Site Open

Water Users Day Use Area

Water Users is a popular site for kayakers and tubers. As one of the main points of river access for tubers, Water Users can become very busy during summer months. Beyond water access, Water Users also offers the opportunity to picnic with friends and family, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching. Motorized boats are not allowed to launch at this site.

There is only one shade ramada with a table & grill. This site is most popular as a launch site; most picnickers choose other recreation sites with additional picnic tables further down stream or they set up their own chairs and wade in the cool water along the shore.

More photos available here.

General Information

Open Season: Year round

Day Use Only; no overnight camping.

Site reaches capacity on busy summer weekends and may be closed when full. Plan ahead and arrive early, and plan for alternative locations if the site is closed.

The links below provide additional information on pricing and purchasing information.

Tonto Daily Pass (and Watercraft Sticker, if required). Available at Tonto National Forest Offices and retail vendors (please call for availability).
Tonto Discovery Pass. Available at Tonto National Forest Offices.
America the Beautiful Interagency Passes. Available at Tonto National Forest Offices and online at USGS.gov.
Tonto Fee Machine Pass. Nearest locations are as follows: Pebble Beach, Saguaro Del Norte, Palo Verde, and Phon D Sutton.

Restrictions

Day Use Only. No overnight camping
Only trailers under 16' allowed. There is no designated trailer parking; do not park across multiple parking spaces or block other vehicles. The preferred method is to "pull through" the diagonal parking if you have a trailer.
No motorized boats allowed
Pets must be on leash at all times
No glass containers in the Lower Salt River area
To avoid injury wear shoes when wading in the river
Caution: Fallen trees and other materials in the river can trap swimmers and floaters
Beware: Alcohol, sun, and water are a deadly combination

Day Use: $8/vehicle/day.
Tonto Fee Machine Pass: $12
Tonto Forest Passes are Honored: $80/annual; $60/senior/access annual.

Front view of the Mesa Ranger Station building with a clear sky in the background.

Address: 5140 E Ingram St, Mesa, AZ 85205
Phone: (480) 610-3300
Hours: Open Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 12:30 p.m.) Passes, permits and products not sold after 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 33.555518

Longitude: -111.543833

Elevation

1,400 Feet

Directions

This site is located 19 miles northeast of Mesa. From Mesa, travel 7 miles east on the Superstition Freeway (US 60) to Power Road /Bush Highway/Forest Road (FR) 204 and turn north. Follow Bush Highway for 11 miles to FR 169, and turn right. Follow FR 169 five miles to the site. The entire route is paved. View and download a map.

Parking

NOTE: This parking lot reaches capacity on busy summer weekends. Plan ahead and arrive early, and plan for alternative parking locations such as Pebble Beach Recreation Site, Sheeps Crossing Recreation Site, or Phon D Sutton Recreation Site. Do not park illegally or park along Bush Highway in No Parking Zones. Illegal parking may be subject to fines and/or towing. Please recreate and drive responsibly.