Salt River Area near N Bush Highway

In my pursuit of wildlife photography, I am experimenting with ebikes to see if they can help me get further into the backcountry and move quickly to take advantage of changing conditions while carrying heavy equipment. This article reviews my experience with my first offroad test with my bee cool adventure ebike and the location’s qualities from the perspective of an ebike rider.

The salt river area is a pristine preserve with many mesquite trees and wildlife. I have made a couple of videos filming the wild horses and the kayak trips I have taken down the river, but today I will talk about it from the perspective of riding an ebike. 

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITY (9/10)

The salt river area is a pristine preserve with many mesquite trees and wildlife. I have made a couple of videos filming the wild horses and the kayak trips I have taken down the river, but today I will talk about it from the perspective of riding an ebike mostly. If you are looking for a location that is near the city where you can see a wide variety of animals, this is probably the best spot for a guaranteed experience.

HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THE SALT RIVER (9/10)

First off, the area is extremely accessible. I drove my Toyota Prius and have been many times without any problems. There are lots of designated parking lots with paved roads connecting with the North Bush Highway. So any motorized vehicle will have no issue finding parking. The only issue is the paved parking lots; you must have a tonto pass. I use the America The Beautiful Pass, which is accepted there. You can also park along the highway in one of the many dirt lots for free, but they are farther from the water.

I am taking one point away from accessibility because it does not have a paved trail that the handicapped community could use. There are some easily accessed park areas, but they have limited paths.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO RIDE THE ELECTRIC BIKE (6/10)

The trail along the river is a compilation of maintained cattle trails, but there are pathways along the river spanning the twelve-mile stretch. On this trip, I rode Three miles off-road and three miles in the highways bike lane. A wide shoulder on the highway makes it extremely popular with bikers. The area next to the river is filled with river rocks and sand, which discourages the majority of bikers from exploring these trails. The herd of wild horses has carved a web of paths that a rider could spend days exploring if they are willing to fight sand and rubble. It was a refreshing challenge made feasible because I was on an electric bike.

The benefit of using an electric bike is that it gives you that extra bit of oomph to make it past the complex parts of a wild trail. I turned off my pedal assist and used my throttle intermittently to boost myself through patches of sand or up hills that usually would have brought me to a standstill. I got a great workout but was still feeling fresh and ready for the next day. Adding the electric motor and wide treads of my Beecool Adventure took out the harshest parts of riding off-road. 

I feel that the majority of adult biking enthusiasts could go down these paths and enjoy them, but this trail would be very difficult for someone who was a child or had a lower physical ability. This is not an area to see entire families enjoying. It is for people who like the bumps and thrills of toppling in the sand and the rumble of ridding over mini boulders.

HOW SECLUDED IS THE AREA (4/10)

The area is evolving, and I see more and more people exploring it yearly. This is wonderful but creates some challenges for wildlife photography. It is a popular area, and it is starting to feel congested. Going on weekends or in the middle of summer, you will find a rush for the best parking and crowds at the popular locations. I recommend making sure you have the right pass and going early in the morning on off days to escape the crowds. Once you are on the trails, you are likely to see a dozen or so people sporadically, but the further you get from the parking lots, the more secluded you can find yourself. This area is not nearly as occupied at night, so it can be a fun spot for camping excursions.

HOW SAFE IS THE AREA? (8/10)

As far as how dangerous and exposed are you in this area? It is not very dangerous at all. With the popularity of visitors and the accessibility of the highway, you are in one of the safest places to explore the beautiful desert landscapes of Arizona. This place is amiable for the person who isn’t experienced with going into the outdoors. The only reason I would lower the score is because there are no designated safety officers in the immediate vicinity. There are no lifeguards or park rangers waiting at the parking lot to watch over you. There is a station, and the highway is patrolled regularly, so help is minutes away rather than hours. 

TOTAL SCORE (36/50)

This is one of my favorite areas, and I am happy to share it because the more people who enjoy the outdoors, the more people will invest in protecting our wild spaces. I hope that this guide helps your adventure. I look forward to doing more ebike wildlife adventures.