But there’s often no substitute for experiencing a new place with friends. Unfortunately, not everyone has a go-to travel partner, or an available crew to camp with. If you’re looking to expand the number of friends you get outside with, you’ve found the right post.

Your existing group of friends

The first step is to check with the friends you already have. Maybe one of them has been dying to get outside, and just needs someone to suggest a destination. Or maybe you never quite realized that someone loves to hike or camp, but similarly doesn’t have someone to go with. It’s funny how often I see someone post a photo of a hike they did, or a new tent they just bought, and thought to myself, “wow, I didn’t know they enjoyed that sort of thing.” So, ask your friends. Post a few messages on facebook, then mention it at your next happy hour get together. Start here first.

Your existing irl social networks

After you’ve checked with your circle of friends, expand a bit to the other social networks you belong to. Check with your co-workers—the ones you can stand, at least. Check with the folks at your _____________ club, whatever that might be. Work, school, hobbies, parents of your kids’ friends, neighbors, regulars at your gym class…we’re all connected to various groups of people we already somewhat know, each of which may yield some new hiking partners. But only if you ask.

Meetup groups

Meetup has been an absolute treasure trove of outdoor clubs for me. I regularly kayak with three groups, day hike with another two, and occasionally jump on backpacking trips led by couple others. But it wasn’t always that way.

A few years ago, I decided that I didn’t have enough backpacking in my life. While several of my friends routinely said they wanted to go, I could never quite pin them down for a trip. So I headed over to Meetup.com and searched for some groups. I found half a dozen that were backpacking-focused and seemed pretty promising, joined each, and took a look at their trip calendars. There was one trip coming up to one of my favorite destinations, Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, which requires permits that the trip leader had already secured. They had a spot open, so I RSVP’d yes. A few days later, I was sleeping under cottonwoods gazing at the stars with five people I had just met. They weren’t all going to be future friends, but one of them is. And best of all, I got a fun overnight trip out of it.

A week later, I went with another meetup group that was heading to Havasupai, one of the jewels of the Southwest. I hadn’t been there before, and the permits can be hard to get. It was only four days long, but I made a ton of friends on that trip—many of which are among my most cherished friends today.

Within a week, I was organizing unofficial trips for my new friends and have helped lead trips (and happy hours for connecting with new members) ever since. That group basically became my primary “outdoor adventure” crew, the ones I spent most weekends with. I’m not guaranteeing you a similar outcome, but it’s a common meetup experience I’ve seen so frequently that I’m confident you’ll make some outdoorsy friends if you give it a sustained shot.

“But I’m too shy for that”

Meeting new people and doing a trip with them isn’t necessarily easy or fun for everyone to do. I understand, I do. I generally felt the same way. I’m not an outgoing guy. I’m rarely the popular one in groups. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up. I was worried that there’d be some creep or asshole on the trip that drove me nuts. I was worried that someone might be totally unprepared and we’d have to help him along the whole trip. I was worried I’d be the outcast on the trip, that I just wouldn’t fit in. There were a thousand other worries I had, too. And yet, none of those things happened. Not one. That’s the thing with most fears—your imagination is far worse than what’s likely to actually happen.

If the idea of this simply terrifies you, and you’re unwilling to force yourself to try it just once or twice—no matter how uncomfortable it might seem—then don’t. It’s that simple. Stop reading and focus extra energy on the first two steps, instead. But if you’re intrigued, even just a bit, but still pretty anxious about the idea? Well, I say go for it. Talk a friend into going with you. Start with a group that does a social activity so you can meet the regulars first. You’ll feel less anxiety if you know you can bail during one of these event more easily than an outing in the wilderness. Don’t see any outdoor recreation groups that offer one? Email the organizer and suggest it. Likewise, if you’re a woman and worry about spending a weekend with a bunch of strange, possibly horny, men who might constantly hit on you? Well, email the group organizer and suggest a girls-only trip. There are often ways to mitigate the fears or hesitations you might have. Start slow and work up to an actual outing if you need to. Or do what I did and just thrust yourself into it——like jumping into a cold lake instead of trying to ease your way in. Either way, give it a shot.

But what about small towns?

I should note that I live in Phoenix, a large metro area with great weather, abundant public lands, and plenty of people who enjoy getting outside. You may not live in such a place. You may live in a small town, far from a population center large enough for a single outdoor rec meetup group, let alone the dozens I can choose from. Bummer.

But all is not lost. Try searching for specific destinations instead. In the search box, type the place you want to go (it works best if it’s a somewhat coveted destination). Change the “distance from” your location to “any distance” and select “all meetups” from the options on the right, then look through the results. You may find groups from across the state, or even from across the country, leading trips to that destination. It’s not uncommon for people to join trips being led by groups far from own city.

Facebook groups

Check facebook for various hiking or outdoor-related public groups in your area. Often, individuals from these groups will lead hikes or other outings, sometimes formally and sometimes informally. If you don’t see events being mentioned, ask if anyone might want to join you. Even if you don’t have a lot of luck here, you’ll probably enjoy conversing with them anyway. In addition, these facebook groups often offer the side benefit of providing some great ideas on future destinations to explore.

I couldn’t find a kayaking trip scheduled for this Sunday in my normal meetup groups, so I jumped into a new facebook group I recently joined for kayaking the lower Salt River outside of Phoenix. One post and one day later, I have a small group of paddlers joining me on Sunday morning. It turns out that there are often people who would love to join a trip; they just need the suggestion to go. I see this regularly in other hiking facebook groups I belong to. Don’t see an outdoorsy facebook group for your area? Create your own and see what happens.

Other clubs & organizations

You’re probably already familiar with a number of national outdoor/conservation/recreation groups, many of which have a local chapter or partner that’s active in your state. For instance, the Sierra Club in Arizona has a pretty regular calendar of member led-hikes and activities where you’d undoubtedly find others who enjoy the outdoors. Groups like IMBA have lists of local mountain biking clubs you could get involved in. American Hiking Society has a similar list of hiking groups. Hike it Baby has a network of local branches offering outings for families. There are obvious too many to list here, but a quick search will likely uncover plenty of local groups to investigate.

