Frequently Asked Questions

The Emerald Cave is a small grotto on the Colorado River in the Black Canyon near Willow Beach, Arizona, known for its bright emerald green water. It's one of the most popular kayak trips for people visiting Las Vegas.

The Emerald Cave is in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, upriver from Willow Beach, Arizona. Kayak tours start at Kayak Beach, next to Willow Beach Marina.

Willow Beach, the starting point for Emerald Cave kayak tours, is about an hour's drive from the Las Vegas Strip. From there, the cave is reached by kayak.

No. The Emerald Cave can only be reached by water. Most people visit by kayak or canoe from Willow Beach.

Most paddlers take about 1 to 2 hours to reach Emerald Cave from Kayak Beach in Willow Beach, with stops along the way to explore the Black Canyon, take photos and rest. Paddling straight there takes less time.

The Emerald Cave's green color comes from sunlight reflecting off algae-covered rocks under the water's surface.

Early afternoon is the best time to see the Emerald Cave's green water, when sunlight hits the water inside the cave directly.

Spring and fall are the best times to visit the Emerald Cave, when the weather is mild. The cave is open year-round, but summer can be very hot and crowded, and winter can be cold for some paddlers.

Swimming inside the Emerald Cave is possible but discouraged, because the cave is small and often crowded with kayaks and canoes. Tours stop at beaches along the way where you can swim.

No. You can visit the Emerald Cave on your own if you have or rent the right equipment. A guided tour is the safer, easier choice for first-timers, since the guide handles the route, the gear and the instruction.

The Emerald Cave Kayak Tour starts at $110 for adults and $90 for children.

The Emerald Cave Kayak Tour lasts about 3 to 4 hours. That includes the paddle to and from the cave and time to explore the Black Canyon Water Trail.

The Emerald Cave Kayak Tour starts at Kayak Beach, the paddle craft launch area in Willow Beach, Arizona. Arrive early so you have time to visit the Willow Beach Marina store and restrooms.

The drive from the Las Vegas Strip to Willow Beach is about an hour. On holidays, add an extra hour. IMPORTANT: If park rangers are turning cars away at the entrance, show them your reservation.

No. The Emerald Cave Kayak Tour is a self-drive tour that starts at Willow Beach, so you skip the long hotel shuttle loops on the Las Vegas Strip. For the best experience, rent a vehicle on Turo, or compare rental prices on Kayak.com. We don't recommend a rideshare, because it's practically impossible to get a ride back out of Willow Beach.

Yes. Emerald Cave tours must be booked in advance. Outfitters are not allowed to take bookings on location.

Yes. The Emerald Cave Kayak Tour is beginner-friendly. Your guide gives instruction before you start, and the pace is relaxed.

The Emerald Cave Kayak Tour includes a kayak, paddle, life vest, snacks and a certified kayak tour guide.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a camera or phone, and clothes you don't mind getting wet.

Wear comfortable, moisture-wicking clothes, a swimsuit and water shoes. A hat and sunscreen help on the sunny Colorado River.

Guests on the Emerald Cave Kayak Tour must be at least 5 years old or 50 lbs. Children under 8 should ride in the front seat of a tandem kayak with an adult.

Yes. The weight limit depends on your height. Use our weight limit tool to check the maximum weight for your height.

Yes. Pets 25 lbs or under are welcome, and they must wear a life vest in the kayak. Pet life vests are not provided.

Tours run rain or shine. We may cancel for weather or safety reasons, and any tour we cancel gets a reschedule or a full refund.

We don't offer kayak rentals, but Willow Beach Marina does. A tour costs only a little more than a rental and adds high-end gear and a knowledgeable guide, which is worth it for most first-time visitors.

The private Emerald Cave Kayak Tour includes a guided paddle to the Emerald Cave, all kayaking equipment, safety gear, snacks and water. The tour is only for your group.

Yes. A private Emerald Cave Kayak Tour can be booked for a single guest, a couple, a family or a larger group. Nobody outside your group joins.

