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Arizona Rafting Whitewater

Arizona Rafting WhitewaterWhitewater rafting in Arizona, brings an image of the Colorado River rushing through the Grand Canyon to mind. There is also the Verde River and The Salt River. Which offer unique whitewater experiences and are less popular with vacationing whitewater rafters.

The Colorado River basin is enormous and com­plex (naturally so). Even before-modern Americans began hacking it up into one of the most complicated and controversial water-delivery systems in the world). Virtually every other river in the region eventually will flow into the Colorado. In the whitewater world, the Colorado is “the big one,” and even today, the ultimate experience.

Arizona Rafting Whitewater

The image of Arizona whitewater rafting is one of power. Big volume rapids where the surge of moving water even more than the configuration of canyon, boulders, and bank creates the rafting challenge. The water is a dull brown, muddy and opaque, frothing rather than sparkling.

Rafting the full 225 miles of the Colorado River is perhaps the top adventure travel dream trip in America. A few other rivers in Arizona provide shorter, scenic trips.

White water rafting on the Verde River

The Verde River is Arizona’s only national wild and scenic river. The section from near the town of Childs to Horseshoe Reservoir runs most of the way through the Mazatzal Wilderness.

Trips run from February to April when spring run-off brings the whitewater up to Class 3. The Verde River can be floated practically any month of the year. Its primary river-running season is February to April. With the best being March and April. Always check conditions ahead of time. Guides are available.

The season on the Verde River runs from February to April. Most trips run about 25 miles of up to class III difficulty rapids.

Whitewater rafting on the Salt River in Arizona

Salt River Canyon provides some excellent whitewater rafting opportunities. For example, single- and multi- day trips are available with rapids up to Class 4. Single day trips are 10 miles and often include a pack lunch and possible short hikes in side canyons. As a result, 2, 3 and 5-day trips are also available. They bring you deeper and deeper into the canyon and away from civilization.

The Salt River is situated along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau between mountain and desert ecosystems. The result is an interesting variety of plant, animal and bird life. Trips start through oak and juniper woodlands before dropping into the Lower Sonoran desert with its magnificent saguaro cactus.

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