Booking was easy and efficient--you select your day, time of the tour, number of people and type of kayak 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. read more

River Dogz - Emerald Cove - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

River Dogs got the Groove 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! read more

River Dogz is amazing! From start to finish, the team was so helpful--answering all my questions, calling ahead to make sure we knew where to go, and always being super friendly. Our guide, Michelle was incredible (ask for her if you can!)--she knew everything about the history, plants, and wildlife, and made the tour so much fun. We spent about four hours on the water, Afterward, the gift shop was a nice bonus, with more friendly faces. Overall, such a great experience-- my friends after seeing the pictures are ready to start booking the first of the year. We are excited if you are thinking about doing this ---- absolutely do it. You will not regret it ! read more

River Dogz - Kayaking by the rocks! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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What an awesome tour!!!!! We have been wanting to do emerald cove for a while!!! So we decided to do it after a vegas conference. The whole experience was user friendly and easy. We booked on the website and we got confirmation from what we wanted vs what we booked. We even got a text with things we should know and bring. That morning we got clear directions. We met Ryan our tour guide and I have to say he was so lively, knowledgeable and interactive. The day was pretty incredible the weather, and the scenery and the emerald cave. But the whole experience was just the best way to take in the beautiful nature. Thank you a Ryan for your positive energy and the snacks and pictures. A memorable experience for sure!!!! read more

River Dogz - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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Things went very smoothly, very organized. Ryan our guide did a phenomenal job pointing out landmarks and giving history of areas on the drive there and back. Would tell us when to get ready to snap a photo. He had a very kind energetic personality, very authentic. Instructions were thorough. I Highly recommend River Dogz and ask for Ryan, no regrets. read more

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Preston was our guide and was great. Shared a lot of information on the river and the history. While the cave was much smaller then I thought, the trip itself was much better then I thought it would be. read more

River Dogz - Cave - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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Wish we could have experienced this excursion on our Las Vegas visit. Unfortunately, they cancelled the morning of because they "didn't have a van". No alternatives offered - super unhelpful. The fact that this was a birthday activity is the cherry on top. Very disappointed. read more

I did use this company and I most likely would choose not to given the options. I was on a private canoe trip with friends at a small beach just before the emerald cave. We had been paddling for about 5 miles and stopped there to rest. We had only been there a few minutes when a female guide with a horrible attitude decided to bring in a very large group (10+) of young men to a beach already filled with our 4 canoes. Then right behind her another guide from another company with several more kayaks. None of which would have been problematic if this woman had better etiquette and a friendly nature. Instead she was rude and bossy, and made numerous contradictory statements. When initially question by one of our party she became confrontational and the young men on the tour made to come to her defense in a borderline aggressive manner. However, the most profound lack of professionalism was the lack of tie down as we sat or stood in the water and watched about 5 or 6 kayaks float away. Then the men on the tour had to go out and retrieve them. The whole thing was a very unpleasant experience. I can't say what the rest of their guides are like, but I hope this entitled and uncooperative attitude is not mirrored. read more

River Dogz - One of the many kayaks floating away - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Lucky enough to have Tyler as our guide. He was welcoming, knowledgeable, patient with novice yakkers ... he knew how to direct the novices ... River Dogz is a well oiled machine down on the beach... everyone was friendly and approachable. We loved all the water and snacks too! What an amazing experience! Thanks! read more

River Dogz - Thanks River Dogz! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Professional, stayed in touch, were prompt and efficient. Helped our group with a complicated river trip plan. Would be happy to use Jeremy and his team again. Jenn Fury read more

We had a great time kayaking in February. We went with Michelle, who is clearly a very experienced guide. I learned more interesting facts about Hoover Dam than I did when I went to Hoover Dam. The kayaking wasn't too strenuous and she did a good job of managing our varying skill levels and timing required to get good lighting in the cave we stopped at. Even though it was February, it wasn't that cold. It was sunny and I'm always cold but I dressed in layers and it was very pleasant. She went the extra mile to get our photos to us afterwards. Highly recommend! read more

