Salt River Tubing set to open on Saturday with safety in mind

PHOENIX — Arizona’s recreational activities are starting to flicker back to life after shutting down due to the coronavirus outbreak, as Salt River Tubing is set to open on Saturday with new safety procedures.

Salt River Tubing, located in the Tonto National Forest, will require a face covering when people rent or return a tube, and when traveling on the shuttle buses to and from the Salt River.

The company will for a limited time be distributing free bandanas for people to wear as face coverings, if necessary.

Replacement bandanas cost $5 each.

Employees will also be wearing face coverings and gloves, with daily temperature checks being taken.

Social distancing techniques are being implemented, as a plan has been set in place to keep people separated on beach areas while awaiting the tube rental process and the company’s 72 buses will downsize passenger counts to 15 people per bus.

The shuttle buses will also be disinfected nightly.

Salt River Tubing will be open for seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The experience, which includes tube rental, shuttle bus service and free parking, costs $19 plus tax.

The activity is opening after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s “stay-at-home” executive order will expire as scheduled at 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

The state is entering the first phase of reopening, which includes the return of dine-in service at restaurants and the allowance of stores, movie theatres, gyms and pools to resume operation following CDC guidelines.

The Arizona health department reported nearly 500 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the state total to 12,674 with 624 deaths.

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