Hoover Dam Kayak Tour with Shuttle - Hot Springs & Emerald Cave
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Las Vegas, USA
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
If you're looking for a nature break from Las Vegas, spend a day paddling down the Colorado River on this small-group kayak tour that starts from the iconic Hoover Dam. Experienced river guides will get you geared up and ready for the voyage, no matter what your experience level, so you can enjoy the stunning scenery of the Black Canyon. Take breaks along the way at waterfalls, natural hot springs, and a sauna cave.
- Choose from a double or single kayak or stand-up paddleboard
- Hassle-free shuttle transport from Mandalay Bay Hotel
- Enjoy natural hot springs and look for desert wildlife along the way
- Includes all kayak and safety gear plus healthy snacks and water
What's Included
- 8-Hour Kayak Tour from the Hoover Dam
- Choice of single or double kayaks and all safety equipment
- Professional Guide
- LunchWe provide a healthy sandwich, bananas and granola bars - if you have any food allergies or sensitivities please bring your own snacks
- Bottled water
- Private transportation
- Gratuities
- Government Fees$31.80 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.7:00 am
What To Expect
1
Hoover Dam
2
Emerald Cove
3
Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs
4
Arizona Hot Springs
5
Colorado River
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We recommend you bring: hat, sunglasses, sunblock, swimsuit, towel.
- Some kind of water shoes is a must for this adventure (over one mile hiking).
- Depending on the time of the year layered clothing is recommended.
- The booking does not include the National Park permit that is $30 (+$1.80 booking fee) per adult and $15 (+$1 booking fee) for ages 16 or under. The operator will contact you after your booking is made to arrange the permit. Launching permits are non-refundable.
- This tour is not recommended for anyone with physical disabilities or with heart, shoulder or back problem
- Maximum weight limit is 300lb/person
- No Alcohol or Smoking Allowed.
- Please consider this, the Hoover Dam adventure is recommended only for physically fit people. We do not recommend this activity to anyone with a heart condition, back problems, shoulder problems or any medical or physical limitation. This tour is pretty physical and requires stamina. This tour is a total of 12 miles of kayaking and 2 miles hiking. (It's NOT a leisure FLOAT)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (11)
Q:How do I arrange pickup for the Hoover Dam Kayak Tour on Colorado River with Optional Pickup in Las Vegas?
A:The meeting location is the Hoover Dam Lodge on U.S. 93 in Boulder City or from the Mandalay Bay Hotel at the shuttle pick-up area on the lower level. Please specify your preferred departure location in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout.
Aug 2021
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Karen_B
This was a fantastic trip! Great scrambling and very cool hot springs. The trip leader (Robby) was very friendly, knowlegeable and entertaining. We would do this trip again in a heartbeat!!! I highly recommend
Reviews
4.9
based on 148 reviews
Casandra_P, Apr 2026
It was so much fun! The wind was in our face the entire time making the kayak super challenging. I am always up for a good challenge. Robby was an awesome guide. He was super knowledgeable, helpful and respectful. We did the Hoover Dam tour the day before. This trip brought the information full circle learning about the lower river and the worker that measured the river before building the Dam. The hot springs were awesome and the emerald caves were awesome. The beach lunch was great! It was so much fun and will be a must do on every trip to Vegas. I will recommend it for sure! One thing I would love to see is less single use plastic. I am not sure if it is feasible, however it would be cool if you offered a BYOB (Bring your own Bottle) or 10 dollar or 20 dollar up charge for a souvenir reusable water bottle that can be refilled. Just a suggestion, thanks for the unforgettable experience!
Karen_B, Apr 2026
This was a fantastic trip! Great scrambling and very cool hot springs. The trip leader (Robby) was very friendly, knowlegeable and entertaining. We would do this trip again in a heartbeat!!! I highly recommend
VonColvo, Mar 2026
Absolutely fabulous day. The peace and beauty of the river was a very welcome break from Vegas. Our guide, Robby, was wonderful - he couldn't do enough to help us and was extremely knowledgeable about the area - a joy to spend the day with.
lisa_f, Feb 2026
After making our booking we were contacted by the provider asking if we could move our booking from the Monday to the Tuesday, as we had other activities booked this was not convenient.
we paid an additional $127.20 national park launching fee directly to this operator (Las Vegas SUP Kayak Club). However, we were contacted the day before our booking to say that due to the weather we would not be able to go on the Monday but could rearrange for the Tuesday (despite the weather forecast on the Met Office saying the opposite). And also, very coincidental given they had tried to rearrange our trip the week before!!