River Dogz - Canyon view from our kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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This was my first time kayaking ever and I couldn't imagine a better experience! Our Guide, Preston, was wonderfully upbeat and so welcoming right at the top of the morning. He really set a positive tone for the entire day. After our drive from Vegas. I was able to grab a few waterproof necessities at the shop in the marina. Highly recommend a waterproof phone case so you can capture memories without worry you might lose or ruin your phone. I was a little nervous since it was my first time, but once we were on the water my confidence grew. This tour was a total of 4 miles (2 up and 2 back), and I was able to complete without feeling over exhausted by the end. Definitely found a new love and passion of kayaking that I want to explore more! Overall beautiful views, serene moments on the water, plus a little workout! 10 out of 10 would recommend this experience read more

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My wife and I went on this with her sister and husband. We had an absolutely amazing time on this day trip! Jessica our main guide was amazing and did a great job. She was funny, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond during the whole trip. Her and her assistant guide Kyle I believe, were great to be around all day and made the experience truly relaxing, enjoyable and something we would love to do again! read more

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We had an amazing experience with River Dogz and Ryan as our guide! The kayaking instruction was super helpful, Ryan took tons of pictures for the group and was informative about the history, the area, animals and more. This is a great kayaking trip for beginners through experienced. Thanks River Dogz! read more

We had a great time on the emerald cove tour. Ryan was very knowledgeable and friendly. it was a suprr fun day, and a nice getaway while stating on the strip. the transportation was convenient and easy to access. Definitely recommend! read more

This was an amazing experience. We kayaked 2 miles which took about an hour to a cave and took some pictures. Then back. On the way we took a hike & snack break. We looked for wildlife in the way. Our guide Becca was super nice/fun/informative. It was so chill everyone felt relaxed. Our guide took pictures of us and sent them to us. read more

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We want to shout out to River dogz , especially Ryan our guide today who was an outstanding guide!! He made the kayak tour not only informative, smooth and fun, but his instructions, stories and guidance was very much appreciated the group!! And a comedian (bonus). read more

River Dogz - About to enter the Emerald cove - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Loved this experience! definitely want to shout out our tour guide Ryan! he was phenomenal. He was super knowledgeable about the history and wildlife of the area. he was always making sure everyone was ok, offering snacks and water, awesome at instructing and guiding everyone, and a lovely person to talk to! He made sure everyone was having a great time and also was our photographer for the day to make sure everyone got cool photos while having fun on the water! Definitely recommend this experience they were great to work with and very organized! read more