Private Emerald Cave tours start at 1 guest. The maximum depends on guide availability, so for large groups, call us at 702-872-2860.

Private tour pricing depends on your group size. Click Book Now and enter the number of guests to see your exact price.

The private Emerald Cave Kayak Tour lasts up to 4 hours. Your group sets the pace, so it can be shorter if you need to be somewhere.

Yes. As long as the tour stays within 4 hours, you can talk with your guide about extra stops or spending more time on what interests your group.

Yes. Choose any open date and launch time when you book your private tour.

Yes. A private Emerald Cave Kayak Tour is a popular way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions and team outings, since the whole trip is just your group.

Yes. The private tour is family-friendly, and the guide can adjust the pace for kids. Children must be at least 5 years old or 50 lbs.

That's fine. The private tour is for all skill levels. Your guide gives instruction before you start and adjusts the pace for beginners.

Yes. The private tour includes breaks where you can swim, take photos or relax. Plan the stops with your guide.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, water, a camera or phone, clothes you don't mind getting wet, and any personal items you need.

Book as early as you can, especially for weekends, holidays, spring and fall. All Emerald Cave tours must be booked in advance, because outfitters can't take bookings on location.

Book your private Emerald Cave Kayak Tour here.

Private tours can be cancelled with more than 72 hours' notice before departure, with a 20% cancellation fee, since we don't charge booking or processing fees. Tours cancelled with less than 72 hours' notice are non-refundable. There's no penalty for weather or safety cancellations, and any tour we cancel gets a full refund or you can reschedule.

We offer two guided hot spring hikes near Las Vegas: the Arizona Hot Springs Hiking Tour and the Gold Strike Hot Spring Hiking Tour. Both are in Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Hoover Dam and end at natural hot springs by the Colorado River.

Guided hiking tours are $145 per person. Both trails are in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which charges an entry fee, but there's no pay station at the trailheads. Buy your park pass online before you go and keep it in your car, because rangers can ask to see it.

Hiking tours include a guide and snacks. Headlamps are included on night hikes.

Yes. We offer guided night hikes to the hot springs, with headlamps included.

Both hot spring hiking tours take about 5 to 6 hours round trip.

Hiking tours run Monday through Thursday from October 1 to May 14. The National Park Service closes these trails every year from May 15 to September 30 because of extreme heat, and on other days when Willow Beach is forecast to reach 95°F or hotter or flash floods are possible.

Hiking tours need at least 2 people and take up to 6 per group.

Hikers must be at least 8 years old.

Choose the Arizona Hot Springs hike for a steady, moderate trail with some rock scrambling and a 20-foot ladder that takes you from the hot springs down to the Colorado River's edge, where you can loop back through White Rock Canyon. Choose the Gold Strike hike for more adventure. It's a canyon route with seven dry falls you climb down and back up, some with ropes, and your guide helps you through each one.

The Arizona Hot Springs hike is a steady, moderate hike with a few challenging spots. It's 5 miles out-and-back, or 5.69 miles as a loop with the White Rock Canyon Trail, with about 750 feet of elevation change, some rock scrambling and a 20-foot ladder from the hot springs down to the river's edge.

The Gold Strike Hot Spring hike is moderate to challenging. It's about 5.3 miles round trip with roughly 1,200 feet of elevation change and seven dry falls where you'll use your hands and feet, sometimes with ropes. The ropes were left by other hikers and aren't maintained, so go at your own pace and follow your guide.

The Arizona Hot Springs run 111 to 120°F, heated by geothermal activity and flowing about 30 to 50 gallons per minute. Gold Strike Canyon has a mix of warm and hot springs. Never drink the spring water.

Bring clothes for the weather, sturdy footwear you can scramble and get wet in, and plenty of water, at least 2 liters per person, since there's no drinking water at the trailheads.

