Desert Adventures

We had an awesome time with our guide, Holmes, biking the tunnel tour to Hoover Dam. He was very informative, organized, and knowledgeable about the area, fauna, and wildlife. You could tell by his attitude and demeanor that he loved showing other people the beauty that he has found in this area of the US. He is a huge advocate of outdoorsman's "Leave no Trace." Motto, if there was any trash on the trail he would stop to pick it up. We even saw a Bighorn sheep on the trail to the dam, it was trying to cross the trail right in front of us. We had a leisurely pace going to the dam. Most of it was downhill, and it was approximately 12 miles. There were a couple of hills, but a beginner to moderate skill level is all you need. Desert Adventures was easy to book and went out of their way to accommodate us. My wife and I were the only ones on the tour. Through talking to Holmes, my wife and I plan on coming back and booking the kayak tour down the Colorado River early next year. There were extra perks that they didn't have to include, but they were appreciated. I highly recommend Desert Adventures for your outdoor adventure.

If you're craving adventure and jaw-dropping natural beauty, this kayaking tour is an absolute must. From the moment we pushed off into the water, it felt like we were entering a different world—one filled with towering cliffs, hidden coves, and serene stretches of untouched nature. Our guide Holmes was friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone felt safe and confident, no matter their experience level. The pace was perfect—enough to keep it exciting, but with plenty of time to soak in the stunning surroundings. At several points, we stopped to take in views that were nothing short of breathtaking—crystal-clear water, lush greenery, and dramatic rock formations that looked like something out of a movie. What made this tour stand out was the sense of adventure. We navigated through narrow passages, explored secret beaches, and even spotted some local wildlife. It was thrilling without being overwhelming—a perfect balance. By the end of the day, we were tired in the best way possible and full of stories and photos we couldn’t wait to share. Whether you're an outdoor junkie or just someone who appreciates nature’s beauty, this tour delivers in every way. Highly, highly recommend!

Had an excellent day on the river with a small group at Easter sunday. Paul, our guide was very enjoyable, advised on what the options were along the river for side trips and tailored the program to our wishes on the spot. He showed some nice places and while coasting down the river and on the small hikes we enjoyed the nature, scenery, the environment and conversation. I would certainly recommend this to others as an excellent escape from Las Vegas and unwind in the nature.

My husband and I live locally in Henderson NV and did a self-guided tour (2 day, 1 nights). Desert Adventures was incredible with helping supply gear we didn't have, and was extremely professional with the drop off and pick up! (Shout out Holmes who was right there at the launch to greet us at Willow Beach when we arrived). They answered all my questions via phone leading up to the trip and were even able to easily change our reservation a few weeks prior due to a family commitment. Really kind and professional staff who were extremely knowledgeable and gave great tips and advice for our paddle. Absolutely would recommend! We had an incredible trip.

We had the most wonderful morning paddle up the Colorado River from Willow beach with Holmes. He was an incredible guide with so much knowledge, good humour and a great attitude. It was an amazing experience and would highly recommend Desert Adventures to anyone looking for a great paddling adventure.

My wife and I did a spring multi day canoe trip with our guide Sarra, she was fantastic. We went on lots of great hikes and enjoyed all the hot springs, slot canyons and historical sites. The food was great and it was just awesome to have someone show us all the cool places we never would have found on our own.

Had an amazing time with Desert Adventures! The kayaking experience was super fun and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. Our tour guide, Holmes, was awesome—funny, knowledgeable, and made the whole trip even better. Highly recommend this to anyone visiting the area looking for a unique and memorable adventure!

What an excellent way to spend the day! Our guide, Holmes, kayaked with us on the Colorado River from the Hoover dam to the take out point 12 miles down river. Absolutely terrific experience with a phenomenal guide!

Antonio picked us up at the resort at 7a. He explained about the trip and we discussed the timing because we needed to be back at the resort no later than 2p. He was great, providing us with lots of conservation and environmental information about the Las Vegas area on the way. My husband was new to kayaking and Antonio provided great instruction. We visited the cave and headed back. We hit a pretty strong headwind going back and he continued to give great instruction. Besides the wind at the last part of our trip (which is not under anyone's control) we got back and to the resort on time. The weather was pretty much perfect and I loved seeing the best part of the Vegas area!! I would definitely do it again! Not sure about my husband :)

Dream adventure nothing but easy breezy all ages fun if in vegas be sure to hit this jackpot

