Upper Salt River in Arizona

This stretch is called the Upper Salt as a contrast with the Lower Salt below Roosevelt reservoir (and other reservoirs) near urban Phoenix. The Salt is navigable although not legally runnable above this stretch, so Upper Salt is a bit of a misnomer.

Until class V+ Quartzite rapid was dynamited in 1993, permits were not required. Without a mandatory portage the Salt got more popular, so a permit system was implemented. For put-ins March 1st to May 15th, you apply for permits by January 15th. Email notifications go out soon thereafter. When flows are expected to be below 800 cfs, cancellations are relatively easy to obtain. In some years the river remains floatable after mid May, although Black Rock Falls becomes unrunnable below 500 or 600 cfs.

The best available river map is an informational overlay by the USFS on satellite images, currently here, although government websites move stuff around constantly, so no guarantees. You should print it on waterproof paper (or laminate) for on-river use. Mileages below match the USFS map. Pictures were taken between 800 and 900 cfs.

-0.7

At higher flows or with small boats, you can put in at the end of the road just above rocky Baptism Rapid, also called Bridge Rapid, class II+. Class V Apache Falls is visible upstream.

Put-in from highway 60 overlook	Under the highway 60 bridge

-0.2

Island Rapid, actually two islands at most flows, the second with rapids. The left channel is rocky at the top, the right channel at the bottom, so pick your poison. Scoutable from the road to the Apache permit kiosk.

Rapid below highest legal put-in	Why most boaters avoid Island Rapid

0

Mule Hoof Campground and river access point on river right, the normal put-in. Just below is a rapid that forces boats into the wall at a sharp left turn.

The river bends away from the road	First arch visible on river right

.9

Bump and Grind, a concealed rocky ledge across the river near end of the drop, at low flows not easily passable by rafts.

1.1

Maytag Chute, where a non-obvious channel on far right looks like the wrong route, but is the only way to avoid getting stuck at low flows.

Green raft enters an easy rapid	Populous blue raft passes lunch group

1.7

Reforma Rapid, AKA Grumman, much more difficult at high flows, with deep holes and large boulders.

1.9

Mother Rock rapid, a huge boulder in river center, followed by a boulder garden.

2.3

Overboard Rapid, another deceiving rapid where the best route is on far right, over what appear to be (but are not) shallows. Work back left to avoid a rock and hole in river center at the bottom.

2.7

The road, having shortcut around Mule Hoof Bend, reappears on the right bank. Many class II rapids, although they are not marked on the map.

3.8

Left bank changes from San Carlos Apache tribal lands to Tonto National Forest, so camping is allowed on that side, although the USFS map shows five camps upstream on tribal lands. Right bank remains White Mountain Apache tribal lands.

5.0

Coyote Canyon enters on the right, followed by a combined campground and river access, which continue for half a mile.

5.5

Exhibition Rapid, which starts wide at a right bend, and narrows along the way. Hidden holes and haystacks at higher flows.

6.4

Cibecue Creek enters on the right, followed by a rapid at a left bend. If vehicles cannot ford Cibecue Creek, day trippers must take out above here.

7.1

Three Way rapid. The left channel leads straight down thru a minor rapid, with a middle channel sneak to the right channel about halfway down, then it curves right into a steep rock garden at the bottom. The right channel is brush-choked but more gentle, and may be the best choice at low flows.

8.6

Mescal Falls, AKA Salt River Draw rapid, class III+, possibly scout right.
The left side has large holes at most flows. At the top the river flows leftward off a boulder bar, so certain holes may have 90° laterals that can easily flip boats. This is a long rapid that continues for about .2 mile.

9.2

Hoo Doo river access point, the last take-out for day trippers.

Arch rock above Hoo Doo access	Salt Banks waterfall from across river

10.0

White cliffs on the right bank create beautiful Salt Banks, marked “Sensitive Cultural Area, No Stopping” on the map. Several good camps on the left bank, amid interesting rapids.

Salt Banks and Hoo Doo arch still visible	One of many unnamed class II rapids

13.3

The Cheese, class II, flows into a wall on the right bank.
Rat Trap, class III-IV, follows .1 mile below. Possibly scout left. At high flows, you can take a sneak channel on far right, but at low and medium flows, Rat Trap has weird waves and multidirectional holes.

Kayaker entering bad spot of Rat Trap	OK swim, high-water sneak visible up top

13.6

White Rocks rapid, a long rapid after a sharp right bend. The river enters a section where lovely white granite alternates with newer rock.

Rock changes as you enter Granite canyon	Jumping Rock with boaters ready to swim

15.9

Canyon Creek enters on the right in a beautiful shallow canyon. It flows relatively clear, making it a good place to fill water containers.

16.0

Granite Rapid, a class III boulder slalom. White granite outcroppings and rapids continue until Ash Creek at mile 16.8, where a boring 4-mile flatwater stretch begins.

