Hoover Dam Kayaking Trip, 6 Hot Springs, 6 Caves, 4 Waterfalls

We are one of the few Outfitters approved to take you to the base of the base of the awe-inspiring Hoover Dam. There are restricted passes and guests do need to go through an approved outfitter like us to launch in kayaks from the base of the Hoover Dam. We see Sauna Cave, Goldstrike Waterfalls, Melt Your Shoes Hot Springs, Arizona Hot Springs, Boyscout Slot Canyon, and the Emerald Cave.

Kayak from Hoover Dam to the legendary Sauna Cave, a 140-foot geothermal tunnel of steam.
This natural wonder reaches internal temperatures over 140°F, created by intense geothermal activity beneath the Earth’s surface.

We begin by driving down a highly restricted road—normally reserved only for Hoover Dam employees—thanks to our exclusive, pre-approved access passes. The drive takes about 10 minutes.

From there, we launch our kayaks directly into the Colorado River. Our first stop: a man-made hot spring that looks and feels completely natural. (We’ll explain the wild backstory in person!)

After soaking out all the toxins and jumping in the nice, refreshingly cool Colorado River, we stop at Two Spectacular Geothermal Rain Caves, including First Rain Cave, First and Last Emerald Cave, and Little Mermaid Rock.

Melt Your Shoes Hot Springs is our Third Stop. The underwater jacuzzi in the Colorado River leads us to a 120-130 degree waterfall where geothermal water is spewing out of the side of the cliff. The blend of hot water and lower river levels can create a perfect 98 to 108-degree Jacuzzi at the riverbank.

Goldstrike Hot Springs and Slot Canyon is our next stop, where we hike up the slot 95 degree stream, to a beautiful geothermal waterfall and Hot Springs with five layers of Hot Springs to choose your desired heat. Very light scrambling here. Very doable hike.

Based on heat and hiking comfort level, we hike up to the top of the waterfall and see a 300-foot horizontal waterfall.

Please note: You can hike all of these during winter and spring, but they are closed during summer due to the heat. You'd only have time to hike one each day. We get to see all of these with our backdoor pass from kayaking the Colorado River. + We get to drive down and launch in kayaks from the base of the dam, and see one of the most, if not The Most Beautiful, stretches of any river in the world.

Lone Palm Falls Geothermal Waterfall. You can hike all of these during winter and spring, but they are closed during summer due to the heat. You'd only have time to hike one each day. We get to see all of these with our backdoor pass from kayaking the Colorado River.

Boyscout Canyon: Year-round, the safest and easiest way to access the canyon is through the river with an outfitter like us. (Unless you have a 350-foot rappelling rope lying around and a car that off off-road).

This is our favorite stop, weather and time permitting. It's not for the faint of heart, but kids in the 5th-8th grade can make it up the second geothermal waterfall rope climb and see the 400-foot horizontal rain cave and waterfall. We guide you and show you how to use leverage against both sides of the slot canyon to pull yourself up.

We hike up from the river and up a large ladder through a waterfall to get to the world-famous Arizona Hot Springs.

Technically, we are paddling through the Black Canyon water trail from the base of the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach, which is in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. We will be paddling with a nice, calm, and slow one mph current of the river. We will show you how to catch the current as it is coming down, avoiding eddy currents. We will see 6 caves in total, 11 Geothermal Waterfalls, 4-6 Hot springs, and also stop at some of the most beautiful beaches and emerald caves with crystal-clear, almost glowing water guiding our path.

We exit here at the dirt boat launch of Willow Beach. We can either pick you up there (If your a morning person) so you can hop in your car and go when we conclude our trip, or we can take you back to your car at the Hoover Dam Lodge (If your not a morning person)

We will pass by the Emerald Cave on our way back to Willow Beach. Lighting will be good July-September but we can go inside year round.