Recently Viewed
Kayak Tour: Explore Emerald Cave's Beauty
4.9
671 Ratings
Willow Beach
Escape the Las Vegas heat on a self-drive kayak tour of Black Canyon. Explore the stunning Emerald Cave, cliff walls, and enjoy a hike with spectacular views.
Escape the Las Vegas heat on a self-drive kayak tour of Black Canyon. Explore the stunning Emerald Cave, cliff walls, and enjoy a hike with spectacular views.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Willow Beach Marina - Drive yourself to the designated starting point, allowing time to pick up any last-minute essentials or use the restroom before embarking on the river adventure. Join fellow kayakers for an approximately 3-hour journey on the water, paddling through the picturesque Black Canyon and exploring Emerald Cove. A quick waiver…
- Willow Beach Marina - Drive yourself to the designated starting point, allowing time to pick up any last-minute essentials or use the restroom before embarking on the river adventure. Join fellow kayakers for an approximately 3-hour journey on the water, paddling through the picturesque Black Canyon and exploring Emerald Cove. A quick waiver signature is required before the tour begins, followed by a safety briefing.
- Colorado River - Enjoy breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon and serene tranquility as the Colorado River meanders through the rugged red rock walls.
- Emerald Cave - The tour includes a visit to the stunning Emerald Cave, a hidden gem of the canyon. Glide through the luminous green waters, perfect for capturing unforgettable photos and enjoying peaceful reflection. Along the route, stop at a historic overlook with panoramic views of the Colorado River and get an up-close view of a 100-year-old river gauging station—from your kayak. This experience is perfect for nature enthusiasts and first-time paddlers, offering a wonderful mix of adventure, scenery, and history. Relish complimentary snacks and bottled water as you soak in the tranquil surroundings before paddling back to Willow Beach to conclude your adventure.
- Black Canyon - Paddle upstream through the scenic channels of Black Canyon on this fully guided, beginner-friendly 4-mile out-and-back eco-tour. As you explore this dramatic section of the Colorado River, your expert guide will share intriguing stories about its rich history and significance over the past century. Along the way, watch for native wildlife such as Desert Bighorn Sheep, Bald Eagles, and Coyotes.
What's Included
- Kayak Tour to Emerald Cove
- Professional Guide
- Use of Kayaking Equipment
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Kayak Tour to Emerald Cove
- Professional Guide
- Use of Kayaking Equipment
- Snacks
- Bottled water
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Personal gear (dry bags, water shoes, etc.) May be available for purchase…
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- National Park Fee (included with transport; not included with self-drive/without transport option)
- Gratuities
- Personal gear (dry bags, water shoes, etc.) May be available for purchase…
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- National Park Fee (included with transport; not included with self-drive/without transport option)
Additional Information
Leave the city behind and embark on a self-drive, guided kayak tour starting from the picturesque Willow Beach. Paddle through the pristine waters of the breathtaking Black Canyon to explore the luminous Emerald Cave. During the journey, take a brief hike to a panoramic viewpoint, observe desert wildlife, and admire the magnificent scenery—all while…
Leave the city behind and embark on a self-drive, guided kayak tour starting from the picturesque Willow Beach. Paddle through the pristine waters of the breathtaking Black Canyon to explore the luminous Emerald Cave. During the journey, take a brief hike to a panoramic viewpoint, observe desert wildlife, and admire the magnificent scenery—all while enjoying provided snacks and bottled water. With convenient self-drive access and guidance suitable for beginners, this is the perfect stress-free outdoor adventure for nature enthusiasts near Las Vegas.
- Please note: This tour does not include round-trip transportation from your hotel. You will need to rent a car to go to Willow Beach. Please DO NOT use rideshare as there is no cell reception at Willow Beach so you will not be able to get a return ride.
Location
25804 N Willow Beach
North Willow Beach
Meet @ Primitive Craft Beach. Drive until you see a dirt parking lot on your right and water on your left. You will see our orange tie dye kayaks on the dirt beach to the left.
