Arizona sun.
Adventure Guide to Tubing Along the Salt River
Salt River Tubing & Recreation Area (Mesa, Arizona)
Located near Mesa, this is the primary launch spot for tubing along the Salt River. The recreation area provides tube rentals, transportation shuttles, and guidance for first-timers. The gentle river currents allow for a leisurely float, with options for 2-, 3-, or 5-hour rides. Keep your eyes out for sightings of wild horses that roam along the riverbanks and frequent bald eagle appearances overhead. Note: This location is seasonal, typically open from May through mid-September.
Coon Bluff Recreation Site
Perfect for families or those who want a quieter experience, this area is ideal for a shorter tubing trip or picnicking next to the water. Its calm currents and shaded spots make it a great place to relax or start a tubing journey. Nearby trails offer additional activities for hikers or photographers.
Phon D Sutton Recreation Site
This is another excellent spot for tubing enthusiasts, known for its beautiful Sonoran Desert scenery. Many tubers prefer starting here for shorter trips, as it's less crowded than the main Salt River Tubing area. The site also features picnic spots and hiking opportunities.
Local Insights
The river is fed by mountain snowmelt, keeping it cool even in summer.
It's a common hangout for Arizona State University students, creating a lively vibe on weekends.
Respect river etiquette: avoid littering, and use mesh bags to store trash.
Visitor Tips
Best Times: Morning hours to avoid extreme afternoon heat.
What to Pack: Sunscreen, hats, water shoes, reusable water bottles (avoid glass), a secure waterproof container for valuables, and snacks.
Directions from Tucson: Take I-10 to US-60 W, then AZ-202 to the Salt River. Allow about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Adventure Map
Reviews
Alice Weaver4 months ago
One of the best ways to relax and spend four hours with a group of friends. You must have a Tonto Forest Day Pass, I have seen them ticket vehicles that don't have them. Floating down the Salt River is best when it's cloudy. If it's sunny, take an umbrella so that you can have shade. Just take one that you don't mind if it gets ruined or lost, and be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen. We always take two cars, one is parked at the beginning and we park one at the end of the float, and we bring our own tubes. We also like to bring rope so we can tie our tubes so we can stay together. We also like to bring our own personal coolers for our lunches and water. We also bring waterproof bags for our keys, phones etc. Floating down the river is the best way to relieve stress. The scenery is beautiful, and if you are lucky, you will see the wild horses. We have also seen the divers. Keep the river beautiful for future generations by leaving no trace, pack out what you pack in.
Veronica Albin5 months ago
Finally made this trip and it was as great as was expected. We brought our own floats and got shuttle passes. We arrived at 8:00 on a Saturday so lines were not long and there was plenty of parking. We were able to buy a 10lb bag of ice for $5.
Here's my recommendations for things to bring - a dry bag, SPF shirt, sunscreen, sunglasses with a strap, wide brim hat, water shoes, an oar or paddle, floating phone water pouch, water bladder (like a camel back) and an extra float for a cooler (assuming you want to eat and drink on the trip - we did). I also packed a small first aid kit, Benadryl, insect repellent, an Epi pen and electrolytes. Thankfully, didn't need any of it. 😁
The roughest water we hit was still pretty mild. We did see the wild horses all along the way, which was an added bonus! I had read other reviews about exit point 4 being not well marked, but didn't find that to be the case.
Everyone we interacted with from Salt River Tubing was friendly and helpful. We're already planning two more trips, one with friends and one with the kids!
Dana Usrey4 months ago
Bought tickets online so the line to get our cooler tube and bracelets was shorter than the other line. Bus ride was quick. Bus drivers super knowledgeable and upbeat. I was surprised once we got in the water, we were immediately in a strong current. I wasn’t able to grab a water from my floating cooler tube ( or sunblock) for at least an hour. The current was so strong it made it difficult to pull over and get to the bank of the river. Many times I was swept into the overhanging branches on the side of the river so I highly recommend bringing oars to paddle away from the sides of the river! The exit was clearly marked but the current was so strong that I lost my hat and paddles when I was trying to get out of my tube. Thankfully a random girl came to grab my hand and pull me out of the river! I thought it would be an easy float but it wasn’t quite easy for me. Oh ya, also many times I scraped my arms and butt on rocks because the river is very shallow in some areas. Just trying to be as transparent as I can because I was very surprised by this experience! Also, we did 2 thru 4. It took about 2 hours and I was glad we didn’t do any longer than that!
Raphael Ba month ago
It is a must-have. Salt river Tubing with family or friends. It is a must-have on a bucket list item. It is calm and relaxing yet fun and adventures, with its long and calm straights and short but fun rapids. It is also beautifully stunning nature sights with wild horses or wild birds that are just perched up on the trees. Plus, the community is great. You might be traveling nearby with multiple other clusters of groups. Enjoying each other's music or shooting water guns at each other. It's definitely a fun experience. Will be a reoccurring visitor.
Just remember to reapply sunscreen and drink lots of water.
Melanie Fuller5 months ago
Such an amazing experience. We did the full float down which was about 4 hours. The check in was super easy, got two tube plus a cooler tube before we were shuttled up. Wild horses were spotted many times along the way. I highly recommend!!
