Thousands of floaters will be celebrating an Arizona family and reunion tradition with a floating picnic during Memorial Day weekend on the Lower Salt River in Tonto National Forest.
For decades, Memorial Day weekend has signaled the beginning of Arizona’s fun in the sun. Floating picnics on the refreshing, mountain stream waters of the Lower Salt River are the coolest ride to beat the heat in the great outdoors. Take Pride in Arizona, and join Salt River Tubing and local radio stations as they encourage tubers to be responsible public lands stewards. Help keep the Salt River clean and beautiful during the 20th annual Salt River Heroes = Litter Zero event, from May 23 to 25, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The holiday weekend Take Pride in America event has been phenomenally successful, with tubers having bagged more than 660 tons of picnic litter during the past 19 years. These efforts have reduced the amount of trash on the river by 90 percent.
Salt River Tubing employees will be distributing thousands of free litter bags to tubers, as they prepare to launch their floating picnics on the Salt River. The event offers live entertainment, free giveaways, beach line dancing and hula-hoop contests serving to enhance the thrill and chill theme of Arizona’s Floating Picnic. The Salt River Heroes = Litter Zero event is co-sponsored by radio stations 98 KUPD FM and JAMZ 101.5 FM.
The Memorial Day weekend consistently is a sold-out event each day. “Floaters are encouraged to arrive early in the morning to ensure parking and tube rental availability,” said President and CEO of Salt River Tubing Henri Breault.
On the holiday weekend, tube rental doors will open at 8 a.m., from Saturday through Monday, for early-bird floaters. This year, additional overflow parking areas are available for Memorial Day weekend in the Lower Salt River Recreation Area. This should ease the traffic problems experienced in previous years. Don’t be late and miss the opportunity of a fabulous floating picnic.
Henri commends those Salt River tubers who have pitched in to lend a hand on their public lands, and have helped keep the Salt River free of litter. “It’s so easy to be a Salt River Hero,” he said. “Just take personal responsibility for your picnic trash while floating, and stash it and bag it in the litter bags provided by our company during tube rental.” Responsible stewardship has resulted in a clean and beautiful Salt River each day during the holiday weekend.
Take Pride in America is a national partnership aiming to inspire a new generation of volunteers. The objective is to put their love of country to work to improve our national parks, wildlife refuges, public lands, cultural and historic sites, playgrounds and other recreation areas. Salt River Tubing has received a record four National Take Pride in America awards for the company’s conservation efforts in Tonto National Forest (1991, 2003, 2006 and 2010).
Shooting the Salt River rapids is great fun. Company officials recommend the following helpful tubing tips to assist tubers in planning their floating picnics for the holiday weekend:
- A valid driver’s license is required for a tube rental deposit per five tubes rented.
- Children must be 8 years or older and at least 4 feet tall for tubing and shuttle bus service.
- Life vests are strongly recommended for children, non-swimmers and inexperienced swimmers.
- Glass containers by law are not allowed at the Salt River and will be confiscated. Ice chests will be inspected for glass containers before boarding shuttle buses. Please use plastic bottles or aluminum cans.
- Have a great time during your floating picnics, but remember, drugs, alcohol and the Salt River do not mix. Responsibly appoint a designated driver before your tubing adventure.
- Floating picnic ideas: fresh fruit, burritos, fried chicken or sandwiches. Pack them in Ziploc bags to keep dry. Please stash and bag all picnic supplies in litter bags while floating.
- Ice chest/coolers—Fill with ice, sport drinks, fruit juice and water. To help prevent dehydration, consuming one to two bottles of water per hour is recommended while floating.
- Sun block, tennis shoes, cap or visor should be worn. A minimum 30 SPF is recommended.
For more information about Salt River Tubing and Recreation, please visit the website at
www.saltrivertubing.com, or call the Salt River Tubing headquarters at (480) 984-3305. The Memorial Day Weekend holiday operating hours are 8 a.m. to
6:30 p.m., with the latest tube rental at 2 p.m. (weather and water flow permitting).
The cost of tube rental is $17 per person/tube, and includes shuttle bus service. Salt River Tubing accepts cash only. Checks, debit or credit cards are not accepted.
Operating under permit of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Salt River Tubing is located in Tonto National Forest, on North Power Road. The fun is located just minutes from Highway 202 East and Power Road Exit 23A.
Check out Salt River Tubing’s latest slideshow on Salt River Heroes at our website, www.saltrivertubing.com, or go to player.vimeo.com/video/95605970. It’s fun to be a responsible, public lands steward.