Entrance Fee $25 per car, National Park Pass=free entry
NO Uber/Lyft/Taxi Only recommended for those with a vehicle.
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
4.9
(671 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Suel0104
Oct 3, 2026
kayaking - We had an amazing experience kayaking to emerald cave. Our guide, Don was absolutely fabulous. He was very engaging and knowledgeable. He gave us lots of information along the way about the area, the cave, and historic events. The pace was perfect, slow enough to enjoy the beauty of the area and relax but not too slow! Don was helpful to everyone in the group with maneuvering the kayaks and keeping us safe and not capsizing. Great tour and great guide! Now we want to do the all day kayaking adventure! Thank you Blazin' Paddles
Review provided by Tripadvisor
687sandiy
Sep 28, 2026
Great time. - Our guide, Chris, was great. It was a bit of a windy day. So thankful Chris did not cancel the trip. We think other trips were canceled because we didn't run to many other kayaks and we had the cave all to ourselves with no waiting! Perfect. Chris was very knowledgeable and fun. He let us travel at our own pace which at the end became a bit competitive. lol. Great time. Highly recommend Chris as your guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dart0619
Sep 21, 2026
A must do while in Vegas - One of the best things we did while we were in Vegas. Chris was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. He made sure to give us all the information needed to kayak. He knew the history of the area and was able to help us watch for wildlife. He even shared some great photos with us. I would highly recommend booking with Blazin' Paddles. The communication prior to the tour was appreciated. Very specific instructions on where and when to meet. We did the self-driving morning tour. We did find out the afternoon tour will give you that emerald green water that's in the photo. If that's what you are looking for, go in the afternoon. The morning was still a great time to go if you want to avoid the crowds and heat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susann435
Sep 21, 2026
Great Guide, Great Experience! - Our guide, Don, was amazing! He was knowledgeable, patient and very entertaining. I would book this guided kayak again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurahc5667uq
Aug 20, 2026
Awesome Kayak Tour - The Half Day Kayaking tour with Don was a fantastic experience! Don’s knowledge of the area’s history and wildlife made the tour especially fascinating. The squirt gun fights along the way added to the fun-filled adventure as well.
He was patient and helpful throughout the trip, making sure everyone felt comfortable. His friendly personality made the whole experience feel relaxed and personal.
I would 100 percent recommend Blazin' Paddles, and especially Don as your tour guide, to anyone looking for a fun, scenic way to experience a different side of the Las Vegas area. It was a memorable adventure and well worth it! We will definitely go again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kassey_f
Jul 30, 2026
I loved it - It’s was amazing I want to bring my whole family together here in September you’re going to have some much fun and the kids are going to love the water
Review provided by Viator
Ed_e
Jul 6, 2026
Great Adventure - I had an amazing time on this kayak excursion! The entire trip was incredibly fun from start to finish. A huge shoutout to our guide, Chris—he was fantastic and truly made the tour special. I really appreciate his expertise and great energy. Thank you, Chris, for a memorable day on the water! Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a great adventure
Review provided by Viator
N3240kxkeitha
Jul 1, 2026
Great time, highly recommend - Our family had a great time with Brandon as our guide. The scenery was amazing, the arrival process was easy, and Brandon was friendly and made the experience even better! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kendrabk4491ql
Jun 30, 2026
Great guided tour! - Wonderful! Brandon was so sweet and helpful. We had people of varying degrees of athleticism in our group-several older and myself (I’m noticeably overweight). He helped me feel confident that I could do the kayaking and helped me every step of the way as needed (like getting out of the kayak). My brother flipped his kayak and Brandon was right there to help him back in. We saw beautiful scenery, including the lake, the terrain, Emerald Cave, and even wild rams! It was a wonderful experience with the best guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elianamy5201yh
Jun 28, 2026
Great family experience - Great family outing with a great guide Chris.
He was patient and fun for both young and old. Great informational narrative about both history of the canyon and nature ve environment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
