Saguaro Lake Stand Up Paddleboarding

Get ready to walk on water! Join us and experience the desert from a thrilling new perspective while on the deck of a Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP). Our guided SUP tour is a perfect introduction to stand up paddling. A SUP is similar to a surf board and allows for a standing/paddling form of on-water recreation and touring.

On this tour, we learn the basics of launching and landing, techniques for balancing, kneeling and standing, and how to turn and navigate on gentle water. We’ll also have a great opportunity to learn about the amazing ecosystem of a desert river, and see some of flora and fauna which make this such a unique habitat.

This tour is appropriate for anyone with good physical fitness, a willingness to learn a new skill, and a modest sense of adventure.

All of our guided SUP tours take place near Phoenix on Saguaro Lake or the Lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest.

The Salt River is a Class I river (the easiest rating on the international scale of river difficulty) and provides some of the best wildlife and bird watching opportunities in the Southwest.  Water temperatures are in the 60s in the winter and rise to low 80s in the summer months. Swimming is possible year‐round, but the water may be chilly in January!

Tours typically last about 4 hours and are available on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings and commence at AOA’s office in North Scottsdale. AOA transports all equipment to and from the river and provides water and snacks for the duration of the tour.