It was our first time to Vegas, and our Black Canyon kayak trip was hands down one of the best experiences. The scenery was breathtaking, and Reid, Chris, and Neil were wonderful. Reid is an amazing guide! It is obvious he is passionate about his job and the environment he is blessed to enjoy. His respect for the river and its surroundings as well as the wildlife is quite impressive and his knowledge of the area and its history is top notch!!!!! I would recommend this trip to anyone!!!! read more

Self guided tour was excellent !! We were picked up and dropped back off at the end of the day by Desert Adventures. These guys were very helpful with information about the trip. Great fun even when its hot, because the water is like 55 degrees cold. read more

My Dad and I purchased the Mountain Biking River Mountains/Hoover Dam with a 1/2 price coupon from Groupon. What a great deal! Our guide, Steve, was fantastic! He took good care of all 4 guests. This ride is great for all levels. The first part of the trail is pretty much downhill and paved. Once you hit the dam, it's gravel/dirt but mostly flat. We took scenic stops along the way, learned a lot about the area (plants and animals), saw a roadrunner, lizards, goats, etc. After the Hoover Dam, we headed back to a shaded park to eat a yummy lunch with the local goats. This was a highlight of our trip. Thank you!!! read more

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Please read this carefully if you are considering an unguided canoe trip down Black Canyon, particularly if you plan to do it with children and it's a windy day. Summary: The company delivered what they said they would, and didn't deliver what they said they wouldn't. I wish that we had been given a stronger warning about the high wind (like don't do it with kids!), and been given advice about how to boat with an uneven weight distribution in those conditions. Our party consisted of 8 adults, 1 older teen, and 5 kids in the 12-15 year age range, on Labor Day weekend. We arranged for six canoes. We were called by Desert Adventures the day before and told that the forecast was for wind and that "we would be working" the next day. I have no complaints about the service they provided. Our group and a few others met at the arranged area at 6a, and were instructed on waste disposal, advised about where to find restrooms, and then warned again about our use of time and the wind, and to be sure to be Willow Beach checkpoint in time for the pickup. We were also reminded that it's an unguided tour and that we were on our own - there was little or no cell service, and that if you had an issue and could not get out on time, be prepared to spend the night, since it was still too hot to try to hike out. Like many of our group, I (an adult) was in a canoe with my child (12 years old). When we boarded the canoe, I asked the guide where we should sit, given the difference in our weights. He told me that I needed to be at the back to steer, and my daughter should sit up front. The drop off point below the Hoover Dam was amazing, and for two miles the river was peaceful. The wind/water changed at the 5th mile, and it required a bit of work to keep the canoe directed where we wanted. The beach at Arizona Hot Springs was nice but crowded with the boy scouts and others that had stayed there overnight. We did the short (and beautiful) hike to see the first hot springs, took a restroom and hydration break, and then got back in the canoes. Right after leaving the beach, my daughter and I had trouble maneuvering the boat in the wind and the choppy waters. We did okay if we could go bough-first, but if the boat were allowed to get sidewise, we would get sent upstream. We battled the wind for the next mile, crossing the river several times in our attempts to turn the boat, and then using the paddle on the sidewalls of the canyon to help us right it. At that point, we made our way into a cove where we noticed a lot of the boy scouts resting, and took the time to recover, and I let my daughter eat her lunch, as there was no way we were going to be able to eat (or even drink much water) if we wanted to keep the canoe going the right way. Others in our group stopped to rest too, and we talked about how challenging the last mile had been. When they were recovered, they asked if I wanted them to stay, but I told them to go ahead so my daughter could have her lunch and we wouldn't hold them up. For the next 2 hours, my daughter and I battled the wind and choppy water for two milesAt the eight mile (right after mile marker 56) we were stuck. We tried sticking to the sides of the canyon as the guide had suggested, but kept getting blown into the trees and bushes on the right side of the canyon. After more than ten attempts to get out of there, and because I was very concerned that my daughter would get injured in the bushes and branches we kept being blown into, I guided us over to a small beach. I texted other people in my group, but the texts went undelivered. Desperate, I tried calling the number for Desert Adventures listed on the map provided to us by the company. To my surprise, the call went through, and I explained our situation to the woman who answered. She told me that she was sorry we were in the situation, but that there was nothing they could do. They didn't have guided tours out, so they couldn't send a guide to help us. Her advice was to try to flag down a motorcraft and see if we could get help. My daughter and I got back in the canoe to try again. Within minutes we were caught between two bushes on the side of the river. To our great relief, we looked up and saw one of the other boats from our group heading upriver our way. Our rescuers battled through the chop and the whitecaps, towing us 1/3 mile to the rest of group. One of the men said he was impressed that we had made it so far. The problem was weight distribution in the canoe - my daughter is much lighter, and I was in the back. The wind easily got the front of the boat and turned us sideways. Even two men with fairly even weight distribution were having a hard time making headway in the conditions. We regrouped - two adults in each lead boat, and we towed the boats with the kids in them. The next ~4 miles were very rough, even with two adults paddling hard. We made it to the pickup point on time, but beyond exhausted. read more

