Category Salt River & Saguaro Lake Kayaking

Phoenix · SALT RIVER & SAGUARO LAKE KAYAKING

The 12 Best Salt River & Saguaro Lake Kayak Trips

12 reviewed

Cliff-walled water twenty minutes past the last saguaro. These are the top kayak and paddleboard trips on the Salt River and Saguaro Lake: guided versus self-guided, how long you are on the water, what each costs, and which ones drift past the wild horses on the bank.

Kayaking 2 Hr Canyon & Cliffside on Saguaro Lake

Kayaking 2 Hr Canyon & Cliffside on Saguaro Lake - Before you touch water: the orientation that makes this work

1.Kayaking 2 Hr Canyon & Cliffside on Saguaro Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 410 reviews · from $45Our pick

Self-guided 2-hour kayak on Saguaro Lake for $45 with canyon and cliffside views, mandatory safety orientation, gear, and parking.

“Great experience from arrival to departure. Employees are all friendly and helpful-appear to really enjoy their jobs. The kayaking was fun. Nice durable kayaks. Highly recommend going to Willow Creek worth the 2 hour paddle to and from. Beautiful scenery. Lake can be busy with large boats-recommend earlier your time.”

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Guided 2.5 Hours Kayaking & Paddle Boarding on Saguaro Lake

Guided 2.5 Hours Kayaking & Paddle Boarding on Saguaro Lake - 3 hours on the water: the pacing that makes it work

Half-Day Lower Salt River Rafting Tour

Half-Day Lower Salt River Rafting Tour - Your Time on the Water: Expect 2.5 Hours Total, Not an All-Day Expedition

4.Half-Day Lower Salt River Rafting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $140

Half-day Class I rafting on the Lower Salt River from Mesa. Beginner-friendly, wildlife spotting, and guides that teach as you float.

“We loved the trip. The staffers perfect, knowledgeable, created a great experience for us. It was a beautiful afternoon.”

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Guided Rafting on the Lower Salt River

Guided Rafting on the Lower Salt River - Your about-2.5-hour plan on the water

5.Guided Rafting on the Lower Salt River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $134

Guided rafting on the Lower Salt River near Mesa with small groups, included snacks, desert scenery, and river stories from the Salt and Verde.

“Our rafting guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We saw wild horses and the scenery was amazing! We had a great experience!!”

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Paddle Boarding and Kayaking Tour in Canyon Lake

Paddle Boarding and Kayaking Tour in Canyon Lake - What the guide is doing for you (and why it’s worth it)

6.Paddle Boarding and Kayaking Tour in Canyon Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $119

Paddleboard or kayak Canyon Lake’s quiet creeks Tortilla and La Barge near Apache Junction, with guided Sonoran desert facts.

“Definitely recommend it! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and staff was very friendly. The experience was very relaxing and landscapes were beautiful.”

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Saguaro Lake: Guided Kayaking Tour

Saguaro Lake: Guided Kayaking Tour - Getting there and finding your guides at Butcher Jones Beach

7.Saguaro Lake: Guided Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 3 hours · from $128

Guided kayaking on Saguaro Lake with award-winning local guides, easy sit-on-top kayaks, desert canyon views, and wildlife sightings.

“Teri did an excellent job explaining everything at the beginning and engaging with all of us the entire time. We loved it!”

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Boat Tour in Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Boat Tour in Lake Pleasant, Arizona - Following the Route: How the 2-Hour Itinerary Plays Out

8.Boat Tour in Lake Pleasant, Arizona

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 18 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $69

Take a 2-hour private boat loop on Lake Pleasant with life jackets, bottled water, and scenic photo stops—check in at the 10-lane ramp.

“Our guide, Edwin, was amazing. Our Uber driver got lost, and Edwin and his colleague were kind enough to wait for us. As luck would have it, my husband and I had the boat all to ourselves. It was an amazing afternoon on Lake Pleasant. Ed, please keep up the fantastic work!”

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Stand Up Paddleboard Full-Day Rental – Transporting is required

Stand Up Paddleboard Full-Day Rental - Transporting is required - Quick Highlights Before You Paddle

Kayaking 3 Hr Canyon & Cliffside on Saguaro Lake

Kayaking 3 Hr Canyon & Cliffside on Saguaro Lake - Paddling the Canyon and Cliffside Views for the Full 3 Hours

Inflatable Paddleboard Full-Day Rental – Transportation required

Inflatable Paddleboard Full-Day Rental - Transportation required - Price and Value: What $45 Gets You (and Why It’s Not Just a Low-Cost Rental)

1 Person Inflatable Kayak Full-Day Rental – Transporting is required

1 Person Inflatable Kayak Full-Day Rental - Transporting is required - Choosing Your Water: Saguaro or Canyon Lakes vs the Salt River

12.1 Person Inflatable Kayak Full-Day Rental – Transporting is required

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 1 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $45

Rent a 1-person inflatable kayak in Tempe and paddle Arizona’s lakes and Lower Salt River for wildlife, desert shoreline views, and easy setup.

“Well received by the manager at the store. She recommended a great beach to set sai to the Salt River. She also showed me the whole process as how to inflate the kayak, operate the the paddle and mount the seat properly. As a beginner, I had full confidence to go solo and had a great time.”

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