Went on a two day excursion with a friend and had Sarra as our guide. The trip was absolutely beautiful starting at the Hoover dam. I had some hesitation with the summer temperatures before going on the trip and let Sarra know up front. She let me know that the water would be cool and we would take plenty of breaks. She also assured me that the guides are prepared to help customers who may experience heat exhaustion IF it happens. Our driver to the launch site was telling us all about Boulder City and it's history. Loved that! We set off in our boats and we had time to cruise the river at a relaxing pace whilst stopping along the way to explore hot springs and to check out the local nature. She has a good eye and pointed out local wildlife as well! Sarra was knowledgeable about the history of the dam and the natural physical environment. She offered plenty of opportunities for adventure and was always checking in with how we felt along the way. We had a healthy lunch that was filling and Sarra cooked a delicious meal for dinner considering my current diet restrictions. Snacks were supplied and encouraged along the trip. The second day was hot! I did have some heat exhaustion and Sarra was very helpful and vigilant in helping me feel my best. Adjustments were made so that I could make it to Willow beach safely. I was loading up on fluids and had to stop several times to empty out my tank. Sarra never made me feel like a burden! The stops also allowed us all to take a dip in the cool water and stay refreshed along the way. This has to be one of my favorite trips so far because Desert Adventures and our guide were professional, knowledgeable, and offered so much adventure. Even on the drive back to the shop they offered to take a small detour to see some bighorn sheep up close! They were easy to communicate with throughout the entire process of booking to the very end of the trip. I highly recommend a multi-day trip, there is so much to see and learn! I'll be a repeat customer in the cooler months.

The most amazing adventure we've had! This was our first time kayaking and it was breathtaking! We chose the Colorado River Adventure which is the All Day option. I highly recommend you do the All Day Tour, I don't think 3 hours is enough, especially if you love nature or are willing to take a break from the world. Our guide, Holmes was the best! He was very knowledgeable and patient with us and his attitude was amazing!!! I cannot recommend this place enough. A must when you visit Vegas!

Been using this outfitter for large group canoe trips down Black Canyon for two decades now. This year, Dominique and Megan were great during pre-trip prep; the guys were helpful (and patient!) with our large group on launch day, and the return shuttle was smooth and easy. One note: be sure to ask for the canoes with the back supports if you're old like me!

We had a great time doing the Black Canyon canoe trip. We were given all the information we needed to be prepared and things went smoothly. Highly recommend.

The staff were helpful and super friendly! The Kayaks were clean and the river was STUNNING!

My husband and I had the most amazing 3 day kayaking trip down the Black Canyon from the Hoover Dam to Willow beach, wild camping and visiting the hot springs and watching the most stunning wildlife and scenery. Our amazing guide Gabe from Desert Adventures kept us well fed with his superb cooking. Cowboy coffee with breakfast and a choice of pancakes, fresh fruit and yogurt, porridge and bacon & eggs. Delicious dinners included steak and mashed potatoes. We also enjoyed elk sausages and cheese & biscuits too! Super amazing food from this talented chef and his wee cooking stove! Can't thank Gabe enough for taking the time to tell us all about the canyon, its biodiversity and ecology as well as the geology and history. totally exceeded our expectations. Thank you so much! We will be back

My sister and I had the most amazing day kayaking down the Colorado River. Thank you so much to Holmes our wonderful guide for making the day perfect. I would highly recommend.

From reserving the trip for three to communicating with staff, filling out information and waivers online to meeting our guide exactly when and where we expected to meet him, this entire outfit is dialed in, professional and safe. Adam, our guide is young but experienced. He set us up in our kayaks after a safety lesson and proceeded to guide us to Enerald Cave with a brief hike up to Gauger House along the way. The entire trip was three hours and we saw crawfish, ducks, birds, turtles and big horn sheep along the way. I highly recommend Desert Adventures for any trip and can't wait to go on another adventure with them!

Touring with Holmes was an absolute delight! His deep knowledge of the desert, coupled with his passion for adventure, made for an unforgettable experience. From navigating the Colorado River to uncovering hidden gems, Holmes ensured every moment was filled with excitement and wonder. His attention to detail and commitment to safety truly set him apart. Highly recommend embarking on a desert adventure with Holmes at the helm!

