Colorado River Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Colorado River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Grand Canyon + Hoover Dam View + WiFi (Skywalk/lunch options)

• Award Winning 3-Hour Hoover Dam Small Group Mini Tour From Vegas

• Half-Day Emerald Cave Kayak Tour With Optional Hotel Pickup

• Small Group Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, 7 Magic Mountains VIP Tour

• Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle With Optional Shuttle

While it’s free to visit the Colorado River on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you explore the area with a guide or take to the water for activities like paddleboarding or kayaking. Hoover Dam–specific excursions begin around US$70, kayaking trips start at US$80, and tours that also explore the Grand Canyon cost from US$80.

Yes, the Colorado River is worth visiting—the river is one of the United States' great waterways, and is an iconic part of the American West. It's blocked at the Hoover Dam, can be admired from Horseshoe Bend, and created the Grand Canyon. The river stretches for a staggering 1,400 miles (2,253 kilometers), and Las Vegas is a good jumping-off point for discovering it—tours with included transportation offer an easier way of getting there.

Per one customer who booked the Small-Group Emerald Cave Kayak Tour on Colorado River, "This was the perfect introduction to kayaking for our family, who had never kayaked. Blair was patient, informative and kind—from the prompt pickup and drop-off at our hotel to his expansive knowledge of the area and its hidden gems. We had a very small group (my family of four and a handful of others), and he knew at all times where everyone was on the water!"

Colorado River tours go from laid-back, flat-water float trips to white-water rafting, kayaking, speed boating, hiking, and biking. Helicopter tours of the Colorado River are a great way to get a sense of the river's massive scale—they're a dramatic glimpse of the waterway as it flows through the Grand Canyon.

Rafting trips generally take place from April–October. While water levels peak in spring in some areas, the river's flow through the Grand Canyon reflects dam releases rather than melting snow. Warm, sunny days mean April and September–October are the best times to raft the Grand Canyon.

Yes, booking Colorado River ticket options in advance is a good idea. It's essential for travelers planning trips through the Grand Canyon, where limited permits are available. Some Grand Canyon trips fill up a year ahead of time, though due to cancellations, spaces often become available 2–4 months before departure.

Dress in moisture-wicking layers of quick-drying synthetic clothing, and avoid cotton fabrics that can be cold when wet. Other Colorado River essentials include sunglasses (with a tether), a brimmed hat, and sturdy shoes you don't mind getting wet. Running shoes and sports sandals with secure straps are both popular options.

Yes, you can see the Colorado River in a helicopter—it's especially spectacular at the Grand Canyon. Helicopter tours depart from Las Vegas, the West Rim, and the South Rim. Some helicopter flights touch down below the rim so you can see the river from within the Grand Canyon.

The desert sun can be intense year-round, so come prepared with waterproof sunscreen, sunglasses (with a tether), and a wide-brimmed hat. Sturdy shoes such as sneakers or sports sandals are a must, and if you think you might get wet, plan to wear moisture-wicking clothing that will dry quickly.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Colorado River. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Las Vegas:

• Hoover Dam

• Las Vegas Strip

• Grand Canyon Skywalk

• Grand Canyon West Rim

• Fremont Street Experience

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Las Vegas.