Salt River Tubing in Arizona

My first time tubing down the Salt River - a popular summer activity just east of Phoenix, Arizona. A great way to cool off in the scorching Sonoran Desert heat. People have been throwing marshmallows at unsuspecting rafters, admiring wild horses as they eat river weeds, and performing cannonballs off rocky cliffs along the Salt River since the 1970s. Tubing the Salt River is a rite of passage for anyone visiting Arizona.

Closing Song: Explorer's Theme written and performed by me on piano.

[lee]

Simple human living is best life.

Not afraid of the river.

He's a kind gentleman.

[KayKay-lypc]

Well it's a good thing they banned Marshmallows now at Salt River! Making a mess for nothing that they don't have to clean up!

[angelrose]

I did that many years ago, was so much fun. Best way to hold on to your cooler, is to tie it's tube to your tube. From what I remember, it took about 3 hours on the day I did it. So much fun.

[jeffreinke]

use to do it all the time in the 80s crazy ass times enjoy would love to do it again one day in cali now but many good memories of arizona go to sedona and hike you will love it

[raymoreci]

I tubed 3 or 4 times, last time I went I saw a few snickers bars floating down the river. Between that and all the people peeing in the river I will never go again. So much pollution too, cans on the bottom, plastic bottles trash the people just don't appreciate the beauty, we are lucky to have the river. Noise pollution too, party raft on the river with 20-30 tunes tied together radio blaring loudly. If you are looking for a peaceful float watching the beautiful scenery go by, try somewhere else.

[Omar-kkfp]

Decades ago, truck tires had tubes!! Those are the best for making a tripartite food/bev carrier....also, lash the novel swimmers' tubes to these....

[lindashepherd]

Those horses are protected! Don’t mess with them!😊

[lindashepherd]

Lived in Phoenix AZ 39 yrs. Done this river so many times. Keep your distance from those horses! We are VERY protective of them. You need to tie your tubes together and WEAR SHOES! DID YOU????!!!

[lindashepherd]

No ticks too hot in desert! Mts yes you bet lots of ticks!

[brianallen]

I went tubing from beyond the first bus ride I tuned for 5 hours and it went so fast I have been here for 20 years and never did this until yesterday

[lindashepherd]

Look at that beautiful desert behind you! Sa-huar-o. Roll the R, dude!

[lindashepherd]

I grew up in NE. IA next door neighbor. This is not the Wild West. Try over 100 yrs ago for that!😊

[Omar-kkfp]

When I first did this, I was 11 and it was an awful* experience that I remember to this day. Even in July, the damned water is too cold, as it's released from the bottom of very tall damns....

*Word actually means/meant " inspiring feelings of amazement and inspiration".

Salt River, after the salt river canyon, through which it passes. One particular salt predominates here, and when the river cut through the cliffs, it left prominent whitish deposits on the tall cliff walls. North of PHX, the Black Canyon Freeway passes through the Black Canyon....Of course, soils everywhere have MANY different salts in them!!!! What does he think acidic and alkaline soils refer to.... Saguaro??? He's being facetious! Everyone knows that Spanish and English pronunciations are different....except the Brits who offer 'tacco', rhyming the a with the a in cat. I think I've heard, tayco as well from the Brits...btw, 'tocko' is close enough to pass for Spanish...


"Rapids"!!! Rafters understand the scale used to rank rapids....even locals are being facetious when they refer to these ripples as rapids....


I like this guy...typical MW, genuine guy...😊

[Omar-kkfp]

tem PEE is the pronunciation for ASU-ville, Tempé en español...

[raceandros]

Tying beer tube down a good idea, you may loose your party.

[sharonatl]

It’s crazy and pretty irresponsible to throw marshmallows in the river like that it’ll be bad for the fish and wildlife to eat

[lindashepherd]

You’ll still burn, dude, despite sunscreen!

[lindashepherd]

The river is controlled by a dam. Did you know that???😊

[marianaafonso]

Hi! As a foreign visitor I was wondering if I should go there tomorrow morning or go watch my first basebol game here in Arizona. What’s your opinion? It is worth it?

[Omar-kkfp]

Pissing in the river is environmentally the best solution, but not defecating....😢