Alright y'all..... here's the deal. We have been doing this trip for just over 10 years and we just finished probably our last trip for this lil adventure. The people were great, but the rules, regulations, equipment and general BS along with the price per person more than DOUBLING, has left a sour taste with the whole group. It's time to fine a new place to ho where they don't gouge the customer. GMAFB with the typical "The prices have gone up sir" BS. I can understand 20, 30 bucks but to do an over night for 168 per person along with "we can't guarantee you a seat for your canoe because they break" BS? Yeah..... it's time to move one with the canoe trip. Good luck to all and enjoy the beautiful scenery, but for 168 per person? No thanks.

I highly recommend Desert Adventures. Communication before the trip was easy and informative. I liked using a locally-owned business. The 12-mile paddle down the Colorado River from the dam was terrific. It was a little windy but completely manageable. Patrick led us to some wonderful spots for stopping along the way -- beaches, hot springs, caves. Great day!

We had a great time with the guided 1-day black canyon tour. The tour started from the base of the Hoover Dam and we kayaked 12 miles down to Willow Beach. Even though the kayak tour started at 8am and ended around 4pm, the kayaking wasn't too strenuous since we were kayaking downstream and took frequent breaks along the way. We made numerous stops to explore caves, hot springs, and waterfalls. The views from the river were incredible. Overall, this was a unique adventure that I would definitely recommend to others and do again if I get the chance. Special shoutout to Gabe, our tour guide, and Esteban, our shuttle driver, who were both very professional, friendly, and informative.

Never again will I use this company's services. They don't care about the customers safety, just the money. Our trip started out fun but that ended quickly after our 2nd stop. The winds kicked up, paddling became a struggle and if you weren't paddling, then you were pushed backwards. We got back to the pick up site at 432 only to find ourselves stranded. No cell service, no pay phone, no way to contact the driver. Luckily, a couple happened to be leaving and gave two of us a lift to pick up our vehicles. While the others went to retrieve the car, the four of us stayed behind to clean up the canoes to secure the life vests to the canoes, and to make sure the canoes were in a safe place. It was almost 6 pm and the sun was starting to set when our ride made it back. In the meantime, the driver was notified that we were back only after we had cell service, and he was going to come back to pick us up. We left when the driver made it back but we were already in the car bc of the cold and winds. We understand the policies, but do believe that you should not leave customers abandoned, especially wind, water, and many other components to our safety and possible danger.

It doesn't take a detective to figure out HOLMES is the best guide ever! I cannot say enough about desert adventures and about our guide Holmes. A birthday trip for my mom's 60th. We did the three hour kayak to emerald cave. It was beautiful and lots of fun. Holmes was patient, knowledgeable, and has an impressive amount of training for safety and emergency response. Definitely felt safe for me and my mom. From scheduling to the tour itself it was smooth and professional. We intent on returning and will be suggesting the trip to our friends that visit. As locals I wish we knew about this sooner!

Amazing tour and guides are an understatement! Gianni and Luke were such a blessing and so knowledgeable about kayaking and the ins and outs of the land. Gianni is an expert in many areas and took care of each and every person with very close and careful attention. His lifesaving skills were exceptional and he applied many of his precautionary measures to each guest with extraordinary detail and love. He will keep you entertained and smiling all day, cheeks hurting with his hilarious non stop jokes. Luke saved the day as he towed a family member of ours 10 miles by kayak, due to a medical condition. He is also very knowledgeable in many areas and kept us entertained with all his facts and guiding skills. They even kept us hydrated all day and provided a delicious lunch. The importance of this was essential to everyone coming out of the trip feeling great. We were so thankful to both of them and our drivers for their amazing treatment and all their careful attention and preparation. Hands down one of the best tour guides and services we have come across.

I had such a fabulous time in May that we are going again next weekend. My friend was visiting from Chicago and we rented a tandem kayak. I did not do a tour because it was my first time and knowing me, two hours would be enough. The rental is good for 4 hours . The assistant had our kayak in the water ready to roll. He went over some rules with us, got the life jackets on and ready to go. The water was amazing. You did not have to wonder where emerald cave was, it's where everyone is! After we did the cave we tooled around and took ALOT of pics. When I read up on it, the suggestion was it would take one and a half to two hours to get to the cave at a leisure pace. We made it there in less than an hour. The only thing I would advise is, your phone will not work when you are at the lake. Also, you might want to bring some snacks and cold beverages. This time I plan on grabbing some sandwiches the night before and putting them in the cooler I have something when we're done. I posted a couple pictures just to show how green the water is.