My wife and I have used these outfitters twice for non-guided kayak trips; once for Lake Mead (Sept. 2016) and once for the Colorado River from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach (the "Black Canyon" trip, on Memorial Day week-end, 2017). Great experiences with them both times, and the kayaking was phenomenal. Reasonable prices, quality equipment, and (mostly) knowledgeable, hard working staff. On rare occasion, the office staff has seemed a bit inexperienced, but the "field staff" responsible for drop offs and pick ups were all very knowledgeable, polite and efficient. Also, holiday week-ends can result in log jams at pick up, so be patient with the staff, who have a vested interest in getting people off the river and back to their cars/hotels as efficiently as possible. Some practical observations for the Black Canyon trip: The trip is about 12 miles, and we were provided with a very well-marked map showing key locations along the way. Plus, there are mile markers on the river, so you can gauge your progress. With minimal effort (we had a slight breeze at our back), you can cover a mile in fifteen minutes or less, so you have PLENTY of time to stop, view the sights, hike to various hot springs, etc. On the other hand, we have friends who have done the trip in canoes while having to contend with strong headwinds, and they found the paddling more challenging and the going much slower. DO take to heart the admonition that the river flow varies according to water being released from Hoover Dam. We met a couple who camped overnight and discovered their canoe, which they had left on dry ground, had floated away during the night (they were rescued the following morning by a kind commercial pontoon boat operator and reunited with their canoe, which lucky for them, had been retrieved about a half mine downstream, complete with paddles). Make sure you tie up your canoe/kayak whenever you leave it! Wearing some sort of water shoe is a must, given the slippery shore side rocks one must contend with when getting into and out of one's water craft. Enjoy! read more

Overall, good experience. Staff were super helpful, friendly, and went the extra mile to answer questions and prepare you. Some of the guides were awesome with sharing the history of the surroundings. My only criticism is that the guys driving the vans down the windy roads were a little wild and could maybe slow down a bit. Otherwise grat experience. read more

Very knowledgeable staff, funny and kind. Well priced too. My wife and I had a great time kayaking the Colorado River!

This was a day well spent. All of the staff were helpful & nice. They made everything easy (except the paddling). You can't go wrong putting them in charge of your next adventure! read more

Greetings! After a misunderstanding, I'd like to report that Desert Adventures has resolved Any and All issues I initially had. They reached out to me immediately and honored the credit I had on file. I would like to thank Jamie, Joyce and all the wonderful people at Desert Adventures for being patient with me and assuring my satisfaction. I look forward to my up coming Kayak Adventure, and will let ya know how it goes. Thanks again. -JB read more

