I did not realize seeing the Salt River wild horses roaming freely through the Arizona desert was on my bucket list until it happened, but it definitely was. The Salt River Recreation Area, located just outside Phoenix in Tonto National Forest, is one of the best places in Arizona to look for them.
Visitors can also kayak, tube, paddleboard, swim, fish, and relax along the Lower Salt River, so the area is still enjoyable even when the horses do not appear. During our visit to Coon Bluff Recreation Area, we saw at least 15 horses, making this one of my favorite experiences near Phoenix.
The Salt River wild horses live along the Lower Salt River in Tonto National Forest. Several recreation areas provide access to the river, walking paths, and potential horse-viewing areas.
We visited Coon Bluff Recreation Area, one of the most popular places to look for the horses. It has easy access to the river and several paths where you can walk along the riverbanks while watching for wildlife.
Since the horses roam freely, they are not confined to one specific viewing area. You may see them beside the river, grazing in the desert, crossing a path, or not see them at all.
A friend who lives in Arizona told me about the Salt River wild horses, and I immediately wanted to see them while we were near Phoenix. There are not many places in the United States where you can watch wild horses roam freely through the desert, so it quickly became a priority for our trip.
Even if we had not seen the horses, I still think the desert scenery and peaceful river would have made the drive worthwhile.
Thankfully, the horses showed up.
Yes. We saw at least 15 horses during our visit.
We purposely waited until later in the afternoon because we had heard that the horses sometimes move closer to the river toward the evening. I am so glad we did.
We watched them quietly graze and wander through the desert near the river. Since they are completely wild, the experience felt very different from seeing horses in a managed attraction or enclosed area.
Coon Bluff Recreation Area is located along the Lower Salt River in Tonto National Forest. It is a good choice for visitors who want easy access to both the river and walking paths without a difficult hike.
The area includes:
We spent our time walking the mostly flat paths and exploring the riverbanks while looking for horses. I would not come here expecting a traditional Salt River hike. The walk is easy and suitable for most visitors, but the opportunity to see wild horses roaming through the Sonoran Desert is the real reason to visit.
For a challenging hike with elevation and scenic overlooks, Sedona has much better options. My Best Easy Hikes in Sedona for Beginners is helpful if you want more established trails that are still manageable for a first visit.
Coon Bluff Recreation Area is approximately 35 to 40 minutes east of downtown Phoenix inside Tonto National Forest.
It is an easy half-day trip from:
The recreation areas along the Salt River are reached from the area around Usery Pass Road. Follow the directions to Coon Bluff Recreation Area rather than entering only “Salt River” into your navigation app, since the Lower Salt River includes several different access points.
There is a parking lot at Coon Bluff, and parking was straightforward during our visit.
You will need a Tonto National Forest day-use pass unless you have a qualifying federal recreation pass. Purchase or arrange your pass before arriving so you do not have to figure it out from the parking lot.
A rental car is the simplest way to reach the Salt River from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, or Tempe. You can compare prices through Discover Cars before your trip.
We arrived later in the afternoon, which worked perfectly for us. The temperature was beginning to cool, the light was better for photos, and we had excellent luck seeing the horses near the river.
I would recommend visiting early in the morning or a couple of hours before sunset, especially during warmer months when the middle of the day can be extremely hot.
Give yourself enough time to walk around and wait. This is not an experience where you should expect to park, immediately find a herd, take a photo, and leave 20 minutes later.
The Salt River Recreation Area is open throughout the year, but spring and fall usually provide the most comfortable weather for walking and spending time along the river.
During summer, avoid visiting in the middle of the day whenever possible. Arizona temperatures can become dangerously hot, and there is limited shade in parts of the recreation area.
Summer visitors can combine horse watching with Salt River tubing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or swimming, which makes the heat easier to manage.
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Seeing the wild horses may be the main attraction, but it is not the only reason people visit the Lower Salt River.
Popular activities include:
One of my friends kayaks here regularly and absolutely loves it. Horses are sometimes visible from the water, which would make an already scenic paddle even more memorable.
If you are looking for more outdoor experiences while you are in Arizona, my Best Things to Do in Sedona for First-Time Visitors (14 Can't-Miss Experiences) covers hikes, scenic drives, tours, viewpoints, and other activities.
Many visitors spend several hours floating along the Lower Salt River, and some are lucky enough to see the horses from the water.
Next time, I would love to rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the area that way.
A dry bag would help keep your phone, wallet, and other essentials protected during a float. I would also bring water shoes for walking along rocky or uneven sections near the river.
Plan to spend at least one to two hours exploring Coon Bluff Recreation Area.
You may need additional time if the horses are not visible when you first arrive. They move throughout the area, so walking farther along the river or waiting quietly may improve your chances.
Visitors who plan to kayak, swim, tube, or picnic could easily spend half a day or longer along the Salt River.
You could pair the Salt River with lunch or dinner in Phoenix. My Best Restaurants in Phoenix: Where to Eat for Every Craving includes casual options, special-occasion restaurants, and several places I would return to.
Bring more water than you think you will need, especially during warmer months.
I would pack:
Even if you only plan to spend an hour or two at Coon Bluff, the Arizona sun can be intense. The easy terrain does not mean you should arrive unprepared.
A Brita Water Bottle is useful for carrying water while walking around the recreation area. I would also apply face sunscreen before arriving and bring Coola Spray Sunscreen to reapply throughout the afternoon.
A small Osprey backpack is large enough for water, snacks, sunscreen, and a few camera accessories without feeling excessive for an easy walk.
Yes. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but seeing the horses graze and wander freely through the Sonoran Desert was one of my favorite experiences near Phoenix. Coon Bluff is easy to visit in a half day, and next time I would add a kayak or paddleboard rental so I could explore the area from the water.
Wendy’s Tip: Arrive early in the morning or a couple of hours before sunset, give yourself plenty of time, and bring a zoom lens so you can photograph the horses from a safe distance.
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Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