It was me and my cousins' first time kayaking and we had the absolute best time. So breathtaking and definitely a bucket list experience. Gabe was our guide and he was so knowledgeable regarding the history of the canyon & in showing us all the hidden gems along the way. He was so helpful and kind, and patient with our rookie crew, he made the trip all the better. Thanks Gabe !! Even with the 20 mph crosswinds kicking our ass I still consider this my favorite experience to date. Hope to be back one day!!

Everyone is super friendly and helpful. Amazing trip down river. Take out went just as smooth. Love you guys!

So the great things first - I booked our family of four for a 5-6 mile guided trip from the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach in early June - 2 adults and our daughters 16 and 18. We are all experienced kayakers - although no where near experts. My cousin joined us as well as my brother and his 15-year old son. The website listed this tour as easy to moderate and for beginner kayakers and would take approximately 4 hours on the water. They picked us up at our Vegas hotel at 6 am and the trip started as expected on schedule at 9 am - all cdc protocols were followed. Our tour group was 14 kayakers with varying levels - with 2 guides. After the first stop, one of the guides was already towing one of the ladies as the other guide led the group down River. The two guides had no way to communicate and the guide in front started to pull away with some of the stronger rowers as the guide in the back was left with no way to let front guide know to slow down. Meanwhile the wind was picking up- and making rowing extremely difficult for weaker rowers. The guides had us clinging to canyon walls - and crossing back and forth across the river. The guide told us that we would be rowing 11-12 miles. As the wind picked up, I found myself battling - just not to be pushed up river by the wind. My review concerns are two fold. One - our group was too large for these two guides under these conditions. It is the tour companies job to know and plan for river conditions and provide enough guides to safely make this trip. Four of the women were towed by male towers just to finish and our group was spread out and out of sight of each other for much of the second half of the trip. Two - the guides had no way to communicate with each other on the river. Only one guide had a satellite phone - while he was in the back for the first half of the trip, after lunch he lead the group. There was more element of risk than expected for beginner kayakers. While the weather is to blame for the strong wind and some of the river difficulty, the Outfitter needs to take some responsibility for it's tour safety. This is why we hired a professional guided trip and did not try to do it on our own. Edit- after posting this review, I read the owners comments and she is correct. I was looking at the wrong description when writing the review. We did sign up for the 11 mile trip - and not the 5 mile trip. "This section of Black Canyon is moving flat-water, it is not a whitewater trip. It is perfect for first timers as well as seasoned paddlers. ". It was an epic trip and one that will certainly be remembered in our family history.

We did a self-guided tour so the review is just based on the rental and renting procedures. We had a reservation from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon for a group of 18 (16 adults, 2 children). We parked at Willow Beach, Desert Adventures picked us up with all our camping gear early in the morning and dropped us off at the Hoover Dam. Loaded up all our camping gear onto the canoes and went on our way. The next day we met Desert Adventures at Willow beach, unloaded our stuff, gave back our canoes and that was that. Easy, straightforward. Other than the actual canoe rental, you're actually paying for the exclusive drop off at the Hoover Dam, excellent value either way. Otherwise if you had your own canoe/kayak you could just start at Willow Beach and paddle upstream. Depending on the day and time this could be challenging due to the flow of water. Coming downstream from the Hoover Dam was a breeze. You could barely paddle and to get from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach in a day. Anyway, Black Canyon is an excellent adventure full of hot springs and clear water. Aim for spring or fall for the best weather as the water is always FREEZING no matter the season, but it is outrageously hot during summer months. There are plenty of different camp sites to pick from, just be sure to pack out ALL your waste and leave no trace behind! No cell service, very few other people, excellent weekend to unplug and enjoy the great outdoors.

We rented a canoe from this company and everyone was very nice when we left. They told us about the winds that were going to be coming on Thursday (we were scheduled to come back Friday morning) and we asked if we had to come back early due to the winds what we needed to do and if us coming back early would be an issue. The two gentleman that helped us off said that if we came back early that we needed to tie up the canoe and everything we rented from them as best as possible, let the people know at Willow Beach that we were leaving it for Desert Adventures and that they would pick it up on the next pick up. They did tell us that if anything happened to it between the time that we dropped it off and that they picked it up we would be responsible for it and we said we understood. We started out Thursday morning and the winds were not that bad but by early afternoon the winds got to where it was unsafe for us to continue. We had to have a boater that was passing by help us to get back. We called Desert Adventures to let them know that we had tied up the canoe. Upon calling we were told that we should have hunkered down as soon as the wind started and were chastised about how it was our decision to take an unguided tour and that they would need to contact the boss. We heard nothing back from Desert Adventures and the all of a sudden there was 104.95 charge taken out of our bank account for a custom shuttle time. No call about taking money from our account. No where in the paperwork we signed was there any mention of a charge for picking up the canoe as we were told it would be picked up on the next scheduled pick up which would have been 10:30 am 4/5/2024. Saturday 4/6/2024 I get a call saying that they will be charging us 12.00 plus tax for a waste bucket that was not with the items we rented. So we get a call about a 12.00 charge but not a 104.95 dollar charge and charging this amount when there is nothing stating this fee in any paperwork that have you sign. Company is very unprofessional and does not communicate between one another.