Rather than reply via txt my wife phoned the provider , who proceeded to tell her that the additional National park fee was NON REFUNDABLE. something we had not been advised of at time of booking / Paying the additional fee directly to Las Vegas SUP Kayak club.
At the end of the conversation the person we spoke to said it has been an oversight by an employee and that they would refund the money and because of this they would refund the money the following day. As they had been in business for 10 years and held themselves up to high customer service levels .
Unfortunately, this good will was not very long lasting as the following day we received a txt saying that the National park do not refund monies paid.
despite a number of follow up messages this company have GONE BACK ON THEIR WORD and have not refunded our $127.20.
This is extremely disappointing and has soured our trip to Las Vegas.
anyone reading PLEASE AVOID ''LAS VEGAS SUP KAYAK CLUB''
They do not care about customer service and are prepared to lie to customers .
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We are sorry this situation was frustrating and would like to clarify a few important points.
The National Park launching permit fee is clearly listed in the tour description as a separate fee paid directly for the permit and controlled by the National Park, not by our company. As stated there, this fee is non-refundable according to National Park policy.
On the day of your tour, very strong winds, rain and cold temperatures created unsafe conditions at the Hoover Dam launch area. For safety reasons we canceled the tour. We would never send guests out in dangerous weather conditions.
As per our policy, we fully refunded the tour price and offered the option to reschedule the tour for another day.
Even though the permit fee is not collected or controlled by us, we still contacted the National Park twice on your behalf to try to recover the fee, but unfortunately they do not refund these permits.
We truly regret that this affected your trip, but guest safety must always come first.
Karen_T, Nov 2025
This was a really great experience from start to finish. Communication was great, the provided transportation made it easy if you don't have a car. The guide, Juston, was informative and friendly; and, he was patient with us (he was half our age, so we weren't as fast). It was really a perfect day. When would you ever get to see the Hoover Damn from the base in the Colorado River; during this trip is when...
Maribel_G, Nov 2025
It was so much fun!! Truly enjoyed all the knowledge about the area!! The scenery was beautiful! Our guide Robbie made it so much fun!!
charmer_m, Oct 2025
Viator did not impress me, they attempted to have me change the date of my previously booked excursion the day before I boarded the plane for my vacation. I had booked and paid them 10 days prior. I had my vacation plans all in order and the reason they wanted to cancel me I was told was because I was doing the trip solo and they only wanted couples for that day. They asked that I cancel my booking, and rebook with their sister company Blazin Paddles as I was leaving to board my flight. Very unprofessional and placing their problem on me to fix. I was not agreeable or able to do that. They then charged me an additional $30 and made the arrangements for me. They required that I take an Uber to another hotel the day of pick up, never checking with the sister company who actually had pick ups the next hotel over in less than a 5 minute walk. This was an additional $27 in an uber fair plus a $5 tip for the driver, not to mention additional time and stress to get clear to the far end of the strip, and required their sister company to go out of their way needlessly to pick me up at greater expense and time for everyone. That said once I was in the hands of blazin paddles I was treated more than kindly. They dropped me off right at my hotel on the return trip home, saving me the additional expense of a needless uber ride, they provided a very knowledgeable guide of the area who made sure that we were well taken care of, with food, snacks, water, and safety. He assisted anyone that needed additional help and time so that the trip was truly a group effort. It was so beautiful and I was so glad that I went. I have not one complaint about the tour itself. The wait for emerald cove was too long and we did skip it as several other kayaking companies were in a lineup already, which was fine by me even though I had wanted a picture there, and part of why I booked the trip, but truthfully as the guide pointed out the water had the same green color and made for beautiful pictures right where we were at without the 2 hour wait in that line up. This was definitely my favorite excursion of my vacation to Las Vegas where I did many different events, experiences, and travel to the local beauty of the surrounding areas.
Michael_M, Sep 2025
Had an amazing time with some breath taking views. Our guide Kwame was great and knowledgeable of the history of the area and was very helpful during the hikes and climbs so we could complete them safely. Some of the spots during the hikes were a bit challenging with climbing the rocks with a rope but the challenge made it so much more fun and rewarding. Definitely was an awesome experience and will be recommending it to friends.