There are a number of new female-focused hiking groups springing up recently, such as Hike Like A Woman. Some of these are set up as national networks with local chapters—often with one or more local ambassadors—that organize hikes and other events.

There are also a number of  local or regional outdoors groups, too—and even some outdoor retailers that offer women-focused events. REI’s Force of Nature program also hosts a number of classes and events geared specifically for women. Other organizations, such as Outdoor Afro, Latino Outdoors, OutVentures, and Unlikely Hikers host events for communities often underrepresented out on the trail. I’ve listed just a small sample of the groups out there, so spend some time googling in your local area.

An often overlooked place for finding outdoor clubs is community colleges. Student orgs can be pretty hit-or-miss and don’t always persist thru the summer, but it’s worth checking your local community colleges for any active groups. The community college crowd usually has a much wider age distribution than four-year universities. So while you’ll likely find many twenty-somethings in these clubs, you won’t seem totally out of place even if you’re 40-something.

Guided hikes & volunteer projects

In the suggestions below, the goal is to connect with others who enjoy the outdoors and who also live in your area. Since these things can vary greatly depending on where you live, you’ll need to do a bit of digging to see what’s available in your own area.

Some outdoor outfitters, like REI, offer various outings and outdoor ed classes. If you’re anything like me, these are your people. It shouldn’t be hard to get a conversation going about various trails or destinations, which provides a perfect segue into a “sounds great, so when do you want to go?” comment. Climbing gyms are also great places to make some new friends, though not everyone who climbs indoors enjoys outdoor activities.

Volunteer service projects on our public lands, such as trail maintenance or trash cleanups, can also be a great way to meet people who enjoy the outdoors. Not only might you make some new hiking friends, but you’ll be giving back to the outdoor community. Check in with your local land manager for opportunities near you. You might also want to contact local outdoor outfitters, conservation groups, and “friends of” groups, which often sponsor or organize volunteer service projects, too.

If you have a county or regional park system, you might want to see if they do any guided or interpretative outings. You’ll want to focus on places where locals routinely go, not the more touristy destinations that might attract out-of-towners. For instance, most visitors to metro Phoenix probably don’t even know about the Maricopa County Regional Park system, so they’re unlikely to attend their events. That might not be the case for nearby Lost Dutchman State Park, which sees its fair share of tourists given its popular RV campground and proximity to the famed Superstition Mountains Wilderness.

Some cities and counties also run their own outdoor programs through their respective recreation departments. Many times these are focused on general exercise and fitness, but plenty of them also include outdoor recreation activities—especially in places with urban mountain preserves and other outdoor rec opportunities.

Other social media networks

If you’re a regular user of social media, especially open networks like instagram and twitter, then you probably “know” quite a few people. That is, you follow them, they follow you, and you at least occasionally have some sort of conversation with them. Well, maybe it’s time to meet in person for a hike!

Sure, distance is often an issue for these sorts of relationships; these networks are worldwide, after all. But that doesn’t mean you can’t put a little energy into following more people in your own area. It’s particularly easy to do this on instagram. Simply search by some local hashtags and you’re bound to find others who enjoy the outdoors. It might take some time to develop an online relationship with the people you find, but it’s a quick and easy way to find fellow hikers. Like facebook groups, you’re also sure to learn about some outdoor gems in your area. Oh, and feel free to give me a follow on twitter or instagram while you’re at it.

An important note on “meeting people from the internet”

Nope, this isn’t a cautionary disclaimer. It’s the opposite, actually. Sure, you should be safe when it comes to people you don’t know. That’s true whether they’re people you meet at the grocery store, on the internet, or at your local church.

But, here’s the thing. Most people are just fine. Sure, some can be socially awkward. Some are weird. Some are even creepy. And anytime your spidey sense alarm goes off, it’s best to pay attention. But the vast, vast majority of people are perfectly safe to spend time with, especially in a larger group setting—whether or not you’ve met them on the internet.

Fifty years ago, it was perfectly acceptable to make friends at the bowling alley, back when being in a bowling league was far more common. But let’s face it, it really wasn’t much different than meeting someone from the internet. They were a complete stranger, you got connected because of a shared interest, and here you are doing stuff together in real life. It’s basically the same thing as what happens with meetup, except that now you can actually stalk their profile a bit before you ever show up. And that’s just one of many precautions not available to previous eras.

The internet is a fabulous tool for finding people with similar interests as you. For finding your tribe.

The bottom line

If you want to make outdoorsy friends, you live in the very best era to do so. Go on, make it happen!

Photo credits

Jessica Schultz took the featured image, as well as the one of our group at Havasupai. She’s currently adventuring around the West in her Airstream full-time. Follow her on instagram or at CampfireHappy. You’ll be happy you did.

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The post How to make more hiking or camping friends appeared first on rscottjones.

BIG NEWS: This guide is currently being updated, expanded, and migrated to KayakingtheSaltRiver.com, which is the new home of the Alliance of Salt River Paddlers.

Kayaking the Salt River

On summer weekends, the Lower Salt River can resemble a drunken party scene. Hoards of inner-tubers converge on the river to cool off and have some summer fun. Beer cans, bikinis, loud music, and general shenanigans are easy to find, along with plenty of police officers and DUI checkpoints, too.

But that doesn’t mean that the Salt River isn’t a worthy kayaking destination. Indeed, it’s a favorite of the metro Phoenix crowd.

→ This guide covers everything you need to know to kayak the Salt River.

Quick summary

Season: May-Oct
Ideal cfs: 500-1500
Experience level: Novice
Rapids: mostly Class I
River Miles: ~12
Vehicle shuttle required
Parking fee: $8 (Tonto Pass)

What time of year can you kayak the Salt River?