Fantastic experience. We did the 3 day/2 night float with Gabriel as our guide. We could NOT have asked for a better time. Gabriel was absolutely amazing and allowed us to set our activity pace. He pointed out all points of interest and made sure we were completely comfortable, hydrated and very well fed for the entire trip. Thank you Desert Adventures and Gabriel for an amazing trip.

We just took a 3 night, 4 day self guided kayak camping adventure down Black Canyon starting at the Hoover Dam and pulling out at Eagle Wash. It was amazing! The Desert Adventures office staff were great in helping me with the Nevada/Hoover permit process, answering any questions we had regarding the float and helping us rearrange our trip due to COVID. The staff was highly organized and thorough with their planning emails. The guides that helped us launch and pick up were equally cool, as well. They helped us load and unload our kayaks and gear. They were good spirited individuals and a good crew to help us with our heavy fishing kayaks and gear. (*If you pull out at Eagle Wash bring wheels/cart for your kayaks!) I would highly recommend this company if you want to experience the Black Canyon in style! Thank you, Desert Adventures.

We booked a self guided kayaking tour of Black Canyon 1 day trip (6-4pm) for a party of 7. Cost for each human was $70 plus NPS (National Park Service) fee of $27. Our adventure began at 6am (sharp) in a parking lot of the Hoover Dam Lodge in Boulder City, which was a 30 min drive from Las Vegas (no traffic at 5am). Check in and orientation was easy and informative. Hoover Dam (drop off location) was about a 15-20 min drive. Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable, she provided us with "key" scenic location and total amount of time to spend at each location. You are provided a map, with markers/description to each scenic sites. Scenic includes: trails leading into hot springs, water falls, rope/ladder to climb up and down. Service was awesome, even at 6 am, everyone had a great attitude. Communication is key for me. Desert Adventures was communicative from beginning to end. Already planning my next trip with Desert Adventures!! Thank YOU!!!

Been living in Las Vegas for 10+ years and have used their services on multiple occasions; over night trips, day trips, etc. The receptionist (no name needed) isn't friendly whatsoever, pleasantries are dismissed, as she gives the vibe that it's a bother to make your reservation. And to be quite honest. I'm really disappointed with how they don't observe returning customers (specifically locals), they do not acknowledge military status by offering any military discount, nor are they recognizing military veteran status. As much as I love the convenience of their services, today's interaction has confirmed that I will be purchasing my own watercraft. Thank for the push.

Our first kayaking experience was great. Our tour guide Sir Gabriel wasn't just touring he also taught us the fundamentals how to glide and safety on first experience. His above and beyond on helping one of the kayaker went turn over and his has safety. You know when a good tour guide has safety equipment. I recommend it!!

I love it here. We try to come atleast once a month. Great workout, very straight forward instructions.

This place provides excellent service! I cannot believe how amazing the team is that we worked with. My husband and I decided we wanted to buy some kayaks to get a new hobby. We made an appointment with Izzy and she was TERRIFIC! We had very little idea on what to look for and she is very knowledgable and passionate about boats. She took the time to explain in great detail everything we need to know and gave great recommendations. We tried out a few kayaks and found the ones we liked. We needed to wait for our roof racks to be delivered before we could take them home. We came back a week later and again had the best service! Two gentleman (didn't catch their names) helped us load the kayaks and gave ideas on how we could tie them down. I would HIGHLY recommend anyone looking to buy kayaks or even go in tours to check them out. We will definitely try one of their tours with our new kayaks.

