Kayak the Colorado River through the black canyons of Arizona for an unforgettable experience!
Written by Mira
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Kayaking the Colorado River through the black canyons of Arizona from Willow Beach to Emerald Cove was one of the most magical experiences we’ve ever had. Watching the sun glow over the mountains, the pink sunset over the calm water fading into a dark sky full of stars as we paddled back was an unforgettable experience!
The views, the mountains, the sky, the animals, the water—Mother Nature is surreal.
But wait, what is a pocket guide exactly?
Glad you asked.
Pocket Guides are our quick and dirty, need-to-know guides. Short, sweet, and to the point. You won’t find added embellishments or extra long explanations. Formatted so that you can screenshot or copy and paste sections to keep handy in your phone (which you keep in your pocket. Heh, see what we did there?) for when you’re traveling or off the grid.
The perfect day trip from Vegas!
Fast Facts
- Perfect for beginners (calm water)
- Approximately 1 hour from the Las Vegas Strip
- Hoover Dam is approximately 15 miles away
- Bathrooms are available
- Fishing is allowed!
- Lots of bighorn sheep!
Rent CLEAR kayaks from Vegas Glass Kayaks
(877) 907-1715
[email protected]
Renting from Vegas Glass Kayaks was the best decision ever. To be able to see through to the blue water felt magical. And, of course, it made for the best photo op! The entire kayak was so aesthetically pleasing.
We worked directly with Danny with the bookings, and he was so quick to respond, very personable, and very informative. We were able to text and email, and he would reply back very quickly.
Getting there
25804 N. Willow Beach Road
Willow Beach, AZ
Entrance Fee: $25 or national park card
Don’t forget there is an hour time difference between Las Vegas and Willow Beach, but Vegas Clear Kayaks work on Vegas time!
Shamrock Self-Guided Tour
We opted to do the Shamrock self-guided, choose your own path tour. It cost $125/day per kayak.
We started mid-afternoon.
Danny met us at Willow Beach and was so kind to guide us with the directions.
He also provided us with a map to take a picture of (less wasteful if it accidentally flew away and got in the river) to help us with all the mile markers.
Guided tours with Danny are available!
Hiking a historical trail, riverside picnic, and bighorn sheep sightings
Vegas Glass Kayaks provided us with the mile mark so we could experience a historical hike to Gauges House. We attempted it, but we thought we ran into elks and quickly (well not too quickly, because we took some pictures and we didn’t want to get them mad if we moved too abruptly) turned around.
Turns out, they weren’t elks at all! They were bighorn sheep. (Danny got a good laugh when we told him we’d seen elks.)
Bighorn sheep are Nevada’s official state animal since 1973, and they are, unfortunately, endangered. It was so amazing that we got to be in their presence.
Err, um, the bighorn sheep.
Yup, totally what we meant.
Instead of finishing the hike, we enjoyed a picnic and rested before we headed back in the water to paddle to Emerald Cove.
Emerald Cove
On the way back
After returning back to Willow Beach, you will be required to load the kayaks back onto the trailer (Danny will walk you through the process beforehand), so make sure you pack some muscles!
We definitely recommend 10/10
5 stars and can’t wait to go back!
Need to know before kayaking to Emerald Cove
Pack lots of water, snacks, and be prepared to get wet while kayaking.
Layer up! It gets cold in the fall, especially after the sun sets.
When to kayak Emerald Cove
Emerald cove was magical in November, but it is recommended to go in the summer!
The sun shines through the cove and gives off an even more green glistening color during the sunny summer times. We can’t wait to go back for that.
Willow Beach to Emerald Cove Guided Kayaking Tours
If going solo isn’t your thing, you want to explore more locations, get the inside scoop on the history of the land, or have a large group to accommodate, here are some guided tours to get you out on the water safely! Some even include transportation from Las Vegas.
Further reading: History of the Colorado River
If you, like me, need to know all the things, heres a reading list so you can dive in deeper to the history of the Colorado River!
X marks the spot!
Pocket Guide: Kayaking Willow Beach to Emerald Cove
Kayaking Willow Beach to Emerald Cove
A Vegas Day Trip
Perfect for beginners
Rent CLEAR kayaks from Vegas Glass Kayaks
Contact Danny at (877) 907-1715
[email protected]
$125/day for self-guided tours
Guided tours available!
Where to go
25804 N. Willow Beach Road
Willow Beach, AZ
($25 entrance fee or National Park Pass)
When to go
April – November
What to know
Pack lots of water + snacks
Wear layers + be prepared to get wet
Anytime we’re in Las Vegas, we always make a point to get away from the hustle and bustle, and reconnect to nature, whether we’re hitting the trails, taking a scenic drive, or paddling out on the water.
Kayaking the Colorado River through the black canyons of Arizona from Willow Beach to Emerald Cove was such an amazing experience! We can’t wait to get back out there.