On behalf of all nine (9) members of our canoe trip, I would like to complain about the awful and disrespectful way we were treated on Friday 04/24, by your one of your employees. We were told in an email you sent us, to make sure we were at the meeting location on time. All nine of us were at the meeting site at 8am. Your not so kind employee communicated to us that there was a delayed with the launch time because of a large group that was being dropped off before us. Somehow, this became our fault and we were shouted orders so we didn't make the next group late. REALLY?!?! When we arrived to the river, it was chaos, mostly caused by your crew trying to get us on the river and gone. In this stressful situation, one of our friend slipped and fell in between the rocks. Luckily all she suffered was some soreness and a bruise, but it was an unnecessary event. While your unprofessional and disrespectful guide kept screaming at us, I finally lost it and shouted back demanding to settle down and stop stressing us out, ON FRONT OF MY UNDERAGE DAUGHTERS, which I don't appreciate! One of the reasons we do this trip is to be stress free, we PAID you to provide a service, we COMPLIED with what you asked for and he has the audacity to disrespect us on front of our friends and children. If you look in your records, Mr Ehrenstrom works with your company a lot, between 2-4 times a year, for personal and professional use. Well, I hope you understand why your company is losing his business this year. We sure don't want to expose the 30-40 kids to the kind of situation your staff put us through. Sadly, there are not too many companies that have the authority to go down to the Hoover Dam and most likely we will have no other choice than to have to call you again, but I assure you that I will look into other companies and I will spread the word about how unprofessional your company is. By the way, throughout the canoe trip, we ran into many groups asking and complaining about your guy. I hope they also share their thoughts and experience. If you have any questions, you can contact me by replying or calling me, you have me in your records as well. read more

I don't even know where to start on this one. 11 of us on the2day ring bolt run on 14/15-6. 1/2the group is very outdoorsy, M. And I were sober the whole trip, so don't think the alcohol is doing the talking. The only positive thing I will say is that the lady on the phone was extremely nice and the e mail confirmation came in right away. With that being said, she didn't mention (to any of us apparently, I asked around) to print out and sign the liability agreement forms so the departure from the Hoover dam casino parking lot would go faster. Props on her calling back the day before to confirm our party was going but she failed to mention the 20plus miles per hour winds they were expecting. A heads up would have been nice. Anyway so day of the trip, For some reason the guy was super in a rush, barely breathed while going down the list of do's and don'ts on the river and said we were running late(we showed up early). Oh and he threw in there that the wind was picking up "but don't worry, just stick to the sides of the canyon!". Now I want to mention that M. and I with 1/2 of the group go out on lake mead twice a week, we know about the wind on a speedboat, but 20miles plus winds on a canoe? During the van ride to the dam, he proceeded to say that when we got down we had to hurry and get our stuff and canoes on the water cause of other tours coming behind us. Fine, we grabbed our stuff while he stood at the top giving orders and watching us struggle w the heavy canoes and all our camping gear. Needless to say, there was an issue: the one solo girl was supposed to have a kayak for her so it would be easy. They FORGOT it. The guide told us we couldn't stay there, we could either leave and dock at the 1st beach (1/2a mile away) and wait about 1hour for them to go retrieve the kayak or take the extra canoe. The guide said"don't worry about waiting on the kayak, we'll give you a kayak paddle and it's gonna be super easy! I do it all the time!"- uhm no. DONT LISTEN TO HIM. Our group ended up taking turns tying her canoe to theirs and dragging her cause the wind kept spinning her around. So off we go down the river..NOT! You'd think the river being north to south it would just be a breezy down hill stroll, it wasn't, the wind was against us and we kept getting either stuck in coves or whirled around in circles. Somehow we made it to the hot springs base camp. We roped our canoes to the rocks, just like they instructed us and started setting up tent. As we were relaxing in the minimal shade we can find, the ranger pulls up on his boat and tells us 1of the canoes got loose and it went 1/2 a mile up stream (again, Because of the wind and the water level was rising) AND WITH THAT, HE LEAVES. Now I know this is not DA fault but just so you know, you have no help from them out there. M and I with the help of 1other girl got into a canoe and rowed over. First we tried tying the canoe to the back, the current and the wind were so strong we got stuck in a whirlpool and almost tipped over, really scary!! Somehow managed to get out of it but the strong wind blew us back to the cove were we recovered the canoe in the first place. The girl and I decide to paddle one canoe and M will handle the other one. It took us girls almost half hour to get down to the beach, we got banged up on the rocks and the bushes multiple times. In the meanwhile M couldn't even get the canoe out of the cove. Super scary waves are coming up and going against him. I stood by shore watching him struggle till finally a speedboat with a family came along, I was able to wave them down and thankfully they went to get him and towed the canoe back to us. Your telling me the ranger couldn't have just helped us out? It was such a scary experience we moved the canoes, yes all 6of them, all the way to where the port-a-potty trail entrance was. The day after we got a head start, we left at 8.30 am. The wind was even stronger that day. White tips everywhere and our canoes kept being spun around. We would barely get a mile in and we'd have to stop cause we were only moving sideways. There is an extra downfall on this: 2 ranger rafts and 4 of the same raft tour we were on came along going north(opposite us) at almost full speed causing the already existing waves to become bigger and to smash us up on the canyon walls. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Like we weren't struggling enough. We made it to right past willow beach(where pick up was) at 3.30 with only four 45 min stops. As we finally reached shore, the tour van was there. The guy didn't help us get the canoes out the water nor did he inquire on why two canoes were tied together. The solo girl paid for a kayak, why did they let her struggle w the canoe instead of fixing it? We understand they have to have cancellation policies in place but I believe our safety was at stake and they seemed more worried to have our money then have us reschedule. We will not b using them again, nor will we be recommending them to our friends read more