We spent the weekend in Vegas and wanted to do some outdoor activities. We are really lucky to find this place! Our guide Gianni was excellent!!! He was accompanying us the whole day including pick-up and drop-off. He not only guided us through a very fun kayak trip back and forth between Willow Beach and Emerald Cave, but also taught our kids how to look for different types of rocks and talked about the history of the cities along the way. He took a lot of pictures for us on the river and the hiking trail. On our way back, he took us to see the big horn sheep in a park, which made a perfect ending of the day trip. The lunch was healthy. They included fruits and vegetables in addition to sandwich. Of course the chocolate cookies made the kids very happy. It is worth every penny! We definitely highly recommend our guide Gianni!

This is the second year we have done a self-guided tour with 2-3 days camping along the way from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. Both times we were most impressed with Shuttle/Guide Antonio, he was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful from beginning to end. This year we had a small incident at launch and he went over and beyond to help us!! He saved the day for sure!!! The staff in the office are quite friendly & helpful... always there to answer questions, offer suggestions and make it a great trip. Already to plan next years trip :)

I'd base my review on just the crew that helped with gear and transport - they'd get 5 stars - but the office staff and management.... Blah Blah Blah... OKAY! I am amending my review because I stand corrected. The office manager called me up personally to resolve the billing mixup, Exceeding My Expectations! We were we able to reach a workable solution. For a company that deals with a large number of out-of-towners, I didn't expect them to show that much care and consideration for a local - thank you! I look forward to the return of cooler Fall weather when we can again enjoy the tranquility of Black Canyon. Aaaannnd you bet that I'll be using Desert Adventures again! Thanks guys!!

Great day on the water! I live in Las Vegas, but am relativity new to kayaking. I was lucky enough to take a Kayak 101 and a Kayak Self-Rescue Class along with some of the newly hired, but experienced guides who were reviewing very advanced safety techniques. Absolutely awesome! With great coaching from Sarra I got my basics of self-rescue down, something I could never, ever have been able to figure out by myself just watching videos. I also watched the advanced rescue techniques that these guides use. Whoa! You are in good hands with these people! Fist-bumps to Antonio and Sarra, they live kayaking and love the water, are super-skilled, really great teachers and enthusiastic guides!

We had an awesome adventure thanks to our guide Mr. G! We were worried at first since we didn't have any kayaking experience before, but It was fun and memorable experience! Mr.G was very informative, we learned a lot about the Hoover Dam, Colorado River, and the histories about the area. He was very thorough with safety measurements and we felt comfortable and safe throughout the adventure. We will definitely try again when we visit Vegas next time! I highly recommend!!!

Thanks so much to Gabriel for saving our kayaking trip! Turned out super amazing. Desert Adventures rocks!!

We did a day trip with Gab as our guide. It was an amazing day!!! Kudos to Gab for all of the great information and taking awesome care of us.

We booked a guide tour in the Hoover dam Sunday October 4 2020 .. from the person that answer the phones it was great.. our guide tour Kristen was so knowledgeable of the place it was our first time kayaking Kristen explain how to paddle and had even water guns to play with since I was in the front I got the water quite often but I love it.. Kristen took us to the hot springs cave and all the hot springs thru out the kayaking Kristen had snacks lots of water Kristen made our first kayaking memorable .. Kristen ... Carlos and Patricia you ..

Both Neil and Antonio were friendly and informative. We had a great weekend canoeing the Colorado with Desert Adventures.

