REVIEW: Black Canyon Bliss

For my son’s 15th birthday, we joined Desert Adventurers, a Boulder City tour company that specializes in kayaking, mountain biking, horseback and ATV tours into local scenic byways.  The spring is always a fabulous time to get outdoors in Vegas. The sun is warm, but not hot; the breeze is cool but not cold and the hot springs, while still H-O-T, are balanced by ambient temperatures that can cool a body back down.

Black Canyon is the stretch of the Colorado River below Hoover Dam.  With towering canyon walls, crystal clear waters (you can see the bottom of the river floor as you float), numerous hot springs, empty sandy beaches and abundant wildlife, this is one of the best, easy kayaking trips in the Southwest.

We began the day launching at the base of Hoover Dam, which lies within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.  Launching permits are limited and must be obtained through a tour company or on your own through the Bureau of Reclamation, although still launched through an authorized livery service. (Private vehicles are not permitted on the road.)

Cormorants nested high on the cliffs and skimmed the water the entire paddle.  Our first stop was to the sauna cave, a hot water hike into a closed-end steaming tunnel that twisted into a dead end composed entirely of crystals.

Despite the group setting, pace was set more or less individually.  A couple of boats raced to the finish, but, generally speaking, most of us "took the time to smell the desert wildflowers."  Or in this case, "check out the hanging gardens and birds’ nests."  Once you settled into a smooth rhythm, the paddling was surprisingly easy on the shoulder and arm muscles, allowing anyone with a moderate fitness level to fairly easily conquer the 12-mile stretch between Hoover Dam and Willow Beach. 

With two additional hikes to hot springs waterfalls, this has to be one of the most unique adventures in the Southwest. On this adventure, we celebrated two birthdays, singing "Happy Birthday" on the beach and everyone drank hot mint tea, cupcakes and carrot cake slices.

Water babies will find this the perfect weekend (or weekday) getaway. Images courtesy of Alan Goya, www.GOYAphotography.com