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For 8/04/2022 kayak trip: We booked the Emerald Cave kayak tour directly with the company vs a second party as one of the activities for my sister's birthday. . Prior to booking & all throughout the booking process & actual tour, communication & responsiveness was exceptional. The staff I encountered throughout the process were always courteous,enthusiastic & welcoming either responding via text, phone calls or email. All various communications were timely. **We booked at least a month in advance, even then the earlier morning slots were all filled or had only 1-2spots left. We had three in our own booking group. We went with the 12:15 launch kayak tour due to the amount of spots left. **There were a total of 12 of us in the group, including the guide. **The tour itself runs about 3.5- 4 hours (12:15-5:45pm) . However it takes an hour to reach Willow Beach one way. **So factor in a total of 2 hours round trip. Also if you're being picked up from the Las Vegas strip, which we were & is included in the price if you choose the "pick up " option. **Your pick up time will be between 10:25am-10:45am (if you do the 12:15pm tour). I don't remember specifically the other hotel location options for pick up. We went with the Bellagio pick up as it was closer to the Paris Hotel. Pick up at the Bellagio was at the underground area designated for Uber cars & other tour companies. Our kayak guide, Adam texted us the morning of, to confirm our pickup location. **Personally I wouldn't recommend booking any other activities that day of the kayak tour since the time span with travel time & pick-up/drop off fills most of the day. At the earliest pick up is @ 10:25am & drop off at the latest through possibly 6:30pm. ** They state not to book any shows, reservations or activities until 6:30pm to allow for various return time. (Although we did book an escape room that same day @ 8:30pm at night that was an Uber ride off the strip. That turned out to be super fun as well, but we were exhausted afterwards) . Unless you're in your 20s or have high energy, you will be exhausted. **ACTUAL TOUR DESCRIPTION** It's a total of 4 miles on the Colorado River with stops to view the old river gauger's house remnants & learn the history. Here you will take a snack & water break which Are included.. After paddling further down you will reach the Emerald Cave which is more of a covered cove. Still very cool nonetheless. Contingent upon the time of day & day of the week it can get busy. We had to wait in a line along the rocks for our turn. We had a remarkable time! It's a great way to explore nature & get exercise! I loved it more than I anticipated because coming from the east coast, you don't get a chance to kayak among canyon walls , let alone ones so massive! It was awesome to paddle on sparkling emerald waters & witness the splendor & magnificence of navigating the Colorado River. The company fits you with high quality kayaks & PFDs. If visiting Vegas & your home base is on the strip this is an excellent & viable option to venture off the strip & Explore what the area has to offer, even if you don't rent a car (like us). *Travel light* : where aqua shoes or hiking sandals or quick drying shoes, wear a swim shirt or rash guard for sun protection or any clothes/technicals that are light & quick drying. You can wear your swim suit but remember the sun is out & fierce. Some went in their swimsuits & they were burnt. If you do wear a swimsuit put a light top on for sun protection. I advise wearing sunglasses & a hat as well. If either one has straps even better. I wore my trucker hat & it flew off. Luckily someone in our group was able to paddle to it & save it before it sank. If you want to take pics or videos, bring a waterproof case with a lanyard for your smartphone or you go pro. But if you don't, your guide will take pics of you in the cave & on the water and air drop them to everyone in the van before you head back. Bring cash (to tip) & or a card for any purchases. There's a gift shop at Willow Beach but we didn't stay very long. **they do offer military discounts, AAA, & other various discounts! Just ask! read more

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Jessica was a great, knowledgeable guide. They were proactive in letting us know a day in advance what to expect, where to go, what would be available, etc... They even provided pictures for free! read more

i kayaked for the first time last year, visiting sea caves off the coast of California so I already had the basics down. We had Casey as our tour guide, who was friendly, and she was able to provide us information about interesting things we passed on the drive from Vegas. When we arrive to the marina, we had a few minutes at the marina shop while the crew set up the kayaks and all that good stuff. During the brief orientation, we were told if we ever got stuck against any of the mountains/rocks do not use the oars because they are hard plastic and we would risk breaking them. This was new info for me, because on my previous experience, (I guess the oars were different materials) we were told if we got stuck to use them to get unstuck (this advise plays a part in my review). So off we go and the scenery is just beautiful ... it's so cool to know that depending on what side of the river you're on, determines the state you're in. I'm guessing two hours in we make a stop to have some light snacks, water and fruit. Once we push off again, we're told that the next stop will be Emerald Cove but sometimes there can be a wait time of an hour or more to go in the cove depending on the amount of people that are there and if the wait is that long, then we won't go into the cove we will just go past it a little ways and see something else ... now I booked this tour because Emerald Cove is a bucket list item so I was instantly irritated because the reason I'm on this water at this moment is to see Emerald Cove and prior to now there was no mention of possibly not seeing it. We get there and the wait is expected about to be about 20-30 minutes, so we're good to go ... at this time we're told to stay in line against the mountain and in order to stay in line you have to hold on to the mountain and I must say it is very uncomfortable to hold on to rocks for that amount of time so I just kayaked around. The time inside the cave was very short-lived because as you go in you're directed where to "park" the kayak so that Casey could take a group picture and after the picture we were directed out. So if you're first into the cove you get time in there but if you are at the end of the line then you're the first out and you really don't get any time inside. I think if I didn't have a similar tour, this would've been OK for me because I wouldn't have had certain expectations. Heading back to the marina is just so peaceful, the other tours are gone for the day, sky is clear .... my kayak partner and I at one point got ourselves stuck at the side of a mountain around a bend (searching for shade) and Casey was nowhere to be found which fit the recurring joke my group had throughout the tour which was that safety didn't appear to be a priority (there were times when others on the tour were so far back on the water but the group was never halted). We were stuck there for quite a few minutes because we were already directed not to use the oars, so what exactly are we supposed to do? Eventually, we used the oars anyway, because we could not get ourselves unstuck, and when we came around the bend, Casey was down the river lol (funny not funny). read more