Shows little respect for paddlers which are not customers. At a National Recreation area we all get the same access. This company tries to control the launch and retrieval area at Willow Beach inferring they've "rented" the place. They haven't. Just ask any Park Ranger. If this company shuts the gate to keep you out, just open it and launch/retrieve as we all are allowed. This company does not employ responsible citizens. read more

I've been a customer of this place for about 2 years now. I live in Las Vegas and most locals dread the summer months and the hellish temps it brings, but ever since I tried kayaking for the first time last year I look forward to the summer eagerly just to go kayaking. I didn't want to take the tours because I wasn't in great shape, so I wanted to do a rental instead and be able to go at my own leisure, exploring and just enjoying the scenery. And that's pretty much what I do every time I go now. I paddle out to one of the nearby coves with some food and a beach mat, drag the kayak onto shore, swim, lay out, relax, go paddle and exploring some more, and just enjoy the fact that I'm going places on my own power, without gas, gadgets, or having to bring a pickup truck and trailer! If you don't want to bother with all that stuff (or just can't afford it), kayaking is a really nice way to explore Lake Mead. I only use the sit on top kayaks and have tried the "double" sit-on-top kayaks and the solo sit-on-top ones and personally, the solo ones glide over the water really well and are really easy to use as a novice kayaker. The double ones are really easy to use too, but of course they go slower. The company is really chill, takes cash, and are run by real people you can talk to, not big time Corporate entities just out to make a buck. The rental location is super easy to find, following the kayaks down to the water couldn't be simpler, and pick up for the gear is always on-time, sometimes even early. The rental prices for Lake Mead simply cannot be beat. I couldn't be more satisfied and very much enjoy having a go-to rental company that provides me excellent customer service and a competitive price every time. P.S. For first timers, check the forecast for wind speeds before you go out as much as you can. Trying to kayak in high wind is much harder! If you want the challenge though, more power to you :) read more

This is one of my favorite tour groups of all times! I've used them 3 different time to rent canoes to travel down the Colorado river and camp at Arizona hot springs. They're extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their job as well maintaining the beautiful landscape. They went through every effort to ensure my group and I were prepared and knew what to expect. I would encourage anyone visiting the Vegas area to book a tour. Highlights of the trip: seeing the Hoover dam up close, visiting natural hot springs and sauna caves, camping in a canyon with a quick walk to natural hot spring soaking, paddling down a scenic river route with crystal green waters. Stopping on beaches to explore and hike canyons filled with paths, water ways, more hot springs and lots of bouldering opportunities. Canoeing into emerald cave and caching light into the green waters. We saw tarantulas and bald eagles and the weather was perfect! Please make sure to follow all the rules and pack in and pack out EVERYTHING! read more

My review is on Desert Adventures, not kayaking the Black Canyon. All my experience with purchasing permits and making reservations with DA was wonderful. However, the equipment and customer service of the drivers was terrible. A quick note about myself and my friend; we are larger women (230 lbs), however, we kayak all around the US and have never had a problem with rental boats. We've used everything from angler boats, Perception and Wilderness brands to sit on tops without any issue. A few days before our trip, my friend and I went to the store and rented some camping equipment. While we were there we asked about the boats we would be using for the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach self-guided trip. They said we would be using Old Town Vapors and asked if we wanted to check them out. We did. I noticed that they were a far cry from the sleek beautiful boats on the web, but I assumed those were "advertising" boats and since we weren't offered any other option in a sit-inside, I thought nothing of it. At the launch under Hoover Dam, our driver started unloading the boats for us and the other four people in bus. The other four boats were the "advertising" boats and I had serious boat envy but didn't think too much of it at the time. We shlepped our boats down the long ramp to the water's edge. Yes, WE carried the boats, the driver did nothing. Then we launched without any help getting into the boats, no checking to make sure our foot pegs were in the right place, or even asking if we had ever kayaked before. They had warned us about the winds - how it was a common occurrence - and to stay on the sides of the river. It was terribly windy (20 mph) and we struggled. However, all other people on the river were in better boats and glided right by - still working hard, but much more productively due to better equipment. Less than an hour into the paddle I realized that my seat back was broken. The string that you tighten to bring the seat back up worked, but the top half of the seat back had broken from the bottom half where the string pulled. Thus I had little to no back support for the entire trip. Again, bad equipment. When we arrived at Willow Beach, exhausted after paddling all day we were offered no help pulling our boats up or getting out. We were told to zipper and stack our life jackets neatly and use a sponge to clean off our boats. Zero service level. And they expect kayakers to tip the drivers, in fact they even recommend a percentage. The following day we complained and were told that we weren't offered any other boats because of weight and fit. I can not fault them for following weight restrictions given by the boat manufacturers, but I can fault them for not having a proper boat for the trips they offer for those who weigh more. As I mentioned, I have used much better boats - in my weight range - in easier conditions. if they are to offer a trip like this, where wind the wind conditions we experienced are not uncommon, they should ensure that their equipment is appropriate for all weights, or they should have a weight limit on their trips. We are already planning on a Black Canyon kayaking trip for next year, but we will be looking for a different outfitter. I do not recommend Desert Adventures. read more

I highly recommend Desert Adventures! Everything from booking the tour to the actual tour itself was top notch! My friend and I booked the full day Black Canyon tour for a Saturday. Our tour started at the bottom of Hoover Dam and we kayaked our way (about 12 miles) to Willow Beach. We had originally each signed up for individual kayaks, but due to the wind conditions that day, they recommended us all to pair up in the tandem kayaks. I'm glad we did because it was tiring kayaking against the wind. We made two stops along the way. The first stop was to see the Arizona Hot Springs. It required a short hike and some climbing through the canyons, but it was a pretty cool sight. Unfortunately the weather was just too hot for us to enjoy the hot springs. The water was pretty hot! This was also the only spot for us to use a real bathroom, well port o potty (It was surprisingly clean). Otherwise, if you had to go, you had to go in the river. The second stop was for lunch. They have several food options for you to choose from when you book your tour. I had the chicken caesar salad wrap. It was pretty good, but my judgement at the time may be a bit off because I was starving! We had already kayaked about 7-8 miles by then. They also provided us water and snacks along the way. The highlight of the trip was definitely the Emerald Caves. The water was so green and beautiful around that area. Overall, the whole trip was such an amazing experience. The view of the canyons and the river was just so beautiful and serene. Our guides, Rick and Gary, were pretty awesome too! They were very informative and kept the tour fun. The only downfall of this trip was some of the other people in our group. They were very rude to my friend and I during our 5:30 am pick-up. I understand they were probably cranky due to the early start, but it sort of created an awkward tone for the rest of the trip. Tip: Nevada residents get a $20 discount off their tour. Make sure you let them know you're a resident and mention the discount when you book the tour. They don't give it to you automatically. read more

Desert Adventures is much cheaper than the other companies since you can kayak down the canyon without a guide. Price was the only good thing. Their pick up time of 4pm is way too late with a launch time of 7am. We saw everything there is too see and took out time but still arrived at Willow Beach at 2:45pm. When I booked I asked if there were later launching times available since I've read it takes 6-7 hours maximum to get to willow beach including sight seeing but they said no. I spoke to a man that arrived a few minutes after I did and he was with an 8am launch group. He said when he booked he requested a later launch time of 8 and they gave it to him. I booked months before him! We were supposed to leave by 4pm but there was a large group with a desert adventures guide that had an 8am launch and they arrived exactly at 4. By the time everything was loaded we didn't leave until 4:30. That's almost 2 hours waiting to leave once we arrived at Willow Beach. Desert adventures needs to either have a strict 3pm departure or launch times no earlier than 8am. I would only use them again if I was giving a later launch time and they move their departure times up. DO NOT ACCEPT A 7AM LAUNCH TIME PUSH FOR A LATER LAUNCH. read more

There is no way I am going to rent from this place ever again and I would not even advice anyone to do so either. They are very unprofessional and very rude. When we called them to make a booking they were so eager to take our money that they did not even go through the "RULES" that they have or they can make when they want. They did not tell us that they will charge us for the early pickup. And when we call them early they said they will charge us $60 for the early pickup. And even when they told us that they will be there at 2pm they did not make it here till 2:20 and we were waiting in the sun in 95degree heat for them to come and pick their stuff up. EVERYONE IN THE COMPANY IS VERY MONEY MINDED. read more

My husband and I went on the 12 hour Black Canyon Kayak Tour with Desert Adventures. Luke was our tour guide. We can say without any hesitation that Desert Adventures is the best tour guide we have ever used. The entire trip was planned out-from gear to food to supplies-all we had to do was show up! But not only that, Luke had thought of anything additional we might need and brought his own supplies to keep us comfortable. He had extra snacks if people were hungry, blankets and extra clothing if people got wet or cold, and was so knowledgeable about the area that he could answer any question any of us had. We also learned so much from him as he pointed out history and information about the geology and ecology of the area. One perk of traveling with Luke is that he brought his Go-Pro camera, took video and pictures throughout the whole trip, and sent them to us. The photos he took are phenomenal. We would highly recommend Desert Adventures for any trip they provide, and are planning to come back next year to do the three day two night camping trip. read more

What a great adventure! My husband and I took the Black Canyon kayak day trip and had a blast! Scheduling the trip was a breeze, the crew was on time and organized when launching. Our guide, Regina, was personable, funny, capable, and very knowledgeable in wilderness and history. The sites were fantastic! Launching from the secure side of Hoover Dam was a treat! The slot canyon stops with mini hikes were a great way to learn and see about the diverse ecological systems along the Colorado. We saw mountain goats along the way, too! Lunch was hearty and healthy which was a nice surprise. The Emerald Cave and historic site views were so enjoyable! The water was great and it was simply a perfect way to see the beauty of the mountains! I would recommend going on a Sunday when there is little motor boat traffic. It's worth it especially if you aren't an avid kayaker. Plus, it makes you feel like you have the river and canyons all to yourself. So peaceful! The 12 mile kayaking was a challenge at times. The wind can really be your friend or foe depending on its direction and strength. I wouldn't plan much for that night ... We were sore! But, the next day - felt great! Overall, I'd highly recommend this trip! The value for the cost is tremendous! read more

Desert Adventures - Emerald Cave! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Boulder City, Nevada

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TERRIBLE cancellation and rescheduling policy. They wanted me to go Biking out on the hottest day of the year in early June. Little did I know it was going to Be the hottest day of the year when I Booked. It was either risk my life going out, reschedule, or cancel. Alas, there's a reschedule fee of $25 They really want you to forfeit your money via the cancellation. Not good Business practices when you run tours in hazardous weather conditions. Also, you have to Book according to THEIR schedule and their availability very very is poor. Buyer Beware, especially for those coming from outside of town and want to have a trouBle free, stress free, hassle-less time. read more

The team at Desert Adventures did a terrific job of getting us in the Colorado River near the Hoover Dam. Sadly, we couldn't afford the guided trip, but we rented 5 kayaks and headed downriver with good maps and some tips about where to stop. Boy Scout Canyon was terrific with hot springs and rope climbs. A definite must if you're looking for a nice river adventure without white water. Thanks again! read more

The worst service and old equipment. Our guides were unacceptable with their behavior towards us and the rest of the river guests (who were trying to park their boats). We will never recommend this company !!! read more

Very pleased with my visit to Desert Adventures. The staff was warm and friendly and made the paperwork quick and easy! My friend and I decided to rent kayaks from DA and lucky for us they brought the kayaks out to the lake for us. We met Neil out on the lake the next morning and he was extremely helpful giving us tips about the area and how to handle out kayaks properly. Rented two kayaks for four hours and costed 70$. Seemed very reasonable to me. I'll surely be back! read more

Oct. 11th weekend, we did the Paddle Sand Hollow/Hike Snow Canyon with a group of 10 for a bachelor party. Our guide was Jennifer. Our original trip got cancelled due to the government shut down but the tour company really helped us put together an even better trip. It was awesome. For all of us, there just wasn't enough time. We wanted to stay longer at both locations (kayak and hike). Both were amazing. Our guide was really easy going and it really helped to get some zzzz's on the drive there and back. She was great. Great and reliable company to work with and they managed what was a near disaster with the trip almost getting cancelled and made it even better. We need to do it again. Thank you! read more

About once per year for the last few years, I paddle with a group I put together from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. I ALWAYS choose Desert Adventures for the rentals, transport, and permitting for the self-guided trips. The office staff is very professional and friendly and very flexible given that when dealing with the logistics of groups, sometimes things can change a lot. Our driver on a recent trip (10/1/17) was Antonio and he was excellent - friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable about the area. Desert Adventures is HIGHLY recommended. read more

This company is AMAZING! I highly recommend that you work with them if you're looking to kayak/canoe/anything in the Hoover Dam and Vegas! We booked a reservation with them for 55 people for our university trip and they handled it with ease. We didn't have any mishaps with them, they took care of everything for us and we even worked out a pretty good deal so the students could actually afford to go! We did the 1-day Black Canyon trip and it was one of the best experiences we've ever had. All of the staff was knowledgeable, friendly and funny. The students were originally nervous because they are all international students and some struggle with the language and some have never kayaked before but within minutes of getting on the water they had a great time with the guides. I cannot speak more highly of these people -- they are fantastic. We'll definitely be back for another trip! read more

Fantastic! We went in a 10h kayak trip and it was fantastic. Our guide Ghyrll was hilarious and very entertaining. We were 3 couples who didn't know each other but thanks to him we bonded right away and exchanged emails at the end. It was a lot of fun. The river was clam and really enjoyed the dip in the hot spring and the little hikes there and there. It is not fast paced so you can really enjoy the beauty of black canyon. At the same time, it is not boring, we were a bit sore the next day. These guys are pros and we trusted them. read more

We used Desert Adventures for a one-way canoe shuttle on our trip down Black Canyon Water Trail. Our driver, Bryan, was The Best. Picked us up at the take out, where we left our car, and hauled us, our canoe and gear to Hoover Dam. He pointed out a ton of really interesting stuff along the way, and gave us some great insider tips on cool things to do and where to stop (including a hot spring that no one would be at... he was right, we had it all to ourselves. Thanks, Bryan!) PS: A different outfitter (not sure which one it was) had a van full of people that couldn't get to the launch because their driver wasn't on the security list at the dam. I hope they didn't have far to drive home. I felt terrible for them... read more

We adventured out on The Ringbolt Run Kayak Black Canyon trip it was so much fun and the memories will be with me forever. It was just me, my best friend and our guide Reid who was amazing. We left on my friends birthday, we were picked up and taken to the Desert Adventure store where Reid was packing everything for us they pretty much took care of it ALL besides your clothes, toiletries, etc they you brought. There wasn't a single thing during the trip I wish I had or needed. We then launched at the hoover damn to start this amazing adventure. Reid was so great and very educated on all the hidden treasures of the river. It was such a beautiful experience and Im so grateful I was able to do this. They really do a great job taking care of you. The food was so delicious the whole trip never felt hunger and they also supply you with snacks. I highly recommend this company and in a heartbeat would do this again. read more

Had an absolutely wonderful experience on the full-day Black Canyon kayaking trip led by Jake and Scott. I had never been in a kayak before. Other people on the tour were quite advanced. The trip was fabulous for both experience levels. We saw so much--the sauna cave, hot springs, Desert Bighorn Sheep, sandy beaches, steep jagged cliffs,.... I have a whole new appreciation of the Colorado River and can't believe such an amazing kayaking opportunity exists right near my home in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The trip had seemed expensive when I booked it, but by the time we were half way through it, I felt that we were getting more than our money's worth. I can't recommend Desert Adventures enough. read more

Everything about this trip was great from the moment I called to book it. The tour guide and all staff were friendly and helpful. I can't wait for the next adventure! read more

Can't give enough praise to this group. The folks who took my calls were friendly, helpful and efficient. The staff who drove, loaded and unloaded us were kind and patient. Our river guide, Reid, was entertaining, informative, and safety conscious all at the same time. The river and side hikