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Colorado River Kayak: Explore Emerald Cave
5.0
214 Ratings
White Hills
Embark on a thrilling Emerald Cave Kayak Tour with the oldest and most experienced tour company on the Colorado River. Explore scenic overlooks, enjoy a catered lunch, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Black Canyon. Book now!
Embark on a thrilling Emerald Cave Kayak Tour with the oldest and most experienced tour company on the Colorado River. Explore scenic overlooks, enjoy a catered lunch, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Black Canyon. Book now!
Duration:
4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Emerald Cave - The moment the paddle dips into the Colorado River, one is transported back in time. Paddle past historic sites of the 1920’s era government project that gave life to the desert southwest. Venture into the Black Canyon narrows to explore the river that exists only an hour outside of the busy lights of the Las Vegas strip. Learn how…
- Emerald Cave - The moment the paddle dips into the Colorado River, one is transported back in time. Paddle past historic sites of the 1920’s era government project that gave life to the desert southwest. Venture into the Black Canyon narrows to explore the river that exists only an hour outside of the busy lights of the Las Vegas strip. Learn how to back your kayak up into the world famous Emerald Cave/Cove to get some stunning memorable photos of the emerald green water. The cave itself is the cherry on top of a spectacular afternoon on the beautiful section of river we paddle. The guided kayak tour takes place within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and there is an admission fee per vehicle to enter which is payable direct upon entry. This admission fee is waived if you have a current National Park annual pass or military ID.
What's Included
- Kayaks, Paddles, and Life Vests
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Kayaks, Paddles, and Life Vests
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- National Park Fee (included w/transport; not included w/self-drive or without transport option)
- All Fees and Taxes
- National Park Fee (included w/transport; not included w/self-drive or without transport option)
Additional Information
Experience the thrill of paddling premium kayaks on the iconic Colorado River, guided by seasoned experts from the region’s leading tour company. Discover the breathtaking beauty and historical treasures of Emerald Cave and Black Canyon. This tour offers a leisurely pace, with frequent stops for photography, storytelling, and wildlife observation,…
Experience the thrill of paddling premium kayaks on the iconic Colorado River, guided by seasoned experts from the region’s leading tour company. Discover the breathtaking beauty and historical treasures of Emerald Cave and Black Canyon. This tour offers a leisurely pace, with frequent stops for photography, storytelling, and wildlife observation, followed by a catered lunch and relaxation on a canyon beach. With 4–6 miles of river to explore, high-quality equipment supplied, and exceptional support staff, this adventure is perfect for groups and thrill-seekers alike.
- We offer single or tandem (2 seater) kayaks. Please specify which kayak you would prefer.
- The Emerald Cave is just a small cutout of the mountain for a great photo op!
- We provide life vests. Please specify which size you would prefer. S/M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL
- You will be meeting us at the marina. Have reliable transportation to meet us 30 minutes before your tour start time, there is NO cell service at the marina to call a ride share.