19.2

Gleason Flat rapid offers a welcome break from the flatwater. Butte Creek river access is upstream, South Gleason river access is just downstream. Both connect to a dirt road leading south out of the canyon. Another road goes north. Right bank changes from Tonto National Forest to Salt River Canyon Wilderness, where the USFS permit is required.

21.6

Eye of the Needle, class III, possibly scout left.
After a sweeping left turn around a gravel bar, the river constricts to very narrow channel between two large rocks on the left, with at least one door thru rocks further right.

22.1

Black Rock, class IV, low-water scout right, high-water scout left.
A long boulder-infested drop leads to a rock jumble or falls on river right, between a high cliff and a large dark-colored rock (difficult to scout). At high flows the left channel offers a sneak route (easier to scout).

Entrance to Black Rock falls	Black Rock hole semi-visible on right

Kayaker on a good line close to Black Rock	Rafter on a good line close to right bank

22.5

After Black Rock, the canyon opens up and good campsites are available.

Arch at 2nd camp below Black Rock	Cloud shadows play with desert light

26.6

Pendejo, class III. An arroyo enters on the right and a large rock splits the channel. This rapid is more noticeable at high flows. Upper Corral, a milder rapid, is .4 mile downstream.

29

Right bank changes from White Mountain Apache Tribal lands to Salt River Canyon Wilderness, now on both banks. At Lower Corral Canyon camp .2 mile downstream, consider donning your paddle jacket, because whitewater soon picks up.

29.2

Lower Corral, class III, a wave train with big hole.

29.4

Pinball, class III, with holes and boiling eddies, not so much pinball.

29.8

The Maze, class III-IV, harder at high flows. A long and complex rapid with the biggest hole near the top, making a long swim possible.

31

Around mile 30.7 the river breaks thru a ridge into Jumpoff Canyon, and at mile 30.9 thru the quartz intrusion that creates Quartzite Falls. A long straight-away of moving (not white) water leads to Quartzite.

Jumpoff Canyon below Blackjack Wash	Flat fast-moving water just above Quartzite

31.7

Quartzite Falls, class IV, scout right, best route changes at different flows.
At moderate flows the right channel is tricky because it pushes you to the right, into a flip rock. The left channel is more straightforward for kayaks but too narrow for rafts, until higher flows. Thank heaven for dynamite! This rapid used to require many hours to line or portage.

Overturned boat in tricky right chute	At this flow the left is a straight shot

31.8

Corkscrew, class IV, scout left, well upstream at high flows.
The dynamited rocks are still moving, so Corkscrew changes year to year. Some people feel this is the most technically difficult rapid on the river.

Semi-sneak route thru the rock fence	Entering far right requires a strong ferry

32

Sleeper rapid, difficult only for the unprepared. Spectacular Jumpoff Canyon continues.

Similar to USFS photo on permit page!	Canyon walls recede after Jumpoff Canyon

34.4

Cliffhanger rapid, where the current drops toward a cliff on river right with an eddy to the left. After this point rapids become less frequent, but the river still moves well.

35.9

Cherry Creek enters on the right, offering a nice side hike upstream. Several popular camps nearby take advantage of its very clear drinking water.

39

Horseshoe Bend, with an access road to privately owned land on river left. Supposedly a launch point for tubers and rafters during summer months.

Private road on left to Horseshoe Bend	Pink granite formation with saguaros

44.5

Coon Creek enters on the right. Other good camps among shade trees are .2 mile downstream and .4 mile further below Chalk Creek, a good side-hike.

Saguaro with many arms	Evening light on mountains and saguaros

46

Scenery remains excellent as the river passes Black Mesa to the north. Good campsites abound, though few with much shade. The river moves quickly despite 17 fpm gradient.

Black Mesa high on river right	Nice camps near the end of Black Mesa

51.3

Salt River Canyon Wilderness ends, the river breaks thru a narrow cleft in a ridge, and the highway 288 bridge suddenly becomes visible.

About 15 minutes from take-out	Highway 288 bridge with hazard sign

52.7

Take out on the left below the highway. A sign on the bridge warns of a dangerous diversion dam .8 mile downstream.

A camp-oriented low-water trip report is available here.

The so-called Lower Salt near Phoenix has warm water and good flow, making it a favorite destination for urban residents on cheap rafts and inner tubes. The section from Stewart Mountain Dam to Granite Reef Dam is class I for 12 miles.

Shuttle Directions

To reach put-in: from Phoenix, take I-10 east toward Mesa, then highway 60 east toward Superior. (There is a good campsite not far off the highway near Top of The World.) Drive 80.4 miles (from I-10) to Globe, where highway 77 joins 60 and turns north. Continue another 38 miles north on highway 60/77 to its bridge over the Salt river. Shuttle drivers can be hired from rafting outfitters in the temporary village downstream of the highway bridge.

To reach take-out from there, return to Globe. Drive west to Midland City and turn north on highway 188. Continue 14.7 miles to a T intersection with highway 288, turn north, and drive 4.5 miles to its bridge over the Salt river. Total distance is 61.1 miles. Vandalism has been reported at the remote parking area near the bridge.

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