Cheryl_S, Jun 2025
Don't go on a windy day!! It takes away from the trip. 12 miles and not a lot to see. Take the shorter trip.
Jason_F, May 2025
Great time. Very awesome experience. Lots of info given. Hot Springs are awesome even when the temps are 100 degrees outside
Lisa_B, May 2025
Xander was great. Would definitely recommend if kayaking is your thing. Definitely bring a hat, sun glasses, sunscreen and water shoes that can support walking on rougher terrain.
Deborah_B, May 2025
Great sights and our tour guide was awesome. There are a lot of short hikes in sand and water to the hot springs so make sure you have good shoes (our guide suggested crocks). The end of the trip is 6 straight miles of kayaking and there is little to no current so be prepared. Overall it was a great trip.
extonpb, Apr 2025
Zander was great !!! BUT this tour is NOT for beginners. 12 miles on the water is long. We r experienced kayakers and paddling became difficult with the headwind and mile length. We were exhausted but felt accomplished! The new kayakers really struggled and slowed up and stressed out the entire group. Also, the 12 miles needs to be listed in the main description of this tour so people clearly know how long it is. Overall, though the scenery was gorgeous and it really was fun and a great workout!!!
Adrian_H, Mar 2025
The 14 mile trek down the Colorado River was very enjoyable. There were a few stops along the way that were full of great views. There was a stop at the hot springs, which was nice (except for a few naked people), but was overall a great time. We have kayaked a few times before and the 14 miles were tough at the end, but I believe most people can do it without too much of an issue. We were sore the next day, but it was totally worth it. Justin, our guide, was incredible. He had tons of great stories and offered up some great details along the way. He was also very encouraging when we started to feel challenged. I would absolutely do this trek again. I'll just be in better shape next time.
Kirk_C, Jan 2025
A great experience and one that we would do again. Robbie, our guide did a wonderful job and took care of us.
Timothy_B, Dec 2024
It was absolutely incredible! Robbie was an awesome guide! Had lots of fun with him! The views, the experience, the views did I say that were spectacular! The weather was 40 to 60 degrees and sunny - we often times ended up not using our jackets - it depended if we were in the sun or shade. Again if you live the outdoors and can paddle a kayak - this is for you! Great company to go with!
Susan_C, Nov 2024
Our guide, Robbie, was very knowledgeable about the plants, hotsprings and basically pointed out interests along the way-we enjoyed him a lot-we even saw some bighorn sheep ! Sitting in the hotsprings was amazing and memorable too!! It was a great day!!
Deepak_R, Sep 2024
Great experience and great tour guide who explained lots about the black canyon and surroundings areas
Laurie_P, Sep 2024
5 star for everything but the weather. There was the CA smoke over the canyon tops which prevented the great pictures a sunny day would have allowed. Then there was a strong head wind which made the kayaking very challenging. I did this trip last year and had a perfect day so you never know what the weather will be. Still, a challenging day of kayaking in beautiful, peaceful surroundings beats couch surfing any day. We also had a great guide. Thanks Robby!
William_K, Jun 2024
Where do I start. I ordered a boat for 2. Didn’t get it. Someone else did. Thanks.
Next, this is a 12 miles cruise of beautiful scenery. But that’s not what they do. They just take you for a ride. Not for beginners as stated.
3. For lunch he got hoagies. Cat food, mayo and tomatoes on a 110 degree day. Thanks again.
4. Buses were in poor shape. No ac in the back.
All in all. I won’t be back. Think twice before booking with these people.
Emerson_P, May 2024
This has been the best tour we have taken in Las Vegas. Xander is a fantastic tour guide and really makes the experience entertaining, memorable, and enjoyable for all.
Remember your swimsuit, water shoes, and sun screen! The trip might be tough without these things.
We highly recommend this tour. We will be back to do it again.
Jackie_S, May 2024
10/10 would recommend and definitely will plan to do this adventure again! Zander was an awesome guide!
Jeff_Y, Mar 2024
Awesome guide friendly and knowledgeable of area history he made it our day.
This was our first kayak experience. It was great. Excellent experience.
Lisa_M, Mar 2024
Beautiful water and cave and our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. A bit too windy but just enough sunshine to be a all around great day.
