Before heading on our latest trip to Vegas, I did some Google research on what the best "bang for your buck" kayaking tour would be, and Boulder City Outfitters came out on top. My husband and I were picked up in an SUV from our hotel (Mandalay Bay) at 6:45 am by the owner, Tom. He was a very friendly guy who kept us entertained on the short ride to a pickup point where we got our kayaks, and another point where we picked up our guide, Scott. The drop in point for the tour is directly at the bottom of the Hoover Dam. It is pretty neat to see the dam from this point. Not only that, but the arch that is being built over the river for the new highway bypass is colossal and downright amazing. The tour group consisted of me, my husband, and a couple from Chicago. After donning our lifejackets and water shoes (very important!) , we got in the water at about 8am, and paddled a little ways to a point where we got out of the water and hiked a small distance to a very warm cave. As part of a Mojave Indian ritual, each of us carried a small, smooth rock with us into the cave-- inching our way along with one hand above us and one hand to the right-- and sat in total darkness, reflecting, meditating, SWEATING, and transferring all of our troubles into the stone we carried. After two minutes, we exited the cave and took a very refreshing, cleansing plunge in the river, releasing the stone and all of our troubles with it. Pretty cool, right? This was just the beginning of the tour! After another couple of miles we stopped at an area of hot springs, and after a short hike there we relaxed in a natural hot spring pool. During the entire trip we stopped every 2-2.5 miles along the way for a stretch, and snacks/water/lunch were also provided for us. Our guide, Scott, was phenomenal (Highly recommend-- but we were told he only works Sundays and Mondays!) He was so knowledgeable about the area and about kayaking, answered all of our questions, and entertained us with a few great stories. Beyond that, when my husband was run into by another kayak in some light rapids and ended up tipping over, Scott acted quickly and towed him and his swamped kayak to shore. The 11 mile ride is probably not for everyone-- it is definitely a physical challenge, and you will be sore the next day. But the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the water is for the most part calm and serene. There were a couple of areas of rushing water, but I am no means an expert kayaker and I had no problems maneuvering. My husband and I go to Vegas at least once a year, and this was by far our best off-the-strip adventure that we have done. We don't know if we can top it, either! read more

Kayaking from the base of Hoover Dam and visiting the hot springs near the Colorado River below the dam is a great trip to enjoy near Las Vegas. The view of the dam from the base is an awesome sight, the hot springs are a great soak. The trip is a little over 11 miles long as that's the distance to the next road that enters Black Canyon at Willow Beach, Arizona. On the way back you get to drive over the dam for another view. This trip is good for those new to paddling but can be a bit long if a south wind picks up if you're in a slow boat. Boulder City Outfitters does guided tours and rentals along this stretch of river. With a guide or on your own. My trip was Aug. 18, 2009. My niece Devon and I had Jason Gansert as our professional guild. We had Jason the whole day to outselves because noone else booked a kayak trip that day. Sucks for them but was amazing for Devon and me. Jason showed us all the caves and we swam in several hot springs. We had to climb to reach some of them which was a great break from the kayak. The wind picked up a couple of times which made me stuggle a little but nothing I couldn't handle and I'm 56 years young. We would recommend this for anyone. Thanks Jason for making our trip an amazing experience. Deb read more

Ok...hands down...the best part of our trip to Vegas (seriously, this makes me want to shout like Sam Kinison)!! Les was awesome to book with, and our guide Shawn (oh man, I forgot to ask how you spell your name, sorry!) was phenomenal. Morning part of the tour was relaxed, awesome!! Had history of the Hoover Dam, info on rock formation, tons of wildlife (went early to mid May), climbed a little through parts of the canyon and felt like a kid (well an old and uncoordinated kid). Breakfast and lunch were great! And, we really really liked having a laid back and experienced guide. The second half of the day, paddling was an excellent workout, and we left feeling like we earned the amazing sweet roll and lunch. Second time I've taken the tour...it makes me want to use the words "DO OVER"! Cuts stress, increases appreciation and makes you feel a million miles away! read more

Boulder City Outfitters offers a guided kayak tour of the Colorado River in Black Canyon, below Hoover Dam. If you're physically able, this is an experience that is not to be missed. The government limits kayak permits to 30 people per day, with no motorboats allowed on weekends. It's beautiful, great fun, and beginners are welcome. However, be warned that it may be a very strenuous trip. If the water level is high, the current will pull you along; if the level is low, you'll be faced with some serious paddling for eleven miles. If there's also a headwind, you'll get quite a workout. read more

