Rafting in Arizona: What to know & where to go

For breathtaking views and unparalleled adventure, it’s high time to try rafting in Arizona. Here’s what to know. 

Arizona is full of iconic landscapes, including one of the world’s natural wonders. While seeing the Grand Canyon from any angle is spectacular, imagine looking up past the top of the canyon, watching clouds pass from far below the lookout from which people typically take it all in. Rafting the Colorado River can offer a unique perspective on an already breathtaking view. Not only that, but rafting can offer thrills and excitement that cannot be found with any other sport. Fortunately for us locals, we are right on time for Arizona’s rafting season.

In fact, as long as there’s rainfall, nearly half the year is the right time for rafting the rivers of Arizona. Technically, there are two distinct seasons. The first and most ideal rafting season is from March to April, when the weather is mild and the water is high due to snowmelt and winter storms. May is a little too dry, despite the common cry of “but it’s a dry heat.” The second season is June through August, when monsoons keep water flowing, but the sun makes rafting a little more of a hot commodity. Regardless of when you go, be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sunglasses with straps, a swimsuit, a headlamp (if needed), and good, river-friendly shoes. 

If you don’t have a raft or a life jacket, don’t worry! Some of the best spots for rafting also have rentals and tours available for the novice hoping to learn the ropes—or at least the rapids, which is part of the thrill of rafting. While Arizona has several rivers, there are a few that stand out for their varying degrees of rapids, categorized into six classes. Class I is the easiest class, where waves are gentle and easy to swim in, should voyagers take a spill into the water. Class VI, conversely, is the roughest of the rapids, offering a rocky, rough ride, perfect for experienced, thrill-seeking adventurers who have strong swimming skills.

No matter your experience level, there is a perfect place for you to go rafting and explore the marvels of Arizona.

Best places to go rafting in Arizona

Salt River

The Salt River is expansive, spanning 200 miles and extending throughout various parts of Arizona. It’s also a hub for rafting enthusiasts.

The Lower Salt River is ideal for beginners, as the majority of the rapids are Class I, with a few Class II rapids, but water levels fluctuate depending on the season. Located in the Tonto National Forest, approximately 40 miles east of Phoenix, this section of the river offers stunning scenery featuring saguaro, mesquite, and other native flora and fauna. It also offers rentals starting at just $40 per day, as well as rafting tours through Cliff Creek Outfitters, available for only $140 per person. This option includes all the necessary equipment, as well as a guide who knows not only the river but also the history of the area.

The Upper Salt River runs through the Salt River Canyon Wilderness, located around Lake Roosevelt, the original lake formed by damming the Salt River. The magnificent mountainous canyons of the area have earned it the apt nickname of “Arizona’s other Grand Canyon.” More for experienced rafters, the rapids here are classified at III and IV, equating to an exhilarating ride. Independent adventure seekers will need to obtain a permit, while those seeking guides and further instruction can join Arizona Rafting in Whitewater, starting at $210 for a full day of rafting the rapids. 

Known as Arizona’s other Grand Canyon, the Salt River Canyon is truly breathtaking. (Phillip Capper/CC BY 2.0)

Colorado River

The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon, as well as some other iconic Arizona marvels, such as Petroglyph Beach and Horseshoe Bend. Rafting adventures, with rapids ranging between Class I and IV, typically start in Marble Canyon, Page, and Lees Ferry and can range between 1 and 18-day jaunts.

Wilderness River Adventures offers a variety of thrilling trips ranging from 3 to 15 days, starting at $1700 per person. This adventure company will help properly plan and prepare for the rafting trip of a lifetime. Arizona River Runners also offers amazing Canyon rafting trips ranging from three to eight days, starting at $1,775 per person. There are other options available through this company, including camping and cool-season hiking. Taking the guesswork out of planning and the luck out of the lottery to obtain a permit are two major perks of rafting with one of these companies, as opposed to going solo. 

Marble Canyon has rapids ranging in class. (James Marvin Phelps/CC BY-NC 2.0)

Verde River

Located near Sedona, the Verde River is yet another host of picture-worthy views that inspire awe in all the onlookers. Rafting this river can lead to rarely seen angles of canyons and cliffs that draw in international crowds every year. The Verde River is Arizona’s only federally designated Wild and Scenic River, offering stunning views, Class II and III rapids, and unpredictable water levels.

Unfortunately for the 2025 season, the renowned rafting company Mild to Wild won’t host rafting trips this year due to closures from those unpredictably lower water levels. There are other ways to explore the Verde River, though, while waiting for the right season to go whitewater rafting. Sedona Adventure Tours offers paddle boards, inflatable kayaks, and tubing rentals, as well as other packages that include Verde River play and yoga or wine tasting!

Exploring the Verde River in these more mellow manners can increase the excitement for the next rafting season—fingers crossed, 2026. 

A tributary to the Verde River, Fossil Creek demonstrates the power of the rapids on this wild and scenic river. (Alan Stark/CC BY-SA 2.0

Whether you’re a novice looking for a new water thrill or an expert who seeks the rough rapid rides, rafting is an incredibly exciting way to explore the rivers of Arizona. It will not only provide stunning views from a new perspective, but also create memories that can last a lifetime.

With a little bit of planning and budgeting, rafting the Salt River, Verde River, or Colorado River is a worthy way to spend time that should be added to everyone’s bucket list. Just be sure to bring water and a life jacket. Oh, and a sense of adventure.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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