Celena_B, Mar 2024
It was my first time at natural hot springs, and boy were some of them HOT!!!! The sauna cave was also a new experience for me - be prepared to sweat!! Robby was a great tour guide, he is knowledgeable & fun - the "dad jokes" just keep coming!!
Vivien_Y, Jan 2024
I had a beautiful day and an awesome tour on the Colorado river from the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. This is a one of a kind experience, stunning scenery, a day full of interesting things, sauna cave, hot springs, Emerald Cave, historical sites, and more. If you want to enjoy a day in the nature, don't look further. :-)
Krystal_R, Mar 2022
We had an amazing time! It was absolutely worth every penny spent. My only suggestion would be to prepare for different weather. We went in March expecting it to be much warmer and showed up during a cold spell. It was actually perfect weather for kayaking I just didn’t pack appropriately. I consider myself a pretty decent kayaker and I would say that this was a pretty fulfilling trip. If you’re looking to just float down the river this isn’t for you but if you actually enjoy kayaking you should go! Our tour guide had a great attitude and was knowledgeable about everything along the way. Everybody should see the river like this at least once in their lives!
Rebecca_L, Oct 2021
Jenna, our Rock Star Guide made the experience top notch !
Her knowledge and trivia questions personalized the adventure!
Lisa_C, Jul 2021
I will start by saying that I take reviews seriously. As a reader, reviews help me to gauge whether something is a good fit for our family. As a writer, I seek to give praise where it is deserved, and provide honest feedback where it is needed, so others can gauge for themselves if something is a good fit for them. I don’t write or post negative reviews unless I think it’s absolutely necessary. I understand that life and mistakes happen, and that negative reviews can have a big impact on a business, especially a small one. Unfortunately, this is one of those rare times where a negative review is warranted.
My husband and I have been to Vegas several times, have done all the regular touristy things, and decided to try something new this time around. We looked at several options and, although we had never kayaked before, settled on a full-day kayak trip. No experience was necessary, and it sounded beautiful. Since this was the only company that had openings, we booked with them. The only information we had about the trip was the information in the Viator description. We had very little expectations going in, and I’m glad. We ended up being very disappointed, but probably would have been furious if we had had known any better.
PROS:
- The scenery was BEAUTIFUL! We even saw a few animals!
- Kayaking was easier than we expected.
CONS:
- Everything else.
The initial meeting location is a common area for all of the kayak companies. We arrived at the location early, so we watched from a distance as other companies fitted their guests with life jackets, picked out kayaks and gave formal instructions/guidance on how to kayak and what to expect during their trip. Questions were welcomed and answered. Each company had multiple, professional looking and sounding staff members and the communication between staff and guests seemed great.
Then our company arrived. Since this was our first time kayaking (and our tour guide knew it), and the Viator description said the trip accommodated all skill levels (including beginner), AND we had just watched other companies thoroughly prepare their guests, we expected our company would run through a similar procedure, offering a little instruction and guidance. We got almost nothing. From the very start, our kayak trip/experience felt very unprofessional and seemed “thrown together.” Staff arrived at different times, didn’t stick together, were not easily identifiable and were sparse. We got sent between different staff members to check in, fill out papers, ask questions, etc. No big deal except trying to figure out who was with the company wasn’t easy, and then one hand didn’t seem to know what the other hand was doing. We waited and waited in the hot parking lot for our trip to begin, with no communication as to what we were waiting for and how long we would be waiting. Finally, someone told us “all” (there were a whopping 6 guests total in our group) to get in the company’s van, which we did. We rode in the van as the driver and tour guide talked amongst themselves, again not letting us know where we were headed, how long it would take, what to expect, etc. The ride was relatively short and painless, we just felt clueless. When we arrived at our launch site, we were each thrown life jackets and told to tighten them to fit. We were then called over to the van, given a kayak, told to carry it “down there” and get in the water. My husband and I used a double kayak and THANK GOODNESS we did – a single kayak would have been impossible to carry myself! Even with my husband carrying most of the load, we struggled to get the double kayak to water. And staff did not once offer to help. (I’m sure experienced kayakers already know how heavy a kayak is, but we had no idea and I’m sure others don’t either.) Once down by the water, we loaded into our kayaks and waited for further instruction. Instead, our tour guide just took off! The other 4 people in our group had kayaked before, and my husband is athletic and a quick learner so he learned very quickly how to get around in the kayak and keep up with the tour guide, but again, if it had just been me, it would have been a terrible situation.
