Kayaking Arizona Hot Springs: Colorado River with Two Guides

Eight miles upriver to four hot springs and a rope-climb waterfall in one day

A private guided kayaking and hiking tour on the Colorado River near Arizona, where you paddle 8 miles upstream to Goldstrike Hot Springs, Infinity Hot Springs, Sauna Cave and optional rope climbs at geothermal waterfalls. Two guides lead the trip—one meets you at the river with kayaks after your initial hike in, the other paddles alongside as you move upriver. The tour includes kayak, paddles, life jacket, cold water and lunch snacks; you'll get 300+ photos and videos of the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and hike Arizona hot springs

• Hike into Colorado River at Arizona Hot Springs
• Kayak 8 miles upriver with guides
• Stop at Infinity Hot Springs and Goldstrike Hot Springs
• Visit Sauna Cave and Six Rain Caves
• Explore Secret Waterfall and Burn Your Shoes Beach
• Hike Boy Scout Canyon
• See Paradise Falls and Lone Palm Falls
• Experience 300-foot tall Rain Cave

The Experience

The day starts with a hike into Arizona Hot Springs on the Colorado River. Once you reach the water, a second guide who paddled 8 miles upstream against the current meets you with kayaks and gear. Both guides then help you paddle upriver, stopping at Goldstrike Hot Springs, Infinity Hot Springs, Lone Palm, and Sauna Cave. Along the way you can climb up to 13 optional rope routes at geothermal waterfalls pumping 100-degree water—the climbs are there if you want them, and the guides help you move through them safely.

You'll soak in the mineral pools at each stop, places healers have bathed for centuries. The route takes you back and forth between Arizona and Nevada, passing Paradise Falls, Lone Palm Falls, and a 300-foot rain cave. The paddling is mostly with the current once you're heading downstream, though the upstream push to reach the hot springs is the work that makes the day possible. Lunch and cold water are provided; you'll need to bring 2 liters of water each and wear water shoes or a change of clothes you don't mind getting wet.

The guides carry as much extra water as they can for you, and a Wilderness First Aid certified guide leads throughout. You'll leave with 300+ photos and videos of the trip—the operator shoots the whole day. The route covers roughly 6 to 12 hours depending on how many hikes and rope climbs you choose and how the group moves through the water.

What’s included

• Kayak, paddles and life jacket.
• two Wilderness First Aid certified guides leading the entire day.
• cold water and lunch snacks.
• 300+ photos and videos of your trip.
• access to optional rope climbs at geothermal waterfalls.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Adventure Child LLC

Is this one for you?This is a private guided trip, so you paddle your own kayak with two guides alongside you the entire way—it suits someone who wants to be in the water doing the paddling rather than watching from a boat, and who has the fitness for a full day of hiking and paddling combined. The two-guide setup means the group moves safely through the rope climbs and the upstream paddle, which is what makes reaching four separate hot springs possible in a single day.

Top questions

How far do I actually paddle on the Colorado River?

You paddle 8 miles upriver to reach the hot springs, then paddle back downstream. The upstream push is against the current; the return is mostly with it. The total paddling distance is roughly 10 to 14 miles depending on which optional stops and hikes you choose.

What are Goldstrike Hot Springs and Infinity Hot Springs like?

Both are geothermal mineral pools fed by 100-degree waterfalls on the Colorado River. Goldstrike Hot Springs and Infinity Hot Springs are stops where you soak in the warm water and can attempt optional rope climbs up the waterfalls themselves—up to 13 climbs are available throughout the day if you want them.

Do I need kayaking experience to book this?

No prior kayaking experience is required. Two guides paddle with you the entire way and help you move through the water safely. You do need to be able to hike about 2 to 6 miles and have a high level of physical fitness, since the day packs multiple hikes and paddling into one trip.

What's included and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes kayak, paddles, life jacket, cold water and lunch snacks. You'll need to bring 2 liters of water each, water shoes, and a change of clothes since you'll get wet. The guides carry extra water for the group.

Will I get photos of the trip?

Yes—the guides capture 300+ photos and videos throughout the day and you'll leave with them.

What is Boy Scout Canyon?

Boy Scout Canyon is described as the best hike of the day and is one of the optional stops you can visit along the Colorado River route between the hot springs.