This stretch of the Salt River depends on periodic water releases from the Stewart Mountain Dam. The most consistent of these releases occur between mid-May and mid-October. Luckily, there’s a river gauge just below the dam where you can check the streamflow. This is public data, so you check the official USGS source, SRP’s website, or use something else like River app. The ideal flow for kayaking is between about 500-1500 cfs. The bare minimum flow you’d need is about 300cfs, though you’d probably have to get out and drag your kayak through some shallows at that level.

Here are the current river conditions:

Even when the gauge looks too low for a full run, you might be able to kayak further down the river. The Verde River joins the Salt River near the Phon D Sutton Recreation Area, often adding enough water to allow for a run downstream. The last mile or so of calm water approaching Granite Reef Diversion Dam features enough water to paddle year round, though it’s more lake-like in that stretch. If you’re desperate for a paddle but the Salt River isn’t cooperating, you can just as easily continue up the road to Saguaro Lake.

What time of day should you kayak?

The key to enjoying your time on the river is to either start very early, or to arrive well after the party has dissipated, or to find yourself there mid-week. My favorite time of day to kayak the Salt River is early in the morning. You’ll avoid both the worst of the summer heat and the worst of the tubers. It’s remarkably peaceful first thing in the morning, and you’ll also see more wildlife by paddling early. I recommend getting on the water no later than 7am, which means arriving closer to 6am to unload your boat and set up the car shuttle (more on that below). Salt River Recreation begins busing tubers to the river at 9am sharp, so you’ll want to be downstream of the bridge well before then.

If mornings aren’t your thing and you’d rather paddle at sunset, be sure to check out the sunset and moonrise times when you’re planning your trip. Take note that it’ll still be hot out even after the sun sets, and you still might encounter the tail end of the party-goers (while the shuttle buses end at 6pm, the party often lingers later). If it’s July or August, you’ll also want to keep your eye on any monsoon storms—it’s a good idea to avoid the river during or immediately after one of these storms.

How long does it take to kayak the Salt River?

The main stretch from Water Users to Granite Reef Dam is about 12 river miles and requires a 7 mile car shuttle. On average, it takes roughly 4 hours to paddle the whole stretch, though that depends on how fast you paddle and how fast the river is running. Some groups get it done in 3 hours while others enjoy a more leisurely 5.5 hour paddle. My recommendation is to set aside plenty of time for your first trip and learn what your own style is.

How difficult or technical is it to paddle?

Generally this is a beginner/novice trip with only Class I rapids, two of which approach Class II during certain flow rates (and occasionally reaching Class II after some flash flood events). At the 0.5 mile mark from Water Users, you’ll encounter Snaggletooth Rapid. Later, around mile 2.0, you’ll encounter a rapid known as either Pinball Alley, Bulldog, Rattlesnake, or Rocky Road, depending on who you’re paddling with. This is the fiercest of the entire Lower Salt River, but shouldn’t give you much trouble. Under some flow rates, you’ll also encounter another wave near Coon Bluff Rec Area around mile 7.0. Take note that the difficulties of each of these changes due to water levels, flooding, or other reasons, so take this just as a guide.

Most of the rapids and ripples on the Salt River are caused by a few large submerged rocks that sit higher than the surrounding river bottom—some of which are exposed above the waterline. It’s generally pretty easy to avoid these simply by paying close attention to the river ahead of you, identifying the areas of choppy water that might indicate an obstacle, and paddling around them. 

Here are two basic—and entirely oversimplified—paddling tips for getting through what you’ll encounter on the Lower Salt River.

The most important aspect for beginners is to simply keep your boat pointed straight downstream. Where most paddlers get into trouble is by hitting an obstacle like submerged rock with the side of their boat, tipping them to one side, and thereby allowing the force of the flowing water to flood the cockpit or otherwise capsize the boat. In simplistic terms, the best way to keep your boat upright is keep the front of the boat pointed downstream as much as possible.

Another problem you may run into is bumping into lots of rocks in shallow areas of the river. Again, the primary key here is to simply keep paddling. When you stop paddling, the kayak slows down, often turns to one side, and then you run into the problem above. Remember, you can only steer and propel your kayak when the paddle is in the water.

If you do capsize…

If you do fall in, don’t panic! Your pfd should keep you safe.

In many areas, the river is shallow enough to simply stand up in if you manage to tip over. If you’re in one of those spots, the first thing to do is to alert others (a great reason to attach a waterproof whistle to your pfd). If you can safely hold on to your paddle and boat, then start making your way to shore with your items. If you can’t hold on to them, let your friends downstream collect them for you.

If you can’t easily stand up—either because the river is moving too swiftly, or because it’s too deep, or because there are more obstacles coming up—then the very first thing you’ll want to do is reposition your body to safely float down the river. Turn yourself around so that you are floating on your back with your feet aimed downstream and your knees bent. Try to keep your head tilted so you can see downriver, put your arms out to help balance and steer yourself, and hold your butt up a bit to avoid hitting any rocks. The goal here is to avoid any downstream obstacles and use your legs as shock absorbers for anything that you do run into. Once you’ve gained some control, alert others. When it’s safe to do so, maneuver yourself to the shoreline.

It can be difficult to hold on to any objects after you’ve flipped, especially if you’re still in rough water. If you can’t easily hold on to an item, let go of it and have your friends paddle ahead to retrieve it for you. If you can safely hold on to an item, it’s usually best to choose your paddle over the boat, since paddles can get damaged or lost far more easily. If you do manage to hold on to your boat, it’s usually best to wait to flip it back over until you get to shore.

I always attach my gear—especially my phone case, cooler, and dry bag—to the boat using carabiners. That way if I flip over, I don’t lose any items. If you’ve ever paddled the river, you’ll see countless lost items on the shoreline or river bottom from people who did not do this. Not only do people lose many items, but each of these becomes trash in the river. So please—lash it down before you launch!

