Black Canyon Motorized Raft Tour Las Vegas & Hoover Dam
Float the Colorado River Below Hoover Dam in Three Hours
You board a motorized raft near the Hoover Dam and float 12 miles through Black Canyon with a narrated guide, stopping to swim and eat lunch along the Colorado River. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you choose that option, or you can drive yourself to Boulder City. The whole experience, including transport, takes about 6 hours.
Step-by-step itinerary
- Lake Mead National Recreation AreaEntry included15m
- Hoover Dampassing by
Black Canyon Raft Tour and Sightseeing
- Hotel pick-up or meet in Boulder City
- Explore Boulder City historic town
- Visit Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
- Travel down Lower Portal Road to raft
- Float 3 hours through Black Canyon
- Stop at side beach to swim and relax
- Enjoy included lunch on the beach
- Conclude tour at Willow Beach Marina
- Shuttle back to starting point
The experience
The motorized raft is already moving downriver when you settle in, the roar of the Hoover Dam fading behind as the canyon walls rise up on both sides. You've either driven yourself to the launch near Boulder City or been picked up from your Las Vegas hotel: either way, the 3-hour float through Black Canyon starts the moment the engine cuts to a steady hum and the guide points out the geological layers striped across the rock face. The Colorado River here is calm and clear, nothing like the rapids you might expect, and the 12 miles of canyon unfold slowly enough that you can actually absorb the scale of it.
Your guide narrates the whole thing: the history of the Hoover Dam construction, how Lake Mead became the largest man-made lake in the United States, the way the Lower Portal Road (the original route workers used) still cuts down the cliff face if you know where to look. Somewhere around the midpoint, the raft pulls into a side beach where the water is shallow and cold. People swim, some just wade, others sit on the sand and eat the lunch that came packed in an insulated souvenir bag you get to keep. It's not fancy, but it's real food, and it tastes better out there than it would anywhere else.
The canyon keeps going. Waterfalls drop from side canyons, hot springs bubble up along the banks, and the whole thing has the feeling of being somewhere most Las Vegas visitors never get to. The raft drifts past geological wonders that the guide explains without overdoing it, and then you're pulling into Willow Beach Marina in Arizona, where a shuttle waits to take you back to the starting point. If you took hotel pickup, that shuttle gets you back to your room. If you drove, it gets you back to your car. Total time door-to-door is around 6 hours.
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off (if you select that option), entry to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a 3-hour motorized raft float through Black Canyon with live narration from a knowledgeable guide, a lunch stop with a packed meal in a take-home insulated bag, time to swim in the Colorado River, and a shuttle back to your starting point at the end.
Options for this experience
2 optionsInformation
Lasts 3h, runs Wednesday to Sunday at 10:00, from US$ 140 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated today
Operated by Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures, LLC
Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to step away from the Las Vegas strip without renting a car or figuring out logistics: the raft, the guide, the lunch, and the ride back are all arranged, which leaves you free to just float and look.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
Do I need experience to do this raft tour?
No. The motorized raft is stable and the water is calm. It's suitable for all fitness levels, and children can come as long as they're with an adult.
What's included in the lunch?
A packed lunch is provided and comes in an insulated souvenir bag you keep. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available if you request them when booking.
How long is the actual float?
The raft trip itself is 3 hours on the water. If you add hotel pickup and drop-off, the total door-to-door time is around 6 hours.
Can I bring my own car instead of hotel pickup?
Yes. You can self-drive to Boulder City and meet the group there, or choose the round-trip hotel pickup option.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Service animals are also allowed.
Can infants come on the raft?
Yes. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller up to the launch point, and they must sit on an adult's lap during the float.
Will the guide explain the history?
Yes. The guide provides live commentary throughout, covering the Hoover Dam's construction, Lake Mead, and the geology of Black Canyon.
Is there time to swim?
Yes. The raft stops at a scenic side beach where you can swim, wade, or relax in the Colorado River.
Black Canyon Motorized Raft Tour Las Vegas & Hoover Dam
3h · EN
from US$ 140 per person