I'll always have fond memories of Memorial Day weekend kayaking the Black Canyon with Desert Adventures (DA). They made my first-time canoeing along the Colorado river experience an adventurous one. This section of Black Canyon is moving flat-water with tons of fun sights to see (not a whitewater trip). It is perfect for first timers as well as seasoned paddlers. I love that there are sights to explore and see--kayaking, hiking (short hikes in narrow slot canyons. Terrain is flat gravel washes, and volcanic rock, wet and slippery), swimming (the river is a constant 55F, pretty cold), hot springs (85F - 120F), and wildlife viewing. You can either do some hiking in the canyons, brave the humidity in the Sauna Cave, cool off near waterfalls, relax in the hot springs, IG the emerald green waters in Emerald Cave, and camp along the beach. My friends and I did the 2 day, 1-night camping trip. It's self-guided and all we did was rent the canoes, paddles, and life vests from DA. The route is about 12 miles, ~5-6 hours of paddling down the Colorado River. Water conditions are mostly flat, but can be choppy depending on wind, waves, and weather. Some sections have strong eddy lines and currents. Tips: - Read the info sheet/map they give you thoroughly. Tons of important River Rules to know, highlights along the route, and a trusty map. - Tie up boats to large, heavy rocks or tree branches. The river water fluctuates quickly and if you're staying overnight, the water rises quite a bit in the evening. We found ourselves pulling up our canoes further up the beach in the evening. - Wear sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours. - Bring tons of water. Rule of thumb: 1 gallon/person/day. - Don't breathe in the hot springs water up your nose. Beware of the Naegleria Fowleri, an amoeba common to hot springs may enter up the nose causing death. - Since it's a "Leave No Trace" place, where you pack out what you pack in (that includes your poop). Make your own wag bag: trash bag + cat litter. - Wear your swimsuit so you're ready to venture into the Sauna Cave and Hot Springs. - Going downstream Black Canyon (Hoover Dam to Willow Beach, north to south) requires a permit and you need to have companies like DA bring you in. No need to get a permit if you decide to paddle upstream instead. Equipment: The canoe, paddles, and life jackets were in good shape. The vans they shuttled us in from the pickup spot to Hoover Dam and from Willow Beach back to home base were clean and spacious vans. Service: DA was efficient with checking our big group of 16 people. I highly recommended arriving with completed waiver forms so it makes checking-in efficient. Our guide gave a detailed safety briefing on what to expect. He worked for the company about seven years, friendly, and a wealth of knowledge. On our trip back to home base from Willow Beach Desert Adventures even gave us Otter Pops to cool us off in the hot weather. Suggestion to DA: It would have been nice to have basic canoe/padding instructions. Such a wonderful service and would highly recommend Desert Adventures to anyone interested in canoe/kayaking down Black Canyon in Vegas!

Izzy and Luke are awesome.....our 2nd trip with them!! Truly a wonderful and informative experience with great food and aquipment. We will definitely do again!!

One of the best canoeing, floating, camping, adventures I've ever had the opportunity of enjoying. This company was very helpful from start to finish. All the info you could ever need plus some cool fun facts about the location. Our guide/driver Jacob had heaps of knowledge that you would never know just by walking around. Everything seemed interesting and he actually turned out to be a pretty decent photographer. The canoes were HUGE and could probably hold a wagon of food if needed. Just remember you're the one that has to row it down the river;) We were able to bask in hot springs, jump off of cliffs, enjoy boat loads of wildlife( skunks, sheep, tarantula hawks!) Make sure you bring some good water shoes and take lots of pics. Brilliant tour and would 10/10 recommend. There aren't many things that are better than floating down the river with a beer in hand. Enjoy my friends!

I am not much of a camper. I prefer a flush toilet and running water. I appreciate a comfortable bed, in a climate controlled environment. But somehow I ended up taking one of the best trips of my life, without any of those amenities (and hope to do it again one day very soon)! Three girl friends and I booked the three-day Big Horn Classic guided tour through Desert Adventures. The entire trip was absolutely amazing and an incredible value for what you receive. Desert Adventure was incredibly organized and took care of absolutely everything, so it was maybe a bit more like "glamping" than full-on camping. But we did have to haul and setup up our own tents, assist with filtering water and hauling in the needed supplies. So it was as rugged and rustic as I ever want to get and all I had to do was show up and everything was taken care of. Our guide (Luke) was incredible! He called ahead of time to talk to me about the food and ensure that I was comfortable with what he would be cooking, as I have celiac disease. Not only was the food he created safe for me to eat, it was prepared in the canyon with fresh ingredients and 10x better than the food I manage to cook myself!! Delicious!! High quality!! We started our journey by dropping our canoes into the water just south of the Hoover dam and ended three days later at Willow Beach, about 12 miles down river. The trip was not just about getting down the river though. We setup camp part way down the river early on day one and then roamed up and down the river in kayaks and/or canoes exploring the various stream beds in the slot canyons. When I signed up for this adventure, I was expecting to spend our days kayaking and canoeing. And yes, we did that. But the trip was way, way, way, more than that. There was also a fair amount of hiking and exploring, There was wonderful time to relax with our feet in the water, soak in the hot tubs or enjoy an evening camp fire. .We stopped at lots of incredible locations. We hiked back into slot canyons, along creek beds to hot spring and/or caves. There were a few places with ropes tied into the rocks to allow us to get up and over more easily and one location even had a metal ladder to allow access up which only added to the fun and excitement. It was just all so cool and unlike anything I had ever seen or done before. Let me add, it was all totally do-able even for a slightly over-weight woman in her 50's. Luke made sure everyone in our group was always safe and comfortable with the activity. I was never pressured to do anything that I was not comfortable doing. So if anyone is looking for a super cool vacation that is extremely reasonably priced, this is definitely the place to be!!

