Las Vegas Kayaking Tours

Las Vegas Kayak Tours - Colorado River & Black Canyon

Join us for a professionally guided kayak tour of the Black Canyon and the Colorado River! We'll scour the banks for Desert Bighorn Sheep, view the Hoover Dam from the river, learn about the history of the river from knowledgeable guides, paddle into Emerald Cave, and take in awe-inspiring views of the legendary Colorado River. On this 4-mile round-trip tour of the beautiful Black Canyon, you'll enjoy our round-trip shuttle service from the Las Vegas strip in our comfortable Mercedes Sprinter.

Half Day Tour

After picking you up on the Las Vegas strip, we'll take a brief stop at our headquarters at the Hoover Dam Lodge before heading to the river. You will arrive at Willow Beach where your guide will get you prepared for the day ahead and fitted into your kayaks. You'll be able to select between a double kayak or a single kayak.

We'll set off on our journey paddling upstream into Black Canyon. Make sure to scour the banks to be the first to spot Desert Big Horn Sheep, or look above and see if there are any Bald Eagles. This section of the Colorado River is full of wildlife!

Your first stop will be one mile upstream at a historical overlook, that will give you awe-inspiring views of the legendary Colorado River. Enjoy a complimentary snack while your guide will explain the immense history of what the river was used for close to 100 years ago!

Finally, enjoy the beautiful green waters of Emerald Cave before your group kayaks back to Willow Beach.

Twilight Tour

Come enjoy a special night under the stars with our guided Twilight Paddle tour. We'll paddle in the same area as the half-day trip but with the serene ambiance of an evening paddle.

Your courtesy shuttle will pick you up from the Las Vegas strip, and we'll arrive at the river by 6:00 pm to get fitted for kayaks. We will launch our kayaks from Willow Beach with plenty of light left to enjoy the beautiful Black Canyon. After a two-mile paddle, you will see the sunset from the shores of the Colorado River, toasting marshmallows next to a roaring fire.

On the way back downstream, the stars will begin to shine and a peaceful quiet will descend upon the river. This is an amazing opportunity to experience the solitude and grandeur of the Canyon.

Duration of Adventure

• 4 miles round-trip
• Approx. 3 hours on the water (Approx. 5-6 hours in total with pick up and drop off)

Location / Where to Meet

We provide complimentary round-trip transportation from select hotels on the Las Vegas Strip/Downtown area: Golden Nugget, Stratosphere, Circus Circus, Wynn and Encore Hotels, Treasure Island, Aria, Flamingo, Ceasar's Palace, Bellagio, Paris, and Excalibur.

We also provide complimentary round-trip transportation from our headquarters at the Hoover Dam Lodge.

Blazin Paddles Home Office 18000 US 93 Boulder City NV 89005

You'll be able to select your pickup location at checkout. If you're not staying at one of the hotels listed, most other hotels on the strip are a 10-minute walk, so you can select the one closest to you.

You may also choose to meet the tour at the Willow Beach Marina departure area. Please note that if you meet us at the marina, you are responsible for your entrance fees to the National Park. If you're opting for this option, just send us an email after booking to let us know.

Ages

• Half-day tour: Ages 8+
• Twilight Tour: Ages 14+

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

What's Included

• Experienced guides
• Complimentary round-trip transportation
• All necessary kayaking equipment, such as kayak, paddles, and personal flotation device.
• Complimentary snacks and bottled water.
• Park permits for those who take advantage of our complimentary transportation.
• The twilight tour includes a riverside campfire with hot dogs and s'mores 

Not Included

• Park permit for those who choose to meet the tour at Willow Beach Marina
• Waterproof phone cases, dry bags, water shoes, and hats are available for purchase at our office
• Gratuity

What to Bring / Wear

• Clothing appropriate for the weather. We recommend quick-drying athletic outdoor clothing.
• Swimwear: During our warmer months, you will have the opportunity to swim! You can wear your swimwear under your clothes.
• Closed-toed shoes that can get wet: We always recommend closed-toe water shoes or sneakers you do not mind getting wet because we will be on rocky desert terrain, in and out of the water.
• Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sun protection
• Dry bags for personal belongings are recommended
• Cash to spend at the Marina store after your trip
• Government-issued ID

FAQ

Can we bring drinks on the river? Unfortunately, any alcohol before or during the tour is not allowed.

Where can we store our personal belongings? Blazin’ Paddles does not provide any lockers. The less you bring, the better. If you have personal belongings you can store them in your kayak hatches; however, we can not guarantee it will stay dry. If you need to protect any of your belongings from getting wet, please use some type of waterproof protection or dry bag. We do sell waterproof phone cases and dry bags at our office before the tour. Please try to leave purses, handbags, and other bulky items at home, in your hotel, or car.

What kind of kayaks do we paddle, and which are best for children? You'll be able to select either a single kayak or a tandem kayak. Having said that, if you are a couple or a family and have never been kayaking OR it’s been a while since you’ve hit the gym, we thoroughly recommend that you consider using a double kayak. If you have booked the tour on your own, you are welcome to join a guide in a double. Not only are double kayaks easier to paddle, they are less likely to flip. The more chance there is of wind on your tour, the more you ought to consider using a double. If you weigh less than 120 lbs and do not regularly work on upper body strength, you may also want to consider a double kayak.

Children less than 16 years old should be in a double kayak with a parent for the twilight tour. Kids 14 and up who are athletic are typically successful in a single kayak on the half-day tour unless the wind comes up. Children under 14 should be in a double kayak with a parent on the half-day tour. If the weather report calls for any wind during your tour, we strongly advise families to use double kayaks for all of their children.

