Hoover Dam 12-Mile Kayak Tour
Paddle Black Canyon to hot springs and Emerald Cave
Duration
7.5–8 hrs on the water
Includes
Lunch, snacks, cold water
Highlights
Explore Black Canyon on a 12-mile Colorado River kayak route launching at the base of Hoover Dam. Pause for canyon walks, natural hot springs, and guided insight into the region's history and wildlife.
- Paddle beneath Black Canyon walls rising more than 1,000 feet
- Hike side canyons with your guide
- Soak in natural hot springs along the Colorado River
- Discover Sauna Cave, Falcon Cave, Arizona Hot Springs, and historic sites
- Stop at Emerald Cave for photos when sunlight creates its green glow
- Learn about local history, flora, fauna, and the American West's water resources
What's Included
- Cold water
- Snacks
- Lunch
Important details
- Arrive 15 minutes before departure
- Marijuana products are prohibited in Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Alcoholic beverages are not allowed while on the water
Cancellation Policy
No refunds are issued after park permits are purchased.
Product ID: YVXB76
FAQs
The tour price is self-drive to the launch location. Optional pick-up is available for an additional fee—confirm the amount with Greetwell before booking.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Wear a bathing suit if you plan to swim, and choose layers and quick-dry clothing. Wear sturdy footwear for rocky beaches and an optional short hike; you will get your feet wet getting in and out of the kayaks. Water shoes or strapped sandals work well; avoid flip flops.
You get cold water and snacks (fresh fruit, granola bars, chips). Lunch is included, and you will be contacted before your tour for your lunch preference.
More about Emerald Cave
Emerald Cave is the showpiece of the Colorado River just below Hoover Dam, a glowing alcove tucked into the canyon walls of Black Canyon where sunlight filters through the water and turns the pool inside a luminous shade of jade. Reaching Emerald Cave by kayak is the heart of this guided paddle, a journey that traces calm, glassy stretches of the Colorado River framed by towering volcanic cliffs, hidden coves, and the kind of desert silence you only find deep in the canyon. The contrast between the dry, sun-baked rock above and the cool green water below makes Emerald Cave one of the most photographed spots on the Lower Colorado, and seeing it from the seat of a kayak is by far the most rewarding way to arrive.
The tour eases you into the rhythm of the river before the main event at Emerald Cave. You will paddle past sheer canyon walls, drift over startlingly clear water, and pause to take in the quiet broken only by the dip of paddles and the occasional bighorn sheep on the cliffs. As you approach Emerald Cave, the canyon narrows and the light changes, deepening into that signature green glow when the sun hits the water at the right angle. Your guide will hold the group inside the cave long enough to soak in the cool air, snap photos, and feel the strange hush of the rock chamber, then lead you back out along sandy beaches and warm-water side pockets perfect for a swim.
This trip suits curious travelers who want a slower, scenic adventure rather than whitewater thrills, including first-time kayakers, couples, families with older kids, and photographers chasing that famous green light. If you love national parks, geology, and quiet places that feel genuinely remote, paddling the Colorado River into Emerald Cave is the kind of half-day escape from Las Vegas you will be talking about long after the desert sun sets.
