The Gila River is a massive 649-mile-long river that is also a part of the Colorado River. It flows through Arizona and New Mexico. Along this river, you will find some outstanding views of the area that it flows through. Therefore, it is very popular among many locals and tourists who love to go floating in the Gila River.
The Beauty of the Gila River
As a tributary of the Colorado River and then having two other tributaries that lead south of the border, into Mexico, this river offers a lot of amazing views and experiences. There is only one major dam, the Coolidge Dam, but there are several smaller diversion dams. It also links to the Salt River, where you can find the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. Because of its extensive length and the fact that it is through some of the United States most beautiful areas, the river is used as a recreational area for many outdoor lovers.
Things to Do on the Gila
This river is navigable during the spring thaw and remains that way through the summer and autumn storms. While floating down it, you will be able to float through lazy canyons and also find some whitewater areas. It is located in the desert, so you will have a chance of an erratic flow area or flash flooding in some areas. You should check the river to make sure that it is usable for what you want to enjoy before you venture out. If it is rapids that you are seeking, you may also want to visit the Salt River tributary where there are some Class IV rapids. If you simply want to relax and watch the world as you float down the Gila, you will enjoy taking along specific gear for it. The raft, canoe, or inflatable kayak are all a given for white watering, but you may also want to take along smaller floats for the lazier parts of the river. When white watering, you will need helmets and other things to ensure that you are safe.
Floating in Style
People show up at the river with all types of floats for their family to enjoy. They use large rafts so that everyone can relax together, and they use smaller rafts for separate adventures. They also take along supplies that they will need for the day. This includes fresh water to drink and perhaps other types of beverages which they store in a floating cooler with speakers. They take sunblock and insect repellent, fresh clothes to change into after their float downstream. They take maps of the river so that they can ensure they do not end up in dangerous areas, snacks to eat while they are drifting along, and cameras to capture memories of their day out on the river. Most people who choose to take a larger raft or small boat drifting down the river will carry paddles to ensure they are going to stay away from dangerous rocks and repair kits to ensure that if they hit a rock, they are not stranded. All this goes to prove that on the Gila River, anything is possible.