Location
25660 Willow Beach Rd
Willow Beach Road
Meet at the Paddle craft launch beach 20 minutes before your tour start time to meet your guide and get fitted with life vests and boats. Tours will begin promptly at their scheduled start time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(214 Ratings)
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V2167edmichaelc
Jun 15, 2026
Colorado river kayaking - We totally enjoyed our Colorado river experience with evolution. Our guide Jeff was both entertaining and knowledgeable making the day most delightful
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellekr7277nj
Jun 8, 2026
I'd never been to Willow Beach, love it! - Faith is a fabulous host/guide! Who doesn't love a mermaid! I will definitely be going again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Coastal66600001084
Jun 5, 2026
A Great Experience - Despite being late to the outing, our guide, Brianna, and the folks at Evolution waited on us. Very kind of them. Once we got oriented with the group, we were off quickly, paddling and enjoying the beautiful surroundings on the Colorado River. Brianna was very knowledgeable and a great guide. She kept an easy pace for the group, and was great to talk with about the ecology and history of the river. Because we were a smaller group, we got to paddle further upstream than usual tours, and had a nice beach area for lunch and a brisk swimming experience. We loved our tour, and would ask for Brianna to guide us on future visits.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jed
Jun 4, 2026
Magical day on the river - The emerald cave was not as big or deep as the pics made it seem. That being said, this trip was so AWESOME!!! The scenery is just amazing and there is such a peace that this river brings. The water is crystal clear and so beautiful. The kayaks are so easy to maneuver. We did 6 miles in the tandem and it was pretty easy work. Our guide, Brianna, was SO GREAT!!! Easy to talk with, very knowledgeable about all our random factoid questions, She truly enjoys her job and meeting new people. But most of all she was extremely alert and handled the situation expertly when our kids (in another tandem kayak) tipped over and went in the water. She kept calm and helped them regroup, get back in, and continue on without issue. Thanks Brianna!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kakeefer25
May 27, 2026
Must do - Must book adventure! Only a short drive from Las Vegas and you feel like you’re in a different world. The crystal clear emerald water is something to see. Our tour guide, Faith, was amazing! She had lots to tell us as we causally kayaked to the cave and back. Love the water gun play. Kids had a blast soaking each other and Faith. 😉 You can tell Faith loves her work and wants you to have a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dtwilleylpta
May 6, 2026
Great Day! - We had a great day! Faith was very knowledgeable and informative of the history of the river! She was also very accommodating and fun! Definitely recommend Faith and Evolution Expeditions!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Global620362
May 5, 2026
Older couple - loved it! - My husband and I are 65 and not in great shape. We had a tandem kayak - it was very stable and easy to maneuver. It was a little tough paddling when the wind kicked up, but we made it without too much difficulty! And we didn't feel like we were pushed to go any faster. The short hike was easy and the lunch was good. Unfortunately we didn't see any wildlife other than birds. The trip was very beautiful and relaxing!
We drove separately and weren't really sure where to meet (it was actually very obvious) - but we drove around a little looking for a sign in case the various companies had different lauch points.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Surti_25
May 3, 2026
Emerald Cave with the best guides – highly recommend! - I did the Emerald Cave kayaking tour with Evolution Expeditions as a solo traveler, and it truly exceeded every expectation. A huge shoutout to Ryan and Faith — they made this experience absolutely memorable.
Ryan was incredibly helpful from the very start. He took care of all the scheduling logistics and made sure everything was sorted before I even arrived. Knowing someone had it all handled gave me real peace of mind.
Now, Faith — where do I even begin! I was a little nervous going in since I’ve always done tandem kayaking and this was my first time paddling solo. Faith immediately picked up on that and made sure I felt comfortable and confident throughout the entire trip. She’s an outstanding instructor — knowledgeable, attentive, and so warm. She shared fascinating facts about the cave and the surrounding area, kept the group together beautifully, helped everyone get amazing photos and videos, and even guided us through a lovely little hike mid-trip with detailed information about everything we saw. The lunch break in the middle of it all was such a wonderful touch.
As someone traveling solo, having guides like Ryan and Faith made all the difference. They were both genuinely caring, professional, and fun to be around. I’d recommend Evolution Expeditions to anyone — solo travelers especially. Will absolutely be back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Comevincentb
Apr 26, 2026
Emerald water fantasy - Faith was an amazing guide. She was very passionate and super invested in everything witch made it super intresting and an incredible experience. An absolute must do again. Thanks you for this wonderful day! Your French-Canadien friends!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
267lannias
Apr 19, 2026
Just What I Needed - A little sun, a lot of laughter, and the kind of quiet you don’t realize you need until you’re in it. Brianna made it all easy and fun for my family, sharing so much without it ever feeling like a lesson. Plus a great reminder that kayaking is, in fact, a full-body experience. ☺️ The next day I am still left feeling loose, relaxed, and just a little tuckered.
Bring your hat, Tevas or water shoes, and sunscreen. Your guide will tell you about the wildlife end history of the area while taking care of snacks, lunch, and water. A great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
