Kayaking the Salt River Foxtail Trip
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Phoenix, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
The Tonto National Forest is the largest in Arizona and the Lower Salt River runs right through its heart. On this tour, admire the natural scenery from the water on a thrilling kayaking excursion. Set out from Saguaro Lake Ranch, paddle along the Salt River, and look out for native wildlife, including the park’s herd of wild horses.
- Spectacular views of Tonto National Forest from the water
- Incredible wildlife sightings including the Salt River wild horses
- Unguided kayaking experience. While this is primarily a scenic float there are sections of swift water and kayakers often tip out – so be prepared to get wet.
- Choice of tour departure times
What's Included
- Single sit on top Kayak or Paddleboard, Life Jacket, Paddle (No Double Kayaks Available)
- No Guide Provided
- Hotel pick-up and drop off not included
- Gratuities Not Included
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch13020 N Bush Hwy, Mesa, AZ 85215, USA
Your launch time is the time we leave. Please plan to ARRIVE FIFTEEN MINUTES or more BEFORE YOUR TIME to complete the check-in process. Waivers are required to be signed prior to and verified on arrival before parking passes and wristbands are given for your trip departure.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Salt River
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Minimum age is 12 years & 4'6" tall
- Maximum weight is kayak/275 lbs & paddleboard/260 lbs.
- NO double kayaks/only singles
- Not recommended for participants who do not know how to swim.
- Participant must be comfortable with an UNGUIDED river excursion. While this is primarily a scenic float, there are sections of swift water and kayakers often tip out - so be prepared to get wet.
- Must sign a waiver prior to arrival. Waiver link email will be sent to you after booking, please call if you do not receive the email.
- Dress to be in the heat and to get wet!
- Service animals or pets are not allowed on kayaks for the safety of the animal
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Kim_C
This was an amazing experience. The self guided kayaking tour was perfect. The scenery was beautiful. We saw 3 groups of wild horses, an otter herrons and fish. The staff was so nice and very informative. Definitely recommend! Can’t wait to go back.
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,828 reviews
Bridget_L, Jun 2026
This was one of the best vacation experiences I’ve had. The ranch was so cool and the first stretch of kayaking felt like a private river. There were a bunch of places to pull off to the side and get some swimming in. The staff were very friendly and flexible. Would definitely recommend this experience to any and all!
Jillien_B, Jun 2026
So beautiful, and the company was awesome, everyone so friendly and helpful. The kayaks and life jackets were in good condition.
Stefanie_M, Jun 2026
Worker called my hubby and I, who are under 6 feet, huge, asked if we had kids, called them monsters
Laura_D, Jun 2026
I did this with my 12yr old daughter and we had an amazing time. We almost chickened out after watching the orientation and some of the reviews that made the rapids sound scary but it wasn't hard at all. The course was not hard and my daughter managed fine. We saw wild horses, otter, and tons of birds and fish.
Dominic_P, Jun 2026
Go as early as you can to beat the heat. Watch an instructional video on how to use a kayak. Wear water shoes and sunglasses.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the great advice! We definitely recommend getting an early start to enjoy the cooler morning temperatures and a more peaceful float. We’re glad you found the instructional information helpful, and we always encourage guests to come prepared with water shoes, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. Thanks for sharing your experience, and we hope to see you back on the river again soon!
Coley_S, Jun 2026
This was a fun experience, and I’d probably do it again. The quick moving water/rapids really aren’t that bad. As long as you keep your kayaking going straight down the river, you’ll have no issues.
The Salt River can be a little crowded, so you’ll need to paddle around tubing folks, and likely some wild horses.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review and recommendation! We're so happy you had a fun time on the Salt River and would paddle with us again. The rapids, fellow river-goers, and occasional wild horse sightings all make for a memorable adventure. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you back on the water soon!
Michael_S, Jun 2026
Great experience!
Staff very friendly and informative.
Watched a short video on what to expect, brief summary, and on the water thereafter! Didn’t get to see any wild horses drinking from the river but did catch them roaming. Best times are 2-3 before sunrise and sunset apparently,
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you had a great experience and found our staff friendly and informative. It’s great to hear the pre-trip orientation helped you feel prepared for the water. While wild horse sightings can vary, it’s wonderful you were still able to see them roaming along the river. We appreciate your tip about timing and hope to see you again for another paddle!
Cindy_S, Jun 2026
Very well organized. We were on the water quickly and picked up efficiently after. Beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review! We're so glad to hear you had a very enjoyable experience and that everything ran smoothly from start to finish. It's great that you were able to take in the beautiful scenery and wildlife along the river. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another adventure soon!