We went tandem kayaking on the early 0600 pick up time on Friday 17th of July. The weather was hot but perfect. The entire team was excellent in their instructions and care from the time we initially booked it, cancelled due to inclement weather last year, and then through booking another date this time. I'm so glad you guys honor the rebooking promise. The guys that helped bring us down to the base of Hoover Dam were very informative and gave us a very interesting tour and information about the history about the Dam. He was very helpful in carying our equipment as well as the kayak down onto the river then he gave us some great tips to enjoy on our unguided tour at the end the two guys who helped us out afterwards were very kind and really cool as well. Good job on a great team! This was very enjoyable and we'd love to bring our other friends and do this again

Called weeks early to insure getting a SOT for a friend visiting from out of town. I got lots of details and felt encouraged after calling. When the time came, I couldn't get any of the SOT's that I had been told would probably be available. I offered to curbside pick up and called 24 hours ahead to no avail. Very Frustrating...

Emerald Cave was awesome. Just kayaking on the Colorado River 30 minutes from vegas was amazing. Beautiful scenery on the way. Wildlife etc These folks bring all the equipment and you just show up and it's yours for 4 hours. Make sure you go on a sunny day or you'll freeze as the Co River is like 45 degrees!

Fantastic day on the water! Gabe is the best guide, full of knowledge, super competent, and also ready to have fun!

Our group of five did the self guided kayak trip. We launched at Hoover Damn and ended at Willow Beach, about 12 miles. Overall the trip was amazing but I do think there are some things that Desert Adventures could improve on. We arrived at the Boulder Lodge at 6 am for check in. There was a couple that had signed up that were about 30, 40 minutes late. Nothing against this couple as they were very nice but I do think since they have pick ups throughout the morning that this 6 a.m. group should have left on time and they depart on the next pick up. When we got to Hoover Dam to launch they were short a single kayak. Ironically, when we were at the Boulder Lodge someone said it didn't look like there were enough kayaks. So that person had to wait while Desert Adventures went back for his kayak while the rest of his group went ahead. I would think that number of kayaks per guest is something that is double checked before taking off. I hope they did the right thing and reimbursed him. I know this was a self-guided adventure but I still think the safety/introduction speech could have been more detailed. Some basic kayaking, paddling tips would have been appreciated. It was basically here's a map, be at Willow Beach by 4 or get charged $150. Also when you arrive at Willow Beach it would have been nice to know exactly where the pick was, like veer toward your right, pick up on the left, etc. We just kind of got there and hoped it was the right section. I would definitely do a trip like this again Our weather for the day was fairly calm. We stopped a few times at the different beaches along the way and the hot springs. Next time I would like to explore more. Timewise, without any unforeseen mishaps, launching at 7 and returning by 4 is plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and explore. I do think they should provide an emergency number in case there is an issue if something unexpected happens, as it did on our trip, because no one answers the office phone.

Such a great float trip! We put in just south of the Hoover Dam and did 12 miles, with several fun stops along the way. I would totally recommend it, though I might suggest a warmer month. We went in December, and we were pretty cold by the end. We did get to see some great features of the area (a hike in geothermal springs up to a geothermal pool, some cool caves, lunch on a lookout with an amazing view, some wildlife, etc.). Speaking of lunch, it was better than most you get on trips like these. Each one was individually packed and pretty good. And our Guide (Luke) was amazing - he even brought hot chocolate for a break. He was engaging and knowledgeable about the area, and he had eagle eyes - which is the only way we spotted most of the wildlife we saw. Luke was also watchful of the group, making sure people were staying safe and having a good time. About half way through the trip, the weather turned unexpectedly. The winds picked up, and I think we all knew we needed to move it and get off the river before dark. As the only female paddler (with a less than awesome back), I was slowing us down, so he offered to tow me. I didn't want to accept that offer, but to his point, better to get out safely with no injuries than be proud about it. So I agreed and helped as we went. That was a good call. We made it safely with no incidents and with time to spare. I've been on several trips where the guide was not as in tune with the change in circumstances, etc. I appreciated Luke's easy way to taking control of the trip without inciting panic or lessening the experience. I'd highly recommend this trip.