Express your patriotic pride as a public lands steward, and celebrate a Star-Spangled July Fourth floating picnic on the Lower Salt River.
Salt River Tubing will kick off the holiday weekend with the award-winning Bag it for Bucks Take Pride in America event on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on the Lower Salt River.
Salt River Tubing will be distributing Star-Spangled Bucks, a $7 tube rental discount coupon, as a token of appreciation for floaters’ conservation efforts while stashing and bagging their picnic trash in litter bags. Tubers can trade in full litter bags at the end of their floating adventure for a $7 tube rental discount coupon on their next visit to Salt River Tubing. The coupon is valid seven days a week, beginning July 6 through Aug. 28.
The holiday weekend event offers live entertainment by KKFR Power 98 and JAMZ 101.5, as well as water balloon contests and a beach ball bonanza. Since 1996, during summer holiday weekends, 669 tons of trash have been stashed and bagged on the Lower Salt River.
“In the past 19 years, tubers’ conservation efforts, on the Lower Salt River, have resulted in protecting a Tonto National Forest’s recreational oasis simply by taking personal responsibility for their own picnic trash and keeping it clean and beautiful,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Henri Breault. “Responsible stewardship of our natural resources will guarantee that we can enjoy quality recreational opportunities on public lands for generations.”
Salt River Tubing recommends the following safety tips for tubing adventures:
- Children, non-swimmers and inexperienced swimmers should wear life vests.
- Drink one to two bottles of water per hour while floating.
- Play it safe. Drugs, alcohol and the Salt River do not mix. So, just don’t do it. Have a great time celebrating the July Fourth weekend by appointing a designated driver before your tubing adventure.
Celebrate a unique July Fourth picnic on the Lower Salt River. It is Arizona’s Floating Picnic Adventure.
Holiday weekend operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Weather and water flow permitting, the latest tube rental is 2 p.m. The last shuttle bus pickup is 6:30 p.m.
The cost of tube rental is $17 per person/tube, which includes sales tax, inner tube rental and shuttle bus service. As a security deposit, one valid driver’s license is required for every five tubes rented.
Children must be 8 years old or older and at least 4 feet tall for tube rental and shuttle bus service.
Glass containers are prohibited by law in the Lower Salt River Recreational Area and will be confiscated. Ice chests and coolers will be inspected for glass containers before boarding shuttle buses. Please bring plastic or cans.
Salt River Tubing is located in beautiful Tonto National Forest, and operates under permit of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The fun is just seven minutes from the East Loop 202, Exit 23A, on Power Road and the Bush Highway, in Northeast Mesa. Like Us, Follow Us, Float With Us. Visit our website at www.saltrivertubing.com.