Booking was easy and efficient--you select your day, time of the tour, number of people and type of…read morekayak for each person (single or tandem). You also provide each persons height and weight when you sign them up. I booked 2 single kayak tours for this Saturday at 9:00am. The push off location is located off of Willow Beach, at exit 14 on Henderson. If you're a local and driving yourself to Willow Beach, it's $99 for each person. They also have an option for downtown hotel pickup at either the Aria or Excalibur for $147 per person. After purchasing tickets online, I was sent an email confirming all the details for the Saturday tour. Please use the restroom before pushing off, which are located south of the beach landing area. Follow the sidewalk for about 7 minutes past the gazebos and the waterline to a small building before the marina. Meet time was 8:45 am and we were able to find our guide, Griffin, who gave us life jackets and an assigned kayak. He also provided everyone with a bottle of water and a dry bag for any valuables (I gave him my key fob because I don't pack any bags for the tour). The kayaks do have compartments with a secure lid to put a small bag in for phone, keys, sunscreen, etc...but it's suggested to back light. Hats, sunscreen and sunglasses were recommended as the sun will bake you on the lake. Lifejackets must be worn on the lake; if you don't and are caught it's a HEFTY fine. Griffin gave a safety briefing and laid out how the tour would go. Our group was 9 people plus our guide. Griffin also noted that if it gets too much for some kayakers to keep going, he's always willing to tow them. So don't worry, you'll make it back alive. The first leg of the tour is 2 miles north up the Colorado River and Griffin provided historical information about the area, spotted wildlife and provided information about them, and you eventually end the 1st part of the tour at Emerald Cove. If you don't know about this, look it up on Instagram and Google. The cove does "sparkle" when the sun hits it just right around 1-2 pm, and lasts about 40 minutes. Once you hit the cove, people do line up in their kayaks to get a picture of themselves. BEWARE If you are dying to have the sparkly photo, prepared to wait in the line for hour(s) just to get in there, and you might possibly miss it because of the amount of people wanting that shot. Launching out when we did at 9:00 am, we waited 10 minutes to get in (3 people ahead of us). By the time we left the cove, we saw around 45-50 kayakers heading down the river to this destination. So, do the math in your head. Our group piled into the cove (backwards) and he divulged the history and current pop culture of the cave. When our time was up in the cave, Griffin provided everyone with photo opportunities of their smaller groups. He took photos of every family unit individually for them and said he would send the photos to the phone number of the person that booked the trip. The second leg of the tour begins by heading back (south) in the direction we came. On the way back, we crossed the lake and headed to a beach for a break and snacks. Once out of our kayak, Griffin supplied the entire group with granola bars, chips, and extra water bottles, and we were allowed to swim and relax for about 15-20 minutes. Griffin also brought extra sunscreen for reapplication for the group. The kids were busy finding crawfish in the sand and had a lot of fun on the beach. Some of the adults and kids did get into the water for a "cold plunge" to cool off, as it was starting to get hot at this time. The water in the lake is 52-54 degrees, so it is cold, but I highly recommend just getting in and doing it because it WILL cool you off for the second leg of the 2 mile trip to home base. After snacks, rehydration, and cleaning up trash, we were back in our kayaks and launched off for the remainder of the trip. Griffin again provided historical background of the lake, canyon, and how it connected with the Hoover Dam, which was SUPER interesting. On the way back, our group also spotted 2 bald eagles. They were very hard to find at first but Griffin was extremely patient and helped everyone identify them. By the time we were 3 miles into the trip heading back to home base, the lake was packed with paddles boarders and kayakers. It had to have been around 11-11:30 pm. At around 12:15pm, we finally made it back to the landing beach where we started, pulled our kayaks onto the beach with assistance and handed over our life vests. Griffin thanked everyone for coming and gave out additional water bottles to anyone that wanted them for the car ride home. Griffin was absolutely professional, informative, funny, patient, and took time to answer questions, engage with all of the families and made sure our experience was amazing. Tips are customary and recommended for these tips of excursions, so please be thoughtful. I highly recommend River Dogz and Griffin as your tour guide.

River Dogs got the Groove…read more I persuaded my family into jumping on the river for the Emerald Cave tour. And were they glad that I did! We had an amazing day on the water! Our tour guide Ryan did a fantastic job sharing the history of the area as we journeyed to Willow Creek and beyond. While on the water we enjoyed the river's natural beauty and wildlife, the coolness of the water which offset the warmth of the day, and shared gratitude for each other and the opportunity to have experienced such joy together.. We were fortunate and encountered a bit of wild life while on the water: bald eagle, red tailed eagle, turkey buzzards, and a rattlesnake. We've already decided that we're doing another tour the next time we're in Las Vegas. I definitely recommend this tour with the River Dogs!

