Salt River Canyon Wilderness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salt River Canyon Wilderness |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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Salt River Canyon
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 Salt River Canyon Wilderness
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gila County, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Claypool, Arizona |
| Area | 32,101 acres (12,991 ha) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Salt River Canyon Wilderness is a special protected area in Arizona, USA. It covers about 32,101 acres (13,000 hectares) and is part of the Tonto National Forest. This wilderness area was created in 1984 to protect its natural beauty.
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Exploring the Salt River Canyon Wilderness
This amazing wilderness is cut right through by the Salt River and its very deep canyon. The land here changes a lot in height. At the lowest part of the canyon, it's about 2,200 feet (671 meters) above sea level. But if you go up to White Ledge Mountain, it reaches about 4,200 feet (1,280 meters).
Visiting the Canyon: When and How
You can visit the Salt River Canyon Wilderness almost any time of the year. However, there are no official trails to walk on inside the wilderness. Most people explore this area by going on the river itself.
River Adventures: Rafting and Kayaking
The best way to see the canyon is often by raft or kayak. There's a short season for river trips, usually from March 1 to May 15. If you plan to go during these dates, you'll need a special visitor permit. Also, groups are limited to 15 people to help protect the area.
White-water rafting on the Salt River is quite popular. The river has 27 sets of exciting rapids, which are fast-moving parts of the river. There are also many smaller creeks you can explore along the way.
Getting There: Roads Through the Canyon
U.S. Route 60 and Arizona State Route 77 both wind their way through the canyon. These roads go down close to the river at the bottom. Then, they cross the river and climb back up the other side. This drive offers amazing views of the canyon.
