Notes

Water-skiing the Lower Sodium River: An Outdoor Adventure Through Arizona's Lower Salt Lake Canyon
Experience majestic wasteland scenery, rich riparian nature and revel in an exciting day of fantastic fun and outside adventure kayaking down the Lower Salt River. Merely a brief drive from Phoenix arizona, the Lower Sodium River is the very popular desired destination for Arizonans buying way to fascinating off with "tubing" a widely well-known activity for many people during the long, sizzling summer months. On the other hand if you consider your self an outdoors buccaneer and you're willing to try something new, then I recommend taking the day trip water-skiing down the Lower Salt River. Also if you've in no way been kayaking before, the mild in addition to gentle Lower Salt River is an excellent place to begin, even if you're a new beginner.

I had never been mountain-climbing before but got wanted to give it a try for a very long time. So any time I heard of which there was obviously a nearby group the Scottsdale Sea and Skiing Club organizing the kayaking trip down on the Salt River I swiftly jumped on the particular opportunity and got authorized up at the discounted group price of only $60 which included the kayak rental equipment, shuttle grab transportation mainly because well as treats and beverages offered by the club.

Starting our day's trip early, we headed out east by Phoenix on Route 202, exiting north west on Power Road which turns into Bush Highway while it enters the Tonto National Woods. It's another ten miles until you appear at Saguaro Pond. On the best just south associated with Saguaro Lake Flotta, is Saguaro River Ranch & Resort where we forced in, parked and got prepared for our day's venture kayaking down the particular Salt River. Straight down at the shoreline, claimed our kayaks, put our life vests as well as were provided a new map and some sort of detailed overview regarding the trip from start to surface finish by Saguaro Pond Ranch. After the particular briefing we carried our kayaks in addition to paddles right down to typically the water's edge and quickly dropped inside. Once everyone was securely launched in to the normal water, we were offered a "thumbs up" by our head and experienced windsurfing guide, Mike to get started on our journey about down the lake.

Being a first time beginning kayaker, that took me a short time to learn just how to use the particular double sided paddle correctly and quickly in order in order to steer my boat. After only the few short a few minutes of "bumper boats" and floating downstream sideways then back, I started catching on and started feeling more comfortable, able to work using the speed of the particular current while trying to keep my kayak straight, facing forward in addition to away from trees and shrubs, reefs as nicely as other kayakers and people upon the river. Though we did lose somebody from our party very in early stages that somehow should have fallen out and dropped her kayak, regarding the rest associated with our group, all of us successfully began the exciting float along the beautiful and even scenic Salt Water.

I'd describe the very first portion of typically the river journey in order to be oftimes be the most challenging component as this will be where a lot of the rapids are. I used to be busily taking lot's regarding pictures of everyone kayaking as well as the gorgeous scenery when all of an immediate I looked upwards and realized My partner and i had already contacted Snake Rapids and even somehow got drawn into an turn in the river which caused our kayak to veer wildly into typically the rapids, headed right for the dirt where it obtained lodged and caught up! After only a few short panicky moments with no person left to aid, My partner and i managed to find my kayak upward off the dirt then quickly paddled my way from the rest of typically the rapids to obtain found back up with all the rest of the group again. Soon thereafter, we reached Blue Point Connection and after getting our lost kayaker, we pulled each of our kayaks over in order to the shore intended for a short sleep break on the have a picnic area where snack foods and beverages were provided.

Following your brief break, we obtained back our kayaks and were upon the river when again. From Glowing blue Point Bridge the particular slows down in addition to the current is usually much milder. You will see many more folks presently because this is also a part of the river shared by the tubers, making for a new much more lively social experience with kayakers and tubers mingling together plus enjoying the riv experience. As we all continued to drift on down to Sand Cliffs, all of us also passed by simply many people out fishing and picnicking along the shore some even giving their particular horses a great down inside the water!

From Sand Coves the scenery goes on to be definitely breathtaking and after passing with the exit point for that tubers, you will begin to experience more peaceful and tranquility nowadays on the water using the possibilities of encountering nature extra likely so make sure to keep your eye open and the camera ready. That was literally simply within minutes of which I researched to be able to the right coastline and saw the Great Blue Heron! Blue Herons happen to be very large, grayish/blue birds and typical in riparian variety habitats. I swiftly snapped up a couple of photos while going by.

After another regrouping stop, on this occasion at a rock cliff on the particular river itself, many of us continued to kayak on past Coon Bluff until many of us had reached each of our final exit level, Phon D Sutton, Exit #2. Many of us safely got out there, pulled our kayaks up onto banks, then carried all of them up to the parking lot for loading by Saguaro Lake Ranch. We then got in to the shuttle lorrie which had already been waiting for us and within quarter-hour we had came back at Saguaro Lake Ranch exactly where we had originally started out and where the cars were left. We had dropped straight into the river at 9am and had been finished by 2pm and back the cars by 3pm. The total coming back the trip had been 5 hours including stops and sleep breaks along typically the way.

I highly recommend taking this kind of short day trip which costs simply $65 for typically the day with progress reservations at Saguaro Lake Ranch. You don't have to be an knowledgeable kayaker as the Salt River is usually considered to end up being a great place to start if you're brand-new to kayaking, such as I was. Saguaro Lake Ranch can provide you the tools rental, instruction, plus shuttle transportation back again to your automobile from the end involving the trip. A person only need in order to bring lot's involving sunscreen and drinking water because it does obtain pretty hot simply by mid-afternoon as well as your personal food or snack foods for lunch. In all, it was truly an amazing, thrilling day of outside fun, beauty plus adventure which My partner and i plan on doing again sometime genuinely soon!

Laura K. Halik is some sort of writer and released author with above 20 years encounter of outdoors vacation throughout the express of Arizona in addition to the western region. She is passionate for nature, the outside, travel and adventure. Laura enjoys hiking, canyoneering, white drinking water rafting, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, composing, and photography. The girl is also a new co-hiking leader plus organizer in the hiking and outside adventure club regarding advanced and encountered hikers.
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