Once you’re to the shoreline, take a moment to collect yourself and your gear, drain any water from your boat, and find a good spot to re-launch from.

Renting a kayak for the Salt River

What kind of kayak should you rent?

Just about any kayak will do on this easy stretch of the Salt River. Sit-on-tops seem to be the most common, followed by sit-ins, followed by inflatables. Overall, I’d say that’s in line with my personal preferences for this stretch of river. But don’t get me wrong, if I only had an inflatable available, I wouldn’t hesitate using it.

Sit-on-tops are great because they’re very stable and they don’t make some new paddlers as nervous as the enclosed cockpit of sit-ins. But sit-ins perform the best, even if they require a bit more skill to keep upright. Inflatables are the easiest to transport—no doubt about that—and are very stable but don’t perform as well, especially when it comes to tracking a straight line at slower speeds. Luckily, performance isn’t much of a concern on a river like this. You’ll have fun whatever you paddle.

Where to rent kayaks?

I recommend renting kayaks from the Arizona Hiking Shack, which is near 32nd Street & Thomas in east Phoenix. They have both sit-on-top kayaks and inflatable kayaks available for rent as either single-person or doubles. Single-person kayaks run $35/day while doubles are $45/day. All of their kayaks come with paddle and personal floatation devices (pfd), and inflatables also come with a manual pump. They’ve always provided me the necessary river straps to transport rental boats on my vehicle. You can also rent a variety of other accessories, or purchase something new from their shop. They also sell Tonto Passes.

Redline also rents a number of boats these days and is a popular option, too. Previously known as East Valley Kayak Rentals, this outfit is located near Higley and McKellips in Mesa. Single kayaks rent for $45/day ($40 if paying in cash), while doubles cost $65/day ($60 if paying in cash).

REI Adventures is another rental option. REI rents inflatable kayaks for $35 (singles) and $50 (doubles) for “1 day” rentals, which means picking them up and returning them the same day between 8am and 5pm. For an extra $10, you can keep them for a full 24 hours. REI also offers river delivery and shuttle for only $15 per boat. That means that they meet you at the river with the kayak and help you set up the shuttle for your driver; the fee also includes one Tonto Pass for your vehicle. You’ll need advance reservations, and this service is only offered between 10am and 4pm, but otherwise this could be an excellent option.

There are a handful of other places you can rent from, including both individuals or other non-storefront locations; you can often find these advertising on craigslist and elsewhere. You can also rent kayaks from Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch by booking one of their unguided tours.

What to bring kayaking

The basic items you’ll want to bring kayaking the Salt River

There are a number of basic items you’ll want to bring kayaking on the Lower Salt River. During kayaking season, I recommend keeping them all in one place, such as a plastic tote bin, so that it’s easy to grab before your trip without forgetting anything.

Kayak + paddle
Duh. You’ll never live it down if you arrive without either of these two items.

PFD
It’s federal law to have a PFD for each person onboard, and it just makes sense to wear it. After all, PFDs that you’re not wearing typically aren’t useful to you after you’ve fallen into the water. Buy one that’s comfy so you’re more inclined to use it.

Hat or visor
Unless you’re paddling at night, you’ll probably want a hat or visor. Luckily, if you’re launching in the early morning, you’ll be paddling with the sun at your back.

Sunglasses
Trust me, you’ll want to bring these. If you have prescription glasses or sunglasses, you might want to bring a croakies-style glasses strap to keep them secured to your head in case you end up in the water.

Sunscreen
Don’t forget to put on plenty of sunscreen before you launch. And keep in mind that you’ll need to reapply it when you stop for a break. Or better yet, wear long-sleeved UV protection shirts that will ensure you stay covered (it’s easy to keep these wet, which helps keep you cooler). Remember to add sunscreen to your legs, inner thighs, knees, and feet—all of which may be exposed during your paddle.

Appropriate clothes
You’ll want to wear clothes that are comfortable while wet (e.g., not your standard cotton t-shirt). I usually wear a swimsuit and a long-sleeved synthetic shirt with UV protection. Some people wear lightweight hiking or yoga pants to help protect their legs from the sun. Whatever you wear, make sure that you’ll enjoy wearing it even when it’s soaking wet.

Towel
You may want to dry off if you go for an unexpected swim, and it’s also useful to keep a dry one in your vehicle, too.

Dry bag
These are particularly important for keeping everything dry in case you tip over. Be sure to clip your bag to the boat with a carabiner so that it doesn’t float away if you capsize (this goes for all items on your boat, including coolers). I always bring several ziplock baggies, just in case I need them.

Sandals or water shoes
You’ll likely get your feet wet at some point during the trip, so I recommend wearing sandals with heel straps (like Chacos or Tevas—not flip flops that can easily fall off and float away if you capsize) or water shoes. Some people use neoprene booties, but I suggest sticking with something a bit more substantial. Good traction is useful, as submerged rocks can be quite slippery.

Water
Always bring (and drink) water, even if you’ve brought other beverages. This is the desert, after all.

Snacks
Most groups take a break halfway through the paddle, which makes for a perfect time for a quick snack.

Whistle
Federal regulations require every boat, including kayaks, to have a signaling device on board—and a whistle is your best option on the Lower Salt River. Even if it wasn’t required, I find it useful to have, especially to communicate with friends ahead or behind me on the river. Just be sure to let everyone know what the signal code is prior to hitting the water.

Optional items

Cooler
Most paddlers bring a cooler to keep their beverages cold. I strongly recommend a cooler with a zipper, as the others will usually dump all of their contents if you tip over. Not only are you then without your beverages, but you’ve also created more river trash. As with all gear, make sure to lash your cooler to your boat.

If you bring adult beverages, remember to leave the glass at home. Also keep in mind that the Bush Highway is heavily patrolled by sheriff deputies. Play it safe and find a designated driver.

