This is my favorite area near home. Today we will talk about some Salt River photography spots. You can catch sunrises and sunsets here, so that’s a perk to the area.
During monsoon season, you can shoot during the days if the clouds present themselves over the deserts. I have gotten some of my most dramatic shots of the landscapes in the area during the mid-day, as long as the moody clouds were present.
The morning was, like nearly all Arizona mornings, clear and beautiful.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
My favorite time to hit the area is always sunrise. I appreciate the quietness of the area before too many people arrive. I also enjoy spotting birds as the light enters the day, and you can often find birds (and horses) near the water.
Coon Bluff
Coon Bluff is a great area to hit if you don’t have much time in the area and can only choose one. The reason for that is because it has a little bit of everything. Birding will be abundant as probably the second most popular spot in the area for a species list if you enjoy that.
Along the road, you have a fair chance to see some wild horses. And of course, if you want to see, fish, or enjoy the river, you have easy access to this parking lot and area.
This is also a popular camping area, which is allowed during the cooler times of the year. Read about camping in the Coon Bluff area.
After parking, you can hike up the small mountainous area and get a great view with some elevation from the river area. Up high also offers a pleasant view of Four Peaks.
The other option is to head towards the water and all the surrounding trees, which offer lots of trails and much to see.
Granite Reef
For photography, this part of the Salt River offers epic sunrises, and this location is just about the second most premiere spot in the Phoenix area for checking bird species off your birding list!
It’s also the most popular area for kayaking and paddle boards. If you like to get out on the water, not much beats a morning on the river here.
You can venture onto either side of the parking lot once there. One direction leads to the dam you can see from the parking lot, and the other leads away near the river. Though sometimes, this trail has lots of shrubberies to work through.
Water Users
For some Salt River Photography, this location has some incredible mountain views right across the river. It’s a great location to hit with clouds and just before or after a storm. I’ve also had good luck spotting river otters here!
If you get lucky, you can see river otters in the water here, which seems to be a common spot for them. You will want to park near the back of the parking lot, as the main part of the lot is used for people enjoying the river for tubing and kayaking. It’s the most popular launch area. Tubing is only offered from late May to Sept, so in the other parts of the year, you do not need to be concerned with this and the parking.
Don’t Forget the Lake
And if you’re in the area and have time, you might as well hit Saguaro Lake! This is another go-to spot in the area for me if there is potential for sunrise colors. You can grab a great sunrise from the lake’s main entrance, or you can go back behind to Butcher Jones area and look for birds, wild horses, and a great view of the Lake.
Water is a desert’s gold.
Matshona Dhliwayo
If you go to the backside of the lake to visit Butcher Jones area, then note the mountains in the distance, you will see the perfectly named “Four Peaks.” Be sure to take a photo of the peaks. They are quite iconic to the peeps in Arizona.
Different Seasons
Some Salt River photography spots can present different and unique situations for the four seasons.
Provide distinct styles for interactive elements, such as links and buttons, to make them easy to identify. For example, “change the appearance of links” on mouse hover, “keyboard focus”.
Don’t Forget A Tonto Pass
This last part is important. If you are stopping anywhere inside the Tonto National Forest and these day-use areas, you need a pass. You can read about these $8 passes here. I use the America the Beautiful National Parks annual pass as it covers this area, too, so that’s a nice perk! I hope you can get out here for some Salt River Photography! Learn more about me.