Do the kayaks flip? We provide you with top-of-the-line 15 -17 foot touring kayaks that glide on the water. You are sacrificing the stability that you would normally get with smaller 12-foot recreational kayaks. Flipping, although rare, does happen from time to time. All of our guides are trained to get you back into your boats safely, and in a timely fashion. Don’t worry; the water is too cold for the rattlesnakes! If you are concerned about flipping, please consider using a double kayak, which is much harder to flip. Always ensure that the hatches are securely fastened to avoid losing your valuables if you do flip! We are not responsible for lost items.

Will we see wildlife during the tour? There is always a possibility of seeing some of the desert wildlife during our tours; as we will be in the Lake Mead National Recreational Area. Our guides are habitually on the lookout to spot big horn sheep, coyotes, eagles, and much more for you!

I've never been kayaking before. Can I do this tour? Whether this is your first time in a kayak or you're a seasoned veteran, we invite all skill levels to enjoy the beautiful Black Canyon! The crystal clear water of the Colorado River is quite tame in this area since you will be paddling between two dams.

I cannot swim. Should I go on the tour? If you are willing to face your fears of the water, we are willing to take you. It is the law enforced by the National Park Rangers to be wearing your life jacket when on the water at all times, so those who cannot swim will have no problem on this kayak trip!

Is there a weight limit for the kayaks? Our kayaks can accommodate most paddlers! Our tandem double kayaks have a maximum combined weight of approximately 600 lbs.

Will there be time for swimming? We'll visit beautiful beaches where you can enjoy the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Colorado River!

How many people will be on my tour? We are a small group operator. There will rarely be more than 14 people on a tour and usually 12.

Are there restrooms available before we head to the river? After we pick everyone up, we stop at our store inside the Hoover Dam Lodge to fill out liability waivers and use the restrooms before we head to the river. You will have the opportunity to purchase any last-minute merchandise at that time.

Do I need to bring water or snacks? We provide you with enough water and snacks on all of our tours, but you are more than welcome to bring your own.

Should we bring a camera? Absolutely! You will have breathtaking scenic views all day, no matter which tour you decide to go on. You will have compartments on your kayak that will be able to store your personal belongings. However, these compartments only work as well as you fit the cap on correctly. If you are worried about ruining your camera please bring a dry bag, or purchase a waterproof phone case at our store before embarkation.

Can we bring our dog? We love all of our pets and we know you do, too. However, that may not be the case for all of our guests, so please leave your pets at home. It is our policy not to allow pets on our kayak tours.

Why does the shuttle only have certain hotel pick-ups on the Las Vegas strip? The tour shuttle has specific pick-up locations on the Las Vegas Strip to ensure that our guests spend the least amount of time on the tour bus. We have picked hotels with quick and easy access to the back streets so we can spend less time in traffic and more time on the river. If you are staying at a different hotel on the strip other than the allotted locations, it should be no more than a 10-minute walk to the closest pick-up. You may also meet us at our office or the launch site if you prefer less time on the shuttle.

If I'm planning to meet you at Willow Beach, what should I know? You'll need to arrive 15 minutes before launch time. Please allow yourself plenty of time to get there as it can sometimes take as long as 90 minutes to get to Willow Beach from the Las Vegas strip.

How long does it take to get to the river? For the half-day tour, it will take about 20 minutes from the last pick-up at our store inside the Hoover Dam Lodge to get to the river. Our office is about 40 minutes from the Strip, depending on traffic on the route to the river. The total length of time, of course, depends on how many hotel pickups there are and what Strip traffic is like but can be as much as 90 minutes.

What if the weather is bad? We run our tours rain or shine! However, if are going to experience inclement weather that may be deemed unsafe, we reserve the right to cancel any tour departure for weather/safety reasons and will provide a full refund for any tour canceled by the company. The decision is made by the head guide the day before your tour date (as close as we can get to looking at the weather forecast). We will either send out a confirmation for your tour or let you know the options if the tour is canceled.

There is a high heat warning in Las Vegas. Is it still safe to go? Summers on the river can easily be over 110 degrees. Luckily the water is a crisp, refreshing 52 degrees which makes your time on the water very enjoyable with options to swim in the crystal clear Colorado River and mess around with squirt guns. Due to this beautiful cold water, we will never cancel our tours because it’s too hot or high heat warnings in the area. You are more than welcome to cancel within 48 hour hours of your tour (please see our cancellation policy below for full details). Kayaking on the river with us is where you should be when it's hot!

Do we encounter wind? It is always a possibility that we will encounter some wind on the tour. Your guide will give you a brief before the start of the day on what to expect and how to deal with it if it happens. Sadly, sometimes we have to cancel our tours because of bad weather conditions. We know that you have been looking forward to this for a long time, but we pride ourselves on your safety and would never sacrifice that to take you out in dangerous weather. Of course, all cancellations on our part are a full money-back guarantee or a reschedule to a better day.

What time will we be done and back to the strip? For the 10:30 am half-day tour, you are done on the water about 1:30 pm. Your tour guides will need a moment to reload the kayaks and equipment and the river is about 45 minutes from town. We normally get our guests back to the Las Vegas Strip around 3 pm-4 pm depending on how many drop-offs there will be for the day and as long as there is no traffic or accidents along the way that is out of our control! The twilight tour depends on the time of year, but normally between 10 pm-12 am.