Kayaking gloves
Most people on the Salt River don’t use kayaking gloves, but they can be nice if you often get blisters while paddling. If your paddle starts to get hot in the sun, it’s easy enough to quickly dunk it in the water to cool it off.

A change of clothes for the car
This is especially useful if you plan on grabbing a post-paddle beer or lunch with your paddling friends.

Cold drinks for the car
Trust me, it’s great to have a cold beverage on hand while you load your kayak and gear in the hot sun after a long paddle. I usually bring some extras in case a paddling partner needs one, too.

Headlamp
If you’re paddling near sunset or by moonlight, be sure to bring a headlamp. A white light is required by law, and it’s important to have if something goes wrong. Be sure to test the batteries before you leave home, and better yet, carry some extras in case you need them.
It’s also helpful to add a couple glow sticks or other small lights on the front and back of every boat so everyone can see where each boat is. You want these to be bright enough that others can see where your boat is, but not so bright as to impair your night vision. And, please tie them securely so they don’t fall off and become river trash.

Bug spray
Depending on the time of year, there can be swarms of tiny flying insects (including mosquitos) near where people launch and take-out and in a few other short stretches on the river. If you hate dealing with flying insects, you might want to bring some bug spray or even a cheap bug head net.

An extra trash bag (and gloves or a “picker-upper” tool)
It’s our collective responsibility to keep the river clean, but not everyone takes this responsibility to heart. While it’s frustrating to come across someone else’s trash, it’s even more frustrating to know that it’ll remain there unless we pick it up. Help do your part to make kayaking the river a more enjoyable experience by picking up any trash you see during your trip. I end each trip with numerous pieces of trash I’ve collected along the journey.

Bilge pump
If you don’t have a self-bailing boats, you may want to bring a bilge pump—a manual hand pump that can be used to get excess water out of your kayak’s cockpit. Alternatively, you can also bring something like a plastic drink cup that you can use to scoop out water. I generally don’t worry about this on the Salt River, where the cool water helps keep you refreshed and it’s easy to stop to drain your boat if needed.

Kayak cart
While it’s general paddler courtesy to help carry your group’s boats down to the launch point (or back to the vehicles at the take-out), some people prefer using a kayak cart—a two-wheeled contraption that you attach to one end of your boat.

Gloves for your vehicle
If you’re transporting your boat on top of your vehicle, you may want to bring some gloves to avoid burning your hands while loading—after all, your vehicle has been in the sun for hours and it’s likely very hot.

You’ll need a Tonto Pass

In order to park at any of the recreation areas along the Lower Salt River, you’ll need a Tonto Pass.

Quite a few kayakers carpool to the river in order to save on Tonto Passes. I highly encourage this, as it also reduces parking issues at the recreation sites (especially Granite Reef). Paddling groups routinely meet in shopping center parking lots near Power and McDowell and leave vehicles there during their kayaking trips. As long as you park at the edges of the parking lots, you shouldn’t encounter any problems.

Which Tonto Pass do you need?

There are two primary options for Tonto Passes: a $8 Daily Pass and a $80 Discovery Pass, which is good for one year. If you’re just starting out kayaking the Salt River, I’d recommend grabbing a daily pass. The daily pass requires you to scratch off the appropriate date and time before displaying it, so you can easily stock up on a few without “starting the clock,” so to speak.

A quick side note: because these passes are only good for 24 hours from the time you validate it, you may need more than one to do an overnight trip on one of the lakes (no overnight dispersed camping is allowed along the Salt River itself).

If you recreate often along the Salt River, the annual Discovery Pass might be cheaper for you. If you’re a senior or disabled, you qualify for a discounted $60 annual Senior or Access Discovery Pass.

Note that you do not need an additional Watercraft Pass if you are using a non-motorized boat, like a kayak, packraft, or canoe.

Where can you buy a Tonto Pass?

Tonto Daily Passes can be purchased from Tonto National Forest offices, online, by mail or by phone, or at a long list of local retailers (pdf). Here’s slightly-outdated google map showing all of the vendor locations; I suspect that most all of these locations are still active resellers, but you might want to call first to be sure. I usually buy mine at one of the gas stations near Power & McDowell on my way to the river.

Some of the recreation sites also have a kiosk where you can buy them. I try to rely on these only as a last resort, however, since the machines aren’t always working and there is a convenience fee added to the charge.

The annual Discovery, Senior, and Access Passes are only sold at Tonto National Forest offices, and you’ll need to bring ID or proof of your disability. Each of these passes is issued to one individual who must sign the back of the pass. The pass then covers all occupants of a single, private noncommercial vehicle as along as long as the pass holder is present.

Does the America the Beautiful Pass/Interagency Pass work?

An America the Beautiful Annual Pass (also known as the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands, or interagency pass) covers your vehicle when you park and kayak from the sites along the Lower Salt River. You can purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass online, in person at a number of federal recreation areas and offices, or at select retailers, such as REI. Please note that online orders are not fulfilled electronically and include an additional processing fee. I prefer to purchase my annual pass at my favorite local national park, which gets to retain a portion of the sale price for its local operations.

In previous years, there was substantial confusion, even among some Tonto National Forest rangers and staff, on whether the America the Beautiful pass covered kayakers on the Salt River. As a result, quite a few kayakers had been mis-told (and some even ticketed) for using an America the Beautiful pass in the past. However, that confusion was finally remedied and everyone now seems to be on the same page—the America the Beautiful annual pass is indeed accepted at all the Lower Salt River recreation sites.

Salt River kayaking map

Below you’ll find a custom google map of some of the locations mentioned in this guide.

How to get to the Salt River

There are three ways to get to the Lower Salt River, which is accessible solely via the Bush Highway. The first is to drive north on Power Road from the Loop-101 freeway in northeast Mesa. Power Road heads north for a few miles before turns east and becomes Bush Highway, passing each of the river’s main recreation areas and roughly paralleling the river until reaching Saguaro Lake.