River Dogz - The River - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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Had an absolutely fantastic time with Julia on our kayak tour to Emerald Cave on Lake Powell on March 27, 2025! The weather was stunning (if a bit cold) but the winds were gusting to 39 mph, and I am eternally grateful that Julia was flat out honest with us about the trip back battling the winds as we were able to be mentally prepared for the strength needed to get back to Willow Point Marina. Julia from RiverDogz was on time, communicative and engaging. She was full of great information and was delighted that I could geek out with her about geology (and I can vouch for her knowledge being accurate). The kayak trip itself was wonderful, relaxing on the way out, but rough on the way back ONLY because of the winds. But in between made great connections - our group was small (7 of us) and warm and chatty. Great laughs and moments the entire way. We my son isn't a traveler, and this excursion was his idea, and he was so happy about it -- his first time kayaking too. So, if he had a great time and was talking about it, it means they did REALLY good! We will use Riverdogz anytime we are back in the area! read more

River Dogz - Heading out from Willow Point marina. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Spectacular views and fun! Great communication and Michelle our tour guide was awesome!!! Highly recommend! read more

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Ryan was an incredible tour guide for the kayak river tour. He was so knowledgeable, had an answer to every question I asked him from the best places to eat to knowing every single plant in the area! Also, he made the effort to get to know each one of us. I enjoyed feeling connected to our tour guide. I couldn't praise Ryan enough! read more

River Dogz - Our stop learning about the plants and taking in breath taking views - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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Fantastic tour- highly recommend! Great for families, friends, singles - you will not be disappointed!

Shout out to Casey for making our first kayaking experience spectacular! This is a great company to choose when booking. Our guide, Casey, was exceptional at providing us with history and insight on the nature surrounding us. We had a really nice group that made the experience all but better. If we are ever back in town this will definitely be a consideration to come back and have fun on the water. (they did provide us with water, snacks, and there is restrooms and a store to buy water shoes, or any other items forgotten. The pick up from our hotel was very nice. Casey is a safe driver providing us with some history on the way). read more

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River Dogz are the best! We took this kayaking trip based on what we read on Trip Advisor, well they even exceeded our expectations. They provide you with instruction, water, snacks, life jackets, kayaks, and anything else you would possibly need for your trip on the Colorado. Adam was our guide and he was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable, funny, and even helpful as well. We will for sure go back anytime we're in Vegas and want to do something outdoors and get away from the massive crowds of people on the strip. Book your trip with River Dogz! read more

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FABULOUS experience! Our tour guide Ryan was the best. We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids ages 10 & 13) in a full van of 13 people on a brutally hot day in July. (Note: We had the only kids in the group, but it worked out fine.). Ryan made the drive down fun and interesting by engaging with everyone in the van and sharing fun and interesting facts about the places we were driving through on the way to the marina. The trip flew by and Ryan created a laid back, jovial environment that got us all talking and engaging with one another. At the marina Ryan set our expectations regarding how the day would flow, how long things would take and most importantly- how to kayak safely while still having fun. No one in our family had kayaked before, but we were wildly successful and had a blast (despite the 117 degree heat!). All in all, we got some stunning pictures, created memories of a lifetime and made some new friends in the process. This is absolutely a tour you don't want to miss. read more

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What an awesome adventure we got to check off our bucket list. The water was beautiful and the scenery was majestic. Our tour guide, Michelle was so wonderful and knowledgeable. We enjoyed everything about it. It was a workout we didn't realize how much we actually needed. Our arms are feeling it this morning. But overall very great adventure. read more