Crista_C, Jun 2026
It was beautiful and a great experience we even saw wild horses in the river so beautiful. We did unguided tour and they gave clear directions
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you had a great time and enjoyed the beauty of the Salt River. Seeing the wild horses in the river is always a special experience, and we're happy to hear the directions helped make your unguided trip smooth and enjoyable. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again soon!
Kathy_M, May 2026
This kayak adventure was great!! Didn’t see horses but best in early morning if you want to see them at the river. Staff was great, attentive, kind helpful. Would do it again
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you had a peaceful and fun kayaking adventure. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, we're happy you enjoyed the experience and found our staff helpful and attentive. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another paddle!
Annette_B, May 2026
It was fantastic except for the lady at check in didn’t care for us. She lack professionalism and was rude. Otherwise it was terrific. Driver was greatl! I’m coming back with several friends
Shelley_T, May 2026
It was An amazing experience! I went solo on this trip and it was so peaceful! I want to go again!!!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you had such a peaceful and amazing solo experience on the river. Looking forward to your next trip!
Kelley_G, May 2026
There were a few solitude moments, also moments with lots of other people on the river. No fault of the ranch. Staff was great and friendly. We got to see wild horses which was the highlight of my day.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the peaceful moments on the river, and we really appreciate your understanding of the river’s livelier stretches. It’s wonderful to hear our staff made you feel welcome, and that seeing the wild horses was the highlight of your day! We hope to see you back out with us again soon!
Lauren_B, May 2026
Fun! If you have not kayaked before its a long trip but worth it. Saw 2 herds of wild horses and some vultures. The view was beautiful and the river was the perfect temp. We went at 9 and the heat was more than bearable and there was a nice breeze. Definitely recommend the earlier times. Staff were great, water was provided at the beginning and end of the trip.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re so happy to hear you had a fun trip and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We’re especially glad you got to see the wild horses, that’s always a highlight! Thank you as well for the kind words about our staff. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you back out on the river for another paddle!
Sarah_G, May 2026
Well organized company. Staff was welcoming and full of information about the local area. Be sure to have water and sunscreen!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re glad to hear you and your family had a fun day and that our team helped make everything smooth and informative. Great tip about water and sunscreen! We always appreciate it when guests help spread those reminders. We’d love to welcome you all back again soon!
Emily_H, May 2026
We had so much fun. The ranch was easy to find and there was a restroom to change. The man who instructed prior to taking off was very knowledgeable and thorough. You can do kayak or paddleboard but I recommend the kayak due to the rapids. They also sent a video to watch that explained the river. The kayaks are sit on kayaks and the rapids were so fun. It was unguided but they explained where to get off and we're waiting for us with a cool van and water when we landed back to shore. The drive was only 10 min back to the ranch. all the staff were very nice and the scenery was amazing . We had a small group of 6 people and it was very nice.Very fun and relaxing experience
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the kind review! We’re really happy to hear you had so much fun and felt well prepared for the trip. It’s great that you enjoyed the kayaks, rapids, scenery, and smooth pick-up after the river. We truly appreciate your support and would love to have you back again soon!
Candice_W, May 2026
Instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful, we were a party of three with 2 first timers! We had a blast a little nervous at first because it was unguided but overall really fun experience
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re so glad your girls trip was a blast and that our instructors helped you feel prepared, especially with first-timers in the group! A little pre-trip nerves are totally normal, so we’re happy to hear it turned into a fun and memorable adventure. We’d love to have you all back out on the river again soon!
Kehlani_L, May 2026
The entire experience was phenomenal. Staff provided the most exceptional service and made sure it was enjoyable. This was my first time being able to enjoy an adventure like this and I am 100% hooked! Thank you so much!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear your first adventure on the river was such a phenomenal experience and that our team helped make it special. We’d love to have you back out for another paddle soon!
Erin_A, May 2026
Workers were fabulous and they guys were super funny! The as a first time kayaker, the river was perfect blend of small rapids and peaceful smooth water. The only problem is that time went too fast!!! Will definitely do this again!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks so much for the wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear you had such a great first kayaking experience with us and that our crew helped make the day even more fun. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to the team. We’d love to have you back out on the river again soon!
Rene_A, May 2026
Excellent service and wonderful experience 👏 😀 👍 I recommend it to everyone to take advantage of this wonderful experience
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful experience and appreciated the service from our team. It means a lot to us that you would recommend the trip to others. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Marcus_S, May 2026
Had a fun day on the river. Easy booking and energetic crew to get us set up. River got a little crowded with tubers and partiers but we kept on paddling. Would do it again. Thanks!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks so much for the great review! We’re happy to hear you had a fun day on the river and that you were able to keep paddling and enjoying the experience even with a busy day out there. We really appreciate you joining us, and we’d love to have you back out on the river again soon!