The Arizona Hot Springs hike starts at the trailhead parking just off U.S. Highway 93 before mile post 4, south of Hoover Dam. The Gold Strike hike starts at the free Goldstrike Canyon parking lot off Goldstrike Road, just before the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

No. We don't offer transportation to the hiking tours, so you'll drive yourself, about 45 minutes from Las Vegas. The Arizona Hot Springs trailhead is off U.S. Highway 93 south of Hoover Dam, and the Gold Strike trailhead is off Goldstrike Road near the Hoover Dam bypass bridge.

On the Arizona Hot Springs trail, pit toilets are about 200 yards downstream of the springs along the Colorado River. On the Gold Strike trail, the only toilets are at the parking lot.

We don't recommend bringing pets on either hot spring hike, because of the steep terrain, ladders, dry falls and hot ground. Never leave a pet in a car.

We may cancel a hiking tour for weather or safety reasons, especially when storms could cause flash floods. Any tour we cancel gets a reschedule or a full refund.

The Overnight Camping Kayak Trip is a private, guided kayak camping trip on the Colorado River's Black Canyon Water Trail, starting from Kayak Beach in Willow Beach, Arizona. You paddle at an easy pace by day, explore coves, hot springs and historic sites, and camp on a remote river beach at night.

The Overnight Camping Kayak Trip is $380 per night for adults and $350 per night for children.

Yes. The Overnight Camping Kayak Trip is a private trip, so it's just your group and your guides.

The Overnight Camping Kayak Trip runs 1 to 3 nights. You choose the length when you book.

Camping trips are for groups of 2 to 4 guests.

The Overnight Camping Kayak Trip runs February through May and September through December, when the weather in the Black Canyon is mild.

The Overnight Camping Kayak Trip starts at Kayak Beach in Willow Beach, Arizona, about an hour's drive from Las Vegas. We don't offer transportation, so plan to drive yourself.

Yes. The trip covers the Black Canyon between Willow Beach and Hoover Dam, so the Emerald Cave is an easy stop along the way.

You kayak the Black Canyon at an easy pace with breaks, take short guided slot canyon hikes with geology and history talks, swim in quiet coves, soak in natural hot springs near camp, and stargaze from a campfire on the beach. Watch for bighorn sheep, bald eagles, ospreys and herons along the way.

Yes. Natural hot springs are a short walk from camp or the landing beaches.

Yes. Your guides plan and cook fresh camp meals over a campfire and camp stove on the beach, and you're welcome to help cook.

All kayak and camping gear is included: a touring kayak sized to your height and weight, a Werner adjustable paddle, a Coast Guard-approved Astral life vest, dry bags, a desert tent, a sleeping pad and ground layer, the camp kitchen with stoves, cookware and water filtration, and camping soap. Guides carry wilderness first aid kits, satellite or radio communication and repair kits.

Bring quick-dry clothes, a fleece or light jacket for cool nights, a wind or rain shell, sleepwear, and a swimsuit. Add a wide-brim hat, sunglasses with a strap, sunscreen, and a sun hoodie. For your feet, pack closed-toe water shoes or heel-strap sandals, camp shoes and extra socks. You'll also want toiletries, any prescription meds, a refillable water bottle, and a phone or camera with waterproof protection. Everything gets packed into dry bags.

No. Guides give kayak instruction and coaching, handle the camp logistics, and keep the pace easy with plenty of breaks.

Yes. The camping trip has the same limits as our hiking tours: guests must be at least 8 years old, and the weight limit depends on your height. Check yours with our weight limit tool.

Cell service is limited to none, and facilities are minimal. It's a Leave No Trace backcountry trip, so you pack out everything you bring in.

Days are usually warm and dry with little shade on the water, and nights are cooler, so bring sun protection and a warm layer.

Camping trips can be cancelled with more than 72 hours' notice before departure, with a 20% cancellation fee, since we don't charge booking or processing fees. Trips cancelled with less than 72 hours' notice are non-refundable. Any trip we cancel for weather or safety gets a reschedule or a full refund.