Alternatively, further east you can drive north on Ellsworth Road, which becomes Usery Pass Road and connects with the Bush Highway a few miles later. When arriving at Bush Highway via this route, Blue Ridge, Pebble Beach, Water Users and Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch will be to your right, whereas Coon Bluff, Phon D Sutton, and Granite Reef will be to your left. If you went straight, you’d arrive at Salt River Recreation, the outfit that runs the busy tubing rental and shuttle service for the river.

The other way to find the Lower Salt River is via Exit 199 from “The Beeline,” Hwy 87. This might be most convenient for those coming from the north valley via Shea Blvd and Fountain Hills. At the top of the off-ramp, turn south and follow the road past Saguaro Lake.

Where to launch from

There are a number of places you can launch from. I’ll take them in order, starting at the furthest upstream put-in. You’ll need a pass for each vehicle parked in each place mentioned below, except the privately-run Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch.

Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

This is the furthest spot upstream to launch, just a bit down river from Stewart Mountain Dam. The longest trip you can do on the Lower Salt River starts here and ends about 13 river miles later at Granite Reef. The best part of launching from the ranch is the first 3 minutes: you almost immediately hit some fun rapids as the river turns hard right under some magnificent cliffs. After you clear the rapids, look up—you might see an eagle perched high above you. It’s my favorite stretch of the entire river, even though it’s just a few minutes upstream from the first public launching spot. The actual put-in here at the ranch is a bit more difficult than a sandy beach, but the views are worth it.

Because this launch starts at a private guest ranch, you’ll need to pay for the privilege. One option is to book what the ranch calls a “self-guided tour.” That basically covers your parking fee, boat and gear rental, and a shuttle back to the ranch. Roughly two-hour “tours” cost $50 while the longer 4.5 hour trips run $75. You’ll need a reservation for both of the tours. If you’re just looking to launch from the ranch, you can instead pay $15 per vehicle (includes one boat), plus $5 for each additional boat. You’ll need to check in with the front desk to pay and obtain a parking pass before you launch, and the ranch requires you to remove your vehicle by 3pm.

Water Users

This large parking lot is where most tubers start, and it’s also the most common put-in for longer kayaking trips down the Salt River. Water Users is located just a few minutes downstream of Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch and requires a Tonto or Interagency Pass to park at. This rec area is no frills—it’s really just a place to park while you paddle or float the river. There are pit toilets here, but no drinkable water. If you fail to arrive long before (or long after) the summer tubers, you’ll regret stopping here. This is also sometimes referred to as Stop 1 for the tubers.

“The Bridge”

There are two recreation areas on the immediate east side of the bridge over the Salt River. The downstream/north area is called Blue Point, while the more expansive area across the highway is called Pebble Beach. Both are popular areas to launch kayaks for shortened trips down the river.

This is also a great spot to launch for those who want to avoid the rapids of Bulldog Canyon (sometimes referred to as ‘Pinball Alley’), the most extensive set of rapids on the Lower Salt River. In spite of its smaller parking lot, Blue Point is a bit preferable as the shoreline is closer to the parking lot so you won’t have to carry your boat as far. Also, the river flattens out and is more shallow near the bridge, so it’s easier to start on the other side of the ripples, especially in low water. The river around Pebble Beach can also get rather crowded with non-kayakers, so it can be easier to just avoid dodging kids swimming or fisherman stading in the river by launching downstream of the bridge.

There are pit toilets at both sites, but no running water. Don’t forget that you’ll need a Tonto or Interagency Pass to park at both Pebble Beach and Blue Point. Pebble Beach is also known as Stop 2 by the tubers.

Granite Reef

If you’re looking for more of a workout, you can also put-in at the Granite Reef Recreation Area—traditionally, the last take-out of the Lower Salt River stretch before the Granite Reef Dam. From here, you can only paddle upstream, against the slow flow of the river. However, this area is nearly always flat, slow-moving water that more closely resembles a lake than a fast flowing river. It’s also your best and easiest option for a quick paddle during low flow periods.

Where to take out

Phon D Sutton

Phon D Sutton is the most convenient and the most popular ending spot for Salt River kayaking trips. Finding the take-out is extremely easy; just aim for the small beachy area on the far left as you approach the large rock outcropping that sticks out into the river. This popular rock area will almost certainly be filled with various people fishing, sunbathing, or otherwise enjoying the river. Disembark here and carry your boat up the small hill to your left and you’ll find yourself at the parking lot.

Phon D Sutton has pit toilets, picnic shelters, and both a large parking lot and a secondary lot further back. Be sure to park your vehicles in the back half of the first parking lot area. The path you’ll later carry your boats up emerges between the two picnic shelters, so aim to park in a spot close by.

Granite Reef

Granite Reef is the end of the line for kayaking trips on the Lower Salt River. Unfortunately, it’s also home to the fewest parking spaces of any of the main rec areas, so you may want to start a bit earlier than normal if you’re planning on parking several vehicles here. Alternatively, you can set up a “reverse” car shuttle—more on that below. Granite Reef is also home to the smallest landing, so it make take a few moments to empty a crowd off the river. In fact, the take-out can be a bit hard to find from the river. There is a medium-sized palm tree on the north bank—river right—that you should keep an eye out for. The take-out is nearly directly across the river from the tree, tucked into a small nook. If you can’t find a parking space at Granite Reef, there’s a dirt pull-off about 4/10ths of a mile east.

How to set up a car shuttle

The great thing about kayaking a river is that the water does half the work for you—whether or not you paddle, you’re heading downstream. The bad part of kayaking a river is that you’re heading downstream, so you’ll need to arrange a car shuttle.

The only exception for the Salt River is if you’re launching from Granite Reef. The water is more lake-like down near the dam, so it’s possible to paddle up river up a bit and then float back down to your car. Unfortunately, that’s not really an option for the rest of the river. If you’ve paid for a tour from the Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, then you’ll be receiving a ride back courtesy of the ranch and you can skip this section.