Bobbi_K, May 2026
This was such a beautiful experience. The staff were friendly and helpful, the kayaking itself was phenomenal! It was just as the staff told us it would be. It was a minimally challenging river. We are all inexperienced with kayaking. We were sent instructions, complete with safety waivers and an instructional safety video. I felt confident after watching it that I and my husband and friends would be able to have a great day. We only saw 2 of the horses, but that was still an amazing sight! The end of the float was a bit difficult to traverse, but the staff were helpful with directions as we came in. The ride in the van from the end was about 10 minutes. The whole area is so beautiful and there looks to be plenty to do. The only thing that I could say was remotely negative were the people fishing on the bank who were not happy to see us, as we were probably scaring off the fish. It had no bearing on our experience though. There is a great little gift shop complete with small essentials that are easily forgotten (i.e. sunblock, chapstick, waterproof phone bags, hats, etc.) My husband and I will be back in the future and will be bringing more out of town family and friends.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the amazing and thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear you and your group had such a great experience on the river, especially as first-time kayakers. We work hard to make the trip feel approachable and enjoyable for beginners, so it means a lot to hear that the safety video, instructions, and staff helped you feel confident and prepared. Seeing even a couple of the wild horses can be such a memorable moment, and we’re so glad you got to experience that! We truly appreciate your kind words about our staff, and we look forward to welcoming you and your family back again soon!
Rick_D, Apr 2026
Super fun family experience. Had 6 of us including two kids 12 and 14. Gorgeous day out. Rapids were really manageable and the water pretty tame. Unfortunately only saw a couple wild horses after we had just passed them. Ranch was really easy to find and the staff was awesome.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad your family had a fun day on the river. It’s great to hear the rapids felt manageable and that you found the ranch easy to locate. We’re also happy our staff helped make the experience even better. We hope to welcome your family back for another adventure soon!
Victor_M, Apr 2026
Great experience. Easy access and very kind staff. We were able to see the horses and the pictures of them were incredibles.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad to hear you had a great experience and found everything easy and convenient. It’s wonderful to know our staff helped make your visit enjoyable. Seeing the horses along the river is always a special highlight, and we’re happy you were able to capture some incredible photos of them. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Kelsey_C, Apr 2026
You're going to have so much fun on this kayaking adventure! It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon on the water and we were able to see the wild horses. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for the amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear your first kayaking experience was such a great one. It’s always special to share the river with guests, and we’re so glad you got to enjoy the scenery and spot the wild horses along the way. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back out on the water for another adventure soon!
Milan_B, Apr 2026
I would highly recommend this experience for anyone with basic to moderate kayaking skills, especially if you’re comfortable navigating moving water. The route is scenic and strikes a great balance between relaxation and adventure—engaging without ever feeling overwhelming.
Before heading out on your own, the guides onshore do an excellent job explaining the different route options at key forks in the river, allowing you to tailor the experience based on how adventurous you want to be.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and the two hours flew by.
Monte_H, Apr 2026
It’s a must!! And include the lunch…yummy!
The updates along with instructions were very easy to follow.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re so happy you enjoyed the trip and the lunch! It’s also great to hear that the updates and instructions were easy to follow. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back on the river again soon!
Autum_J, Apr 2026
Really fun experience! The staff is amazing and friendly. Navigating the river without a guide was easy. Seeing wild horses was an added bonus
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled you had a fun experience and that our team helped make it even better. It’s great to hear the self-guided trip felt easy to navigate,and spotting the wild horses is always a bonus. We really appreciate you coming out with us and hope to see you back on the river again soon!
Shawnna_P, Apr 2026
Beautiful kayak ride & so worth going! We even saw the wild horses towards the end! We had some slight rapids throughout at various places & calm water through other areas of the river. It was enough to be fun but not overly challenging. Highly recommend this!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the awesome review! We’re so glad you had a fun mix of a little excitement and some easygoing stretches, and spotting the wild horses is always a treat! We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to have you back out on the water again soon.
Jasmin_S, Apr 2026
Great experience for the whole family. Wild horse amazing. View beautiful. 2 hours felt like 5 min. Would def do this trip again.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear your whole family had such a great experience out on the river. Those wild horses really are something special, and it sounds like you got to enjoy a perfect day on the water. We truly appreciate you joining us and would be so happy to have you back out for another trip anytime!
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From $57.27
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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