My husband and I did the full-day Black Canyon kayak tour with Desert Adventures and I seriously…read morecan't recommend it enough. I grew up in Vegas and have been on this river a ton by boat, and I've also hiked to both Gold Strike and Arizona Hot Springs. Those hikes are super rewarding but honestly brutal. This experience was completely different in the best way. Being able to get out of the river and be steps away from hot springs was amazing, and the views from the water are hands down the best. We met the team bright and early at 5:30am for launch, and everything was super smooth. They shuttled us, got us fitted for life jackets, handled waivers, and gave a quick safety rundown. Launch timing is strict because of the park service, but they made it feel easy and not stressful at all. Definitely be on time, though, because due to this strict timing, they will leave without you. The kayaks were such a game-changer. They were longer touring kayaks with foot-controlled rudders, dry storage, and actual back support. Super comfortable for me and somehow also worked great for my 6'2" husband (he had a larger boat). Since it was just the two of us, our guide Holmes customized the whole day to our pace. He took us to hidden spots I had never seen before, even as a local, and helped us avoid crowds. We did some hiking, rock scrambling, used ropes at Boy Scout Canyon, and explored hot springs that you can only get to from the river. It felt adventurous but still very safe, and he gave great tips the whole time. He also knew so much about the area. History of the Hoover Dam, plants, wildlife, etc. I learned a ton - even as someone who felt familiar with the area. This is exactly why I'm glad we didn't just rent kayaks. Having a guide made it feel like a next-level experience. We got to relax more while he handled the route and found the best spots. We got lucky with perfect early April weather. No wind, super glassy water, and we could see fish deep in the water. The 12 miles honestly felt way easier than expected, especially with how well Holmes guided us through the current so we could just float and chill a lot of the time. They also packed a great lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. You really just need a sun shirt, hat, sunglasses, swimsuit, water shoes, and sunscreen. They take care of the rest. Even though we leaned a little more adventurous, I could totally see this being doable for beginners, too. You don't need to be super athletic to enjoy it. Pickup and cleanup were easy and seamless. They handled everything while I grabbed a snack and relaxed, which honestly made it feel even more special. This was such a cool experience, and I would 100% do it again. Already recommending it to friends, and I would definitely consider doing the overnight version next time.

Desert Adventures is great! We did a self led excursion…read moredown the Colorado river but used this company to drop us off and pick us up! They provided a large trailer with ample shelves and space to put are gear onto. A safety speech was also given. This company has special authorization to enter the Hoover Dam property and take people down to launch from the entrance of the Hoover Dam. They instructed you to move quickly as there was a time limit for getting everyone/everything Into the water and away from the area. The next day, they were prompt with their pick up and helped us load our gear back onto the trailer. I would definitely use this company again and recommend them to others.

Book this tour was super easy. Once we made our payment we were emailed instructions on where to…read moremeet. My husband and I went on this tour on a Sunday. We were told that the raft could hold about 32 people, but we were lucky because on tour we had a total of 17, which was nice. We were also given a bag with snacks and a bottle of water, which was great to snack on during the tour. We met our driver at the Hoover Dam lodge. There was a lot of parking available, which made it easy. Our driver was super friendly and very informative. He took us to the raft to meet our tour guide. Our tour guide wasn't welcoming to my husband and I, but as other guests loaded onto the raft, his attitude changed. As we started the tour we stayed at the same spot for 30 minutes. Our guide passed out pictures in sheet protectors and began sharing about the history of the Hoover dam. Throughout the tour, our guide was testing us about our history. We didn't know much of it, that's why we attended the tour to learn. The best part of the tour was us getting out of the raft and landing on a piece of land to touch the water and skip rocks and take more photos. It was nice to see a few mini waterfalls and even a hot spring! I did wished we went deeper into the dam, but I guess that would've been for the longer tour. Also, I wish we could've swam in the lake, but it was very chilly. It was a great experience, however, the initial encounter with our guide was uncomfortable. We learned a lot and the views were amazing.

This was such a fun excursion. We are locals and have people visiting us from out of town. We have…read morenot done this before, but were curious about the tour - we had previous only been the top of the dam. We had a beautiful 60° day. Kyle was a fantastic guide. Really nice guy and very knowledgeable about the area. Our driver Micheal was also fantastic and helped get us oriented to the dam as we took the drive from the meet up point to the boat. Would highly recommend this tour, especially if you need to get away from the craziness of the strip for an afternoon. We did the hour and a half tour, but I think we will come back for the three hour.

