On the water · CLAYPOOL RAFTING TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend who has never held a paddle: 4 claypool rafting tours that are worth the money, each with what the water does and the one thing to check before you pay.
Spend about six hours on the Upper Salt River, paddling 10 miles through a 2,000-foot canyon and 10 to 12 Class III rapids. Mild to Wild provides safety gear, wetsuits in March and April, a grilled steak lunch, and guides such as Annie, Jesse, Mike, and Charlie. Expect real paddling, cold water, and a rugged shuttle ride.
Join Salt River Rafting at 10 a.m. near San Carlos for a six-hour run through Maytag, Overboard, Exhibition, and Mescal Falls. Calm stretches, volcanic cliffs, a hot riverside lunch, and guides such as Flynn, Slone, and River make this a strong first rafting trip for adults and kids 8 and older.
“The greatest experience! Slone and River were so good with our young kids, an amazing family experience”
Meet Mild to Wild in Whiteriver at 10 a.m., suit up, learn river safety, and paddle 10 miles through Salt River Canyon. Expect steady Class II and III rapids, big desert views, and a final rapid near the takeout. Guides such as Sam, Mike, Jessie, and Lauren add river skills and local stories.
Meet Arizona Rafting near Whiteriver for a full day on the upper Salt River, deep inside the White Mountain Apache Reservation. You’ll receive safety instruction, rafting gear, a professional guide, and either a hot fajita lunch or snack. Expect strong scenery, demanding class III and IV rapids, and a remote setting far from ordinary road-trip stops.
“It was an adventure. It was challenging. The views of nature were absolutely incredible. We would all do this again.”
Pick a country, a grade, or a kind of day.
