Advice on Tubing Salt River with 4 Year Old

[ChadHahn]

I was wondering if it would be a good idea to take my 4 year old tubing on the Salt River. We would go during the week so hopefully there wouldn't be as many crazies.

I was thinking about getting a big four person tube with the mesh at the bottom for us to float on. How much water is there in the river now? Would we be doing a lot of dragging?

If you folks thought it would be advisable where are good places to put in an take out? We would take two vehicles and park the car at the take out spot and the truck at the put in.

Thanks for any advice.

Chad

[lamontagne]

FYI, Salt River Tubing will not allow anyone under the age of 8 to rent a tube.


There are two typical put-in's. If you want the 4-hour float, put-in at the at the base of the dam (big parking area, signage for the busses), how ever if you're doing the 2 hour float, you put-in at the Blue Point Rec area

With a 4-yo, I would recommend the Blue Point Rec area.

I would not EVER think of doing this without a life preserver/floatation device the child could not escape from. Also make sure the child has proper sun protection, ie...hat, long sleeve rash shirt, sun block, ect...

The flow is good right now at 1300 CFM and the water is COLD. Be safe and have fun!

[taggart_lumpy]

with him properly in a vest id try one of the family/party floatation devices. only down side to larger "tubes" if you dont flow as well with the current and tend to head to wards the bank in turns.

i used to go mid week and id bring a giant 12ft lake trampoline and float down on that. interesting to say the least.

as mentioned the water is super cold right now.

[TRegasaurus]

As the water is cold, a 4yo can easily suffer from hypothermia so make sure the child does not stay in the water too long, 30 minutes tops.

[ChadHahn]

I wrote a reply earlier and somehow it didn't get posted. Let's see if I can remember what I wrote.

If I put in at the Blue Point Rec Area, where would I take out?

We have a sun-proof swim shirt, hat, and good vest that she would be sure to wear. Costco has a four person raft that has a mesh floor and is about 8 feet in diameter that we were thinking about using. I'll have to look more closely at it to make sure that it's rugged enough for river travel.

Chad