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This was such an awesome activity! Our guide Hannah was excellent; fun, relaxed and attentive to everyone in the group. We did the Emerald Cove Kayak Tour and it was such a fun experience! The cove itself is a very shallow pocket into the rocks but the clear water with the green algae is very cool to see. We spent some time at the "beach" and did a little walk up a trail which led to amazing views. Overall we kayaked 4 miles roundtrip and something super unique is that we were "in two places at once;" on one side was Nevada and on the side was Arizona! This is definitely an excursion worth doing! read more

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This is the 2nd time I've done this trip with River Dogz and once again it was an awesome trip. It helps that the scenery is amazing. But Ryan made it so much more fun. If I'm ever back in Vegas, I'd do it again. read more

This place is a gem! I'm so glad that I was able to book with River Dogz! They are easy to get in touch with and provided all the necessary information (direction, appropriate clothes to wear) once booked, also another follow up text a day before the trip and the day of the trip a text was sent with directions and also meeting up location. You have the option of single or tandem kayaks. We had 2 kids with us and opted for tandem. I really appreciated Ryan our guide being knowledgeable about the terrain and also knowing the history of the Colorado river. They provided plenty of snacks and water. The swim at the beach was one of the highlights to this trip. This is a must if your are in Las Vegas or at the Grand Canyon! We will be back! My whole family enjoyed the trip. Thank you River Dogz! read more

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The kayaking was easier than we thought. Great scenery and a great guide, Haile, was very informative and peppy. She goes above and beyond trying to help, whether it's at the hotel pickup, teaching kayaking, navigating the river and getting you back to the hotel she's awesome. would recommend this trip read more

When I first moved to Vegas a friend mentioned this Emerald Cave Kayak Tour. Then I completely forgot about it until I saw it and immediately booked it. Since I live in Vegas I opted to drive to Willow Beach. I appreciate the company getting in contact with me the week of and the day before to first remind me I booked the trip and also to reassure me all was good. As I was driving to the met-up spot and crossed over onto the Arizona side, it dawned on me there's a time difference between the two states. I called and luckily everything was fine, they go by vegas time so good to know in case you're driving yourself! There were multiple river dog groups that were coming and going. Our tour guide was supposed to be Alyssa then changed to someone else. We were at the gift shop about 40minutes before the start time. 3 different river dog groups came by until we finally found the one we were supposed to be in. The beginning was a little shaky and stressful wondering if we missed our group but once we got in the kayak everything was peachy. I'm pretty sure we went over the 4 hours, which was fine by me. We made 3 stops, first at the cave, then 2 rest stops at little beach areas. I was dead exhausted by the end but we went at a good pace. It was a beautiful day and the views from the water are spectacular. If you're looking to do something active for a change and be around water this was the perfect activity. read more

River Dogz - Inside the cave - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

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Did the amazing Emerald Cove Kayak adventure. Pickup on time, with excellent communication by our tour guide Michelle. We all came wearing our bathing suits under our clothes, and wearing water socks or an old old pair of tennis shoes. On the way out, we drove thru Boulder City for a brief history lesson. Next up was a stop at the Marina store for snacks, drinks, and a mandatory restroom break. Make sure you stay close to the group and pay attention to all the important instructions given. Its nice to get out of all the madness of Sin City, and have a little outdoor experience. read more

We had a great adventure with River Dogz! Highly recommend!! Communication was easy, and they made everything clear and fun. Ryan was the best tour guide!! read more

River Dogz - Emerald Cove - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Amazing day!!! Ryan was an exceptional guide!! Very kind, communicative and an absolute joy to have guide us!!! I would highly recommend this company RiverDogz!!! read more

We had an amazing day!! Thank you, Juston!! Will gladly return hopefully soon !!! Perfect read more

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We got lucky, picked a day with perfect weather and had an amazing guide (Preston). This was a fun day excursion and was nice to see something besides bright lights. There is truly a whole other side of this town besides the strip and it's well worth exploring. Give this company a try! They explain everything very well for first timers and their communication was excellent and didn't have us feeling as though we didn't know what was going on read more

River Dogz - Colorado River - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Second time paddling with RiverDogz and again 5 stars! I brought a group of high school students from Indiana and the guide was great to help with paddle tips and share natural and historical information about the area. We will see them again again next year! read more

River Dogz - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me