Salt River Canyon Off‑Roading Adventure – Scenic UTV Ride
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
This tour explores one of the most untouched regions of the Tonto National Forest—land the Forest Service considers the most natural terrain left in Arizona. Wilds of Arizona is the only licensed and certified off‑road operator allowed to guide tours here, giving guests rare access to hidden canyons, historic mining sites, and views most travelers never experience. Wildlife sightings may include free‑range cattle, bald and golden eagles, jackrabbits, deer, and even black bear. Guides share the area’s mining history, native plants, and desert ecology while leading you to dramatic overlooks of Salt River Canyon, Ash Creek Canyon, and the wild Upper Salt River. Our CPR‑certified guides carry emergency gear and tools, and our UTVs feature cooling misters for comfort on hot days. This adventure blends rugged off‑roading, rich history, wildlife, and some of the most breathtaking scenery in Arizona.
Inclusions
What's included
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
Itinerary
After a brief safety talk, we begin on a dirt and rocky trail that climbs along a mountain ridgeline with views of high plains and deep canyons. We pass through a 100,000‑acre cattle ranch, where there’s a good chance of seeing the herd as we continue deeper into the desert.
We cross high plains desert with juniper and pines, then follow a forest road over mountain passes toward an old mining claim. We stop at a mountain ridgeline with 360° views across the range—often considered one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Arizona.
We stop on a mountain pass beside a steep vertical drop that offers the best view of the Salt River Canyon. This heavily forested section opens to an unobstructed overlook, giving guests a dramatic, panoramic view of the canyon below.
We continue along the mountain top and stop near an old mine site. A short hike leads to the canyon’s edge, where you’ll see stunning Salt River Canyon views and historic mining features, including the elevator once used to move ore from the river to the mountain top.
We continue past Cenica Lake and its abandoned resort before taking a short highway drive back to the starting point. This final stretch offers a smooth, scenic finish to your Salt River Canyon off‑road adventure.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Meet at the parking area off US Highway 60, mile marker 283. Look for guides in blue “Wilds of Arizona” shirts beside the lined‑up UTVs. After a brief safety talk and gear check, you’ll get ready to begin your off‑road adventure into Salt River Canyon.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 30 travellers
- Operated by
- Wilds of Arizona
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Claypool
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 12 experiences we list in Claypool.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Claypool
Claypool is a small copper-mining community in Arizona's Gila County beside Globe, near the Apache Trail, Roosevelt Lake and ancient pueblo ruins.
Claypool is a small community in Gila County, Arizona, next to the town of Globe and about 114 km east of Phoenix, in a copper-mining district where mines have operated since the 1880s. It sits at roughly 1,070 metres in desert hills below the Pinal Mountains, which rise to forested peaks above 2,300 metres. The Globe-Miami area has a historic downtown of antique shops, and Besh-Ba-Gowah, the excavated ruins of a Salado pueblo, lies in Globe.