Melissa (Mel) and I have kayaked numerous places around the globe but have never once contemplated hiring a guide. While planning our trip to Vegas, however, we decided we wanted to little more leisure and a little less work. Mel, being the wizard of all things related to planning, found Boulder City Outfitters and what would be the highlight of our Vegas trip. We both relish quality over quantity, experience over 'cliff notes' and most importantly, dealing with people who take pride in their work. Boulder City Outfitters not only met our expectations, Les and Shawn both far exceeded them in every manner possible. Les: Owns and operates the logistics side of the company - he was absolutely and truly flawless. From our first phone call three months prior to the final drop-off back at our hotel, Les was punctual, accommodating, and as evidenced by this glowing review, dedicated to providing the very best experience for his customers from start to finish. Unlike the 'cram-em-like-sardines' we witnessed with other tour companies, Les provided an almost serene-like experience: Early morning and on-time pick-up in a Mercedes Van, hot coffee and breakfast pastries, and on our way to pick-up our guide, Shawn, an intelligent conversation revolving around the company's history, Vegas 'did you know' tid-bits, and again, ensuring we were comfortable. Shawn: Great guy, easy to talk to, extremely knowledgable and skilled, and like Les, customer service driven. From the mandatory safety briefing to the helpful kayaking tips, we couldn't have asked for a better guide. We opted for the 'Lover's Tour' package and being the professional he is, Shawn asked if we wanted him in the background, only to be seen/heard from when we needed something, or if we wished, he could actually guide us down the Colorado. We opted for the latter and enjoyed every minute of the 6-hour float. Shawn was great - enlightening us about the rich history of the area, guiding us to a few 'off the beaten path' spots (steam/sauna cave, hot springs, two nice hikes with incredibly scenery, emerald cave, etc.) keeping us entertained (ask him to play his flute and be prepared for a transcending experience while floating down the Colorado in total serenity), and of course, giving us our alone time to bask in the incredible beauty the Colorado has to offer. The Float: We put in just below the Hoover Dam. This spot, in itself, is a sight to behold. The sheer size of the dam combined with the elegance of the Hoover Dam bridge - both leading into the stark beauty of the Colorado River, steep and majestic walls of the canyon - it is a spiritual moment and offers a rare, beautiful view in what this part of the country has to offer. Our kayaks were ready in under 5 minutes, fully stocked with a healthy, gourmet and yes, delicious lunch, and a bottomless, stainless water canteen. We had a good flow, paddling only when having to navigate or beach for a short excursion - the exact type of float we imagined for this trip. Shawn's knowledge of the area is incredible and never once felt pushy or intrusive. Shortly after putting-in, we stopped and made a short hike/climb to a steam cave - aside from the wanted excursion, the history alone was worth the stop. After floating for a couple of hours, we stopped for another short hike - following a creek bed, navigating up and over two small waterfalls, and ending with a trio of cold, warm and hot run-offs that feed the creek. A short hike back to the kayaks and we were once again on our way down the Colorado. The remainder of the trip consisted of the three of us trading adventure stories, spells of total silence mixed with Shawn's enchanting flute sounds, and lunch under the shade of a boulder on a quaint beach. Our last stop before putting-out for the day was a 20 minute, tranquil 'mediation' in the emerald cave and a perfect ending to a most excellent trip. By the time we unloaded our gear, Les pulled-up in the van, air conditioner on high and cold refreshments waiting, ready to take us home. Boulder City Outfitters has our highest recommendation and moreover, is one of the few companies we have dealt that defined what customer service is truly about from start to finish. Shane & Mel read more

Best outfitter for Colorado River trips! I use them every time!

Risky. My husband and I took a kayak tour from hell with this company. First, all other outfitters canceled their trips on our day due to 45 mph winds coming up river. These guys decided to go anyway. The winds were so fierce we couldn't stop paddling or we were blown up river. The other gal had to be towed by our guide wrapped in an emergency blanket while her husband paddled furiously with their son. Another BCO group called for a rescue boat. Once we finally made it to the end, exhausted and freezing, we had to wait over 4 hours for the crappy bus with broken windows to come take us back to our car. Our guide tried calling his girlfriend to come get us since he couldn't reach anyone from the company. We were hungry, cold, and miserable. My husband and I did OK paddling, taking waves up over the front of the kayak, used to rough water. This trip was far from the leisure float advertised. BCO was lucky we were good sports and made an adventure out of the paddle- overall the company is horrible but the trip on the kayak would be worth it with A DIFFERENT COMPANY. AVOID BOULDER CITY OUTFITTERS-AWFUL!! read more