You’ll need at least two vehicles for the car shuttle, and each vehicle will require a Tonto Pass. It’s a bit easier if you have more than 2 cars and more than 2 people, as it allows you to have someone you know keep an eye on your boats.

1. Drive the boats to the launch site. Drop off your boats and any gear that you want for the trip. You’ll probably want to leave at least one person here to watch your stuff.
2. Drive all the vehicles to the take-out where you’ll leave them for later. I like leaving a cold beverage and a towel in my vehicle so I have it when I finish the paddle.
3. Using as few vehicles as possible, drive everyone back up to the take-out.
4. Launch your boats and enjoy your paddle down the river.
5. When you’re done kayaking, someone will need to drive the owner(s) of the vehicle(s) used in step 3 back to their vehicles parked at the put-in while everyone else loads their boats into their own vehicles.

You can also reverse this scenario and drop off a sufficient number of vehicles at the take-out first, on your way to the put-in. This adds a bit of difficulty in that you’ll need to transport all of the boats up to the put-in using fewer vehicles than they arrived in, but it’s one way to deal with the lack of parking spaces at Granite Reef.

A third alternative to dealing with Granite Reef’s limited parking is to follow the normal car shuttle routine but to leave one or more vehicles at Phon D Sutton or one of the pull-offs along the Bush Highway. At the end of the paddle, drivers can be shuttled back to their vehicles before heading back to the take-out to retrieve their boats. As you can imagine, I usually prefer to end at Phon D Sutton to avoid these logistical challenges.

Other things to consider

Salt River wild horses

Yes, it’s common to see “wild” horses during a paddle. No, they’re not actually “wild,” at least in the most accurate sense of the word. While recent legislation officially bestows the name “wild horses” upon the herd, they’re not exactly wild, at least in the truest sense of the word. Unlike other native wildlife, these horses did not evolve with the Salt River landscape, but are descendants of domesticated horses.

Nonetheless, many paddlers enjoy seeing them. You’re most likely to see some if you paddle in the early morning. Feel free to take photos, but please don’t disturb them. They also often cross the Bush Highway, so please be careful while driving. Originally stuck in a legal limbo, these horses are now protected under state law. There is a local nonprofit that helps to manage the herd, and you may encounter volunteers who try to keep people from harassing them.

Learning how to kayak

Arizona Hiking Shack, REI Paradise Valley, and REI Chandler locations offer short classes on kayaking and can help you choose the proper gear. Arizona Game and Fish Department also offers some education courses, as do a number of other groups.

Finding other people to kayak the Salt River with

The easiest way to find people to paddle with is by joining a Phoenix-area Meetup group. There are a few kayaking-focused groups, including Paddle Arizona, Phoenix Kayak Club, and Just Add Water Paddlers, among others. Each of these groups offers nearly-weekly kayaking trips down the Salt River. A number of other meetup groups offer Salt River kayaking events, even if they aren’t primarily a paddling group. A quick search will likely yield several scheduled trips. There’s also a Facebook group for Lower Salt River Kayakers where people more informally meet up for trips together, as well as one focused on organizing shuttles called Lower Salt River Shuttle Connection. And if you’re still striking out, check out this post about ways to make more outdoor recreation friends.

Where to go for a post-paddle food or beverage

Red, White and Brew at Power/McDowell is a common post-paddle get together spot. I also recommend Desert Eagle Brewing’s Falcon Field location near McDowell and Higley. Both offer a selection of craft beers and decent food.

What other questions do you have?

I’ve tried to put together a comprehensive guide for kayaking the Salt River, but I may have missed something. Let me know what else you want to know about in the comments.

The post The Complete Guide to Kayaking the Salt River appeared first on rscottjones.

One of my favorite annual trips to lead is a moonlight paddle down the Lower Salt River east of Phoenix.

The Salt River is a great little trip either early in the morning, or long after the tubers have gone home—it’s serene, has some nice scenery, is convenient to the metro Phoenix area, and offers easy logistics. I think it’s at its best during a full moon.

Armed with water cannons, some adult beverages, and glowstick-decorated kayaks, we met at Blue Point Picnic Area after work, unloaded our boats, and set up the car shuttle. We hit the water just as the sun set and stopped to enjoy the moonrise over the mountains in the first eddy downstream. There’s something special about paddling a river with just the light of a full moon. With the limited light, there’s an interesting incongruity: ripples and small rapids seem more exciting while the overall trip seems more placid.

Generally speaking, our night was more float than paddle. We shared beverages, enjoyed small conversations, and relaxed in the tranquility of the water. We stopped for a break and a group photo at the beach at Goldfield Ranch, joined by about a dozen feral Salt River horses. Drinking vessels sufficiently refilled, we returned to the boats and continued downstream to our take-out at Phon D Sutton Rec Area.

The remainder of the trip was a continuation of the earlier enjoyable night. The water cannons got quite a bit more use, which are particularly fun when you’re not entirely sure who squirted whom. The worst part of the evening was finding ourselves at the take-out; it had arrived much sooner than everyone wanted. Clearly, we’ll need to arrange another one next month.

I didn’t put much effort into taking photos. The combination of low light, the constant rocking of the kayak, and my preference for carrying a small point-and-shoot camera generally make for less-than-stellar photos. However, I post them in the hopes that they paint at least a crude picture of the evening’s moonlight adventure.

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Look on most maps of the Mogollon Rim region of Arizona and you’ll have trouble finding a label for Blue Ridge Reservoir, one of the nicer lakes in Arizona to kayak. Instead, you’ll run across a far less glamorous name, the C.C. Cragin Reservoir. This gorgeous narrow lake is located about 25 miles north of Payson, but only came into being because of water needs 200 miles away.