Such an amazing experience and opportunity. A definite challenge but very rewarding. The process…read moreoverall at the lodge is quick and effortless. The person who helped us and got us setup was Jamaica, she was a fantastic host and gave us all the needed information before the trek. Her hospitality was very appreciated and her greeting us when we ended was icing on the top. Also...probably one of the best drivers you will come across. I would be down to do this again, we were able to see a lot and still left some on the table. I would choose a few specific stops on your first trip so you are not rushing in time. We made good time but knew we couldn't mosey along. The first 4 miles is the biggest challenge, after that you just get into the rhythm and cruise. Bring plenty of fluids. The kayaks have spots for carrying a good amount of water and food, to include some bungees on the front for tie down. Water shoes I would recommend with good grip. Overall, a great day on the water, would definitely recommend and would like to enjoy again. Thank you Jamaica and your trusted sidekick for helping us along the experience! Until next time!

What an incredible experience! Everything was easy from start to finish, including finding the…read morelocation and checking in. Don was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel welcome the entire time. He even offered to take photos for us, which was such a thoughtful touch and made the experience even more special. Thank you so much Don! The entire trip was organized, stress-free, and so much fun. You can tell they truly care about their customers and want everyone to have a great time. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and would recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable kayaking adventure!

This was easily one of the most fun things I did in Vegas…read more The drive from the Strip to the river is about an hour and actually really scenic, you pass some pretty cool rock formations along the way. We had Brett as our guide and he was awesome. The weather couldn't have been better and the water really is that bright green you see in photos. When the sun hits it just right, it's unreal. The whole kayak route is beautiful, and we even saw a bald eagle flying overhead, which was a nice surprise. Tips: Don't book this if you're not in decent shape, it's about 3-4 miles of kayaking. If you're unsure, go for a tandem kayak and bring someone to share the work. It'll make the experience way more enjoyable. Just make sure to request a tandem kayak in advance

OMG!!! Hands down so glad we picked this company! Our tour guild was Nina officially the best kayak…read moreGuide!! She's so fun and she teaches you all about the history of Colorado river.. I did my research this spot was the most affordable and it was guided by Nina. Tip her for sure she goes out of her way to make your experience memorable. Not to mention the owner this guys amazing has a few funny jokes. lol. We accidentally booked for the wrong day and we called in explained what happened and with no hassle he allows us to kayak the day we wanted. Bring water bring granola bar, beef jerky.and a hat. Have fun

The trip was amazing! Both tour guides directed us the…read morewhole way and made it super fun. They took photos along the entire way so I never really pulled out my phone. Would def do it again! Perfect for groups too

Such an amazing experience!! We went out to kayak with our whole family and it was unforgettable…read more We even saw a bald eagle! At the beginning, my sister was very anxious but Blair, the tour guide, took the time to calm her down and reassure her of her safety. After we came back, she was smiling from ear to ear. Thank you to Blair for your kindness!! It added to a memory that will live with us forever

A truly unforgettable experience. We did the 4 hour deluxe option stopping at Emerald Cove. Aside…read morefrom the scenery being absolutely breathtaking and the water being the perfect temperature, our guide Tehya was the cherry on top. She made the experience significantly better offering personal stories and knowledge about the local flora and fauna. The trip would not have been the same without her! We enjoyed ourselves and can't wait to be back!

Our group enjoyed a fantastic 4-Hour kayaking tour. It exceeded my expectations and we all had a…read moregreat time. Our guide, Jayden, was awesome. She provided useful information, and we learned a lot about the area and environment. She is very good at her job. The equipment and lunch were top quality and overall we had a very, very good time. I highly recommend this tour and I would return for an even longer tour next time.

PROS: This is a good view of the rock formations. This marina holds many boats, nice staff, warm…read morewater, you can feed the fish, and loads of parking. This also has a store and restaurants CONS: It costs $25 to enter as of 7/2026 and the lady at the toll gate is bitter. You also can't swim or fish in the water OVERALL: As long as you don't mind paying the $25+ dollars I recommend coming here to eat, sail, or hike. It also shows you the damage of what the drought has caused

Took a late afternoon visit since the lake isn't that far from my home and I had the urge to float…read morearound in the cool water of lake mead. Then drove to the marina since I haven't visited in many years. I'm a Nevada resident since 1990 and enjoyed many aspects of the lake. Unfortunately the water level is declining and I pray for better days. The Marina was quiet on a Friday and took a walk on the bridge to the boat docks. There was a sign at the entrance of the cafe and the Friday special after 5pm was a "fish fry" for $5.95 hmmm? Interesting, so I gave it a try. Surprisingly delicious and even the little cup of coleslaw was really good. Prompt and friendly service in a cozy little cafe. Overall a good spontaneous visit to a familiar venue and I will be back more often.