We progressed through our kayak trip much the same way it started – blindly. We never did learn our tour guide’s name. When he talked, it was about himself. When we kayaked, he went off and explored on his own. At one point he asked someone in our group to hold his kayak while he went snorkeling! When we stopped at a location, he again did his own thing. The ONLY time we got information was when we asked the tour guide ourselves, and then he was annoyed and impatient. We had no idea how many miles we had kayaked, how long our trip would be, what stops were going to happen, when to expect snacks and lunch – NOTHING! We did have a snack (banana and granola bar) mid-morning and that was fine. We were supposed to stop at a sandy beach for lunch, but our tour guide felt it was too crowded (it wasn’t) so he took us further down the river to a rocky location to eat. It was uncomfortable and “lunch” was a smooshed sandwich. If we wanted drinking water, we had to ask. Almost our entire trip, we watched as other talkative and knowledgeable tour guides navigated their groups, played music and encouraged loads of fun with water guns and other activities. Toward the end of our trip we passed by the Emerald Cave. If you read the Viator description, you are led to believe this is a part of your trip (“Highligths ▪ Sauna Cave ▪ Relax in Hot Springs ▪ Enjoy stunning waterfalls ▪ See amazing desert wildlife ▪ Historical site ▪ Sparkling Emerald Cave ….”). That is not the case. When we asked about the Emerald Cave, our tour guide said it was too crowded, so we passed right by. And then waited idly in the water for at least a half hour so our tour guide could get “just the right picture” of the other 4 guests (a family) before going moving on.
While we very much enjoyed the scenery, that only goes so far. By the end of the trip, my husband and I were bored and disappointed, and completely ready for it to end. So were the other people in our group. We had no idea where “the end” even was so we followed kayakers from other companies to find our way. Once onshore, staff loaded the kayaks, took the life jackets and told us to walk to the marina, enjoy a beer, and meet in the parking lot. By the time we got to the marina and bought a beer, the company was ready to leave. We all had to dump our drinks, load up and head back. As before, staff on the van really only conversed with themselves. Back at the meeting location, the tour guide asked for our phone numbers so he could send us the pictures he took and then kind of just hung around waiting for a tip. We gave a small tip and left, relieved to be done.
As I said before, we understand life happens and people have off-days. One or two of these issues would have easily been tolerated. But when the issues comprise of your entire experience, that’s a different story. While we may decide to kayak again at some point, it will NEVER be with this company. Ever. We hope they will read this review and choose to learn and improve.
John_P, Jul 2021
Awesome trip! Would absolutely do it again! Our guide (Edgar) was excellent. Lots of local knowledge and info about the River, canyon, dam, wildlife, plants, etc. We had lots of fun. A great day on the river!
From $199.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Hoover Dam Kayak Tour with Shuttle - Hot Springs & Emerald Cave
148
8 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$199.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Sporting Events
- Audio Guides
- Extreme Sports
- Nature and Wildlife Tours
- Full-day Tours
- 4WD Tours
- Tickets & Passes
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Outdoor Activities
- Private and Luxury
- Private Sightseeing Tours
- Las Vegas
- Sporting Events - Kingman
- Audio Guides - Kingman
- Extreme Sports - Kingman
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Kingman
- Full-day Tours - Kingman
- Sporting Events - St George
- Audio Guides - St George
- Extreme Sports - St George
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - St George
- 4WD Tours - St George
- Sporting Events - Virgin River
- Extreme Sports - Virgin River
- 4WD Tours - Virgin River
Attractions in Las Vegas, USA
- Las Vegas North Premium Outlets Tours & Tickets
- Grand Canal Shoppes Tours & Tickets
- Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Tours & Tickets
- Las Vegas Convention Center Tours & Tickets
- Venetian Resort Las Vegas Tours & Tickets
- Chapel of the Flowers Tours & Tickets
- The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Tours & Tickets
- Fly LINQ Zipline Tours & Tickets
- Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Tours & Tickets
- Erotic Heritage Museum, Las Vegas Tours & Tickets
- Neon Museum Tours & Tickets
- V Theater Tours & Tickets
- Downtown Las Vegas Tours & Tickets
- Grand Canyon Skywalk Tours & Tickets
- Park MGM Las Vegas Tours & Tickets
- T-Mobile Arena Tours & Tickets