The lake that copper built

In the early 1960s, Phelps Dodge was looking for water to service its huge mining operation in Morenci. The most obvious source was the nearby Black River, but its water rights were tied up by the Salt River Project, better known as SRP. Phelps Dodge and SRP found a solution in a water trade. SRP would allow Phelps Dodge to use water from the Black River if the mining company delivered the same amount of water from outside SRP’s existing service area. A site on the Mogollon Rim was selected to complete the deal.

By 1965, Phelps Dodge had constructed a dam on East Clear Creek an hour’s drive north of Payson. The resulting reservoir—originally named Blue Ridge—held only 15,000 acre feet of water, but was surprising reliable given its location atop the Mogollon Rim. The project included an 11-mile long pipeline to deliver the water down the rim to the East Verde River, which eventually flows into SRP’s reservoir system. It was an exchange that served both parties well for decades to come.

How ‘Blue Ridge Reservoir’ became ‘CC Cragin Reservoir’

More than 40 years later, the Arizona Water Settlement Act of 2004 changed the name of the dam and reservoir to honor C. C. Cragin, a former SRP superintendent that helped greatly expand the system of dams along the Salt River east of metro Phoenix. The following year, Phelps Dodge handed over the reservoir to SRP, who now provides water to Payson and surrounding communities.

What’s it like to kayak here?

Blue Ridge Reservoir is definitely a favorite of many kayakers in the state. The narrow, intimate lake is flanked by relatively steep pine-covered slopes, so it feels more like you’re paddling a slow moving river than a broad lake. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only boat on the water here, as the lake curves around multiple bends just as a river does, obscuring other paddlers. With a treeline that comes right down to a 15 mile-long shoreline, the lake offers many opportunities to dock and enjoy a snack under the shade of the cool pines. Craggy rock outcroppings abound at the water’s edge, offering plenty of geologic eye-candy while you paddle past.

The lake is split between two arms. The western arm is much longer, while the southern arm includes the interesting curved dam that holds the water back. At an elevation of 6700 ft, the paddling season runs from May through October. While small motorized boats are allowed, this isn’t a place where paddlers will feel overwhelmed by motors.

How to get there

Blue Ridge Reservoir is located about 45 miles north of Payson, a roughly 2-hour drive from Phoenix. From Payson, continue north on Highway 87 for roughly 40 miles to FR751, near milepost 295. You’ll see a large US Forest Service sign pointing the way to Blue Ridge Reservoir (as with most paddlers, the CC Cragin name hasn’t quite taken hold). Turn east on FR751 and follow it about 4 miles to the boat ramp.

Parking at Blue Ridge Reservoir

One of the appealing qualities of kayaking on the Blue Ridge is the narrow, river-like canyon of the reservoir. Unfortunately, the same narrow width applies to the approach road, boat launch, and available parking area. You won’t find a large paved parking lot capable of storing dozens of trailers here. Indeed, there are only a handful of legal spots clinging the guardrail near the top of the boat ramp loading area, with a small parking lot up the hill for the remainder of the vehicles. Parking is currently prohibited anywhere else along the road. In short, expect an uphill walk after your paddle to retrieve your vehicle. I recommend either arriving early in the morning or late in the day to claim a parking spot.

Camping near Blue Ridge Reservoir

The Rock Crossing Campground is just two miles from the reservoir boat launch, so it’s well placed for a weekend of boating. It’s a popular place during the summer months and no reservations are accepted, so you’ll want to have a backup plan in case it’s full. Blue Ridge Campground and Clints Well Campground are the next nearest options, each a 10 minute drive away.

In addition, dispersed camping is available throughout the surrounding national forest, so you shouldn’t be without some sort of campsite to call home for the night. There are a handful of spots that work for shoreline camping from your kayak or canoe, if you’re feeling adventurous.

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The Arizona Hiking Shack is what you might expect from an independent outdoor retailer jammed into an awkward, ill-conceived corner of a strip mall dedicated to antiques and other worthless items. Once inside, you’ll find the trend continues. No sexy display racks, ADA compliant pathways, and not much effort given to displaying or stocking merchandise—just plain and simple, like your uncle’s attic. They don’t have much of a selection, and the items they do have seem more expensive that you might otherwise find them.

They clearly don’t compete with REI for the trendy gearhead crowd.

[Side note: I overheard the REI new employee training the other day, and distinctly heard them encourage employees to recommend the AZ Hiking Shack: “We’re a Co-op, we’re here to help our members, even if it that means passing along a sale to what others think is a competitor.” I love REI.]

Nonetheless, they are genuinely friendly and laid back, and they rent kayaks for cheap. And that’s what had brought me to the store, which is conveniently located just a couple of miles from my house.

Single-person inflatable kayaks—including pfd, pump, paddle, and throw bag—are $25 a day. Well, kinda. The rental also includes a “travel day” for getting to and from your destination, so it’s in effect a 3-day rental.

For only $25.

That’s one helluva deal. They also have two person kayaks (more commonly referred to as “divorce boats”), rafts, and other outdoor gear for rent.

But that’s not the only reason that I’ll return as a repeat customer.

I had planned to spend last Sunday kayaking up at Barlett Lake. It was finally my chance to bring my kayak out for its inaugural voyage. I rented an inflatable for my friend Laura who was joining me on Saturday (and will be joining my other friend Tiffany and I on a river trip next week). Unfortunately, I had some significant trouble getting my kayak secured on the Forester, even after trying multiple carrying systems. The morning was quickly disappearing, and we ended up bailing on the outing.

I showed up to return the kayak and gear—which never even left my vehicle—on Monday and was asked the obvious question of how my paddle had gone. I explained that I had to cancel, and without hesitation, the guy said that he wouldn’t charge me.

I had the kayak and gear for three days, but he wasn’t going to charge me because I didn’t get to have any fun with it.

Awesome.

And that’s why I’ll be back to the Arizona Hiking Shack the next time I need to rent a kayak—even if it’s going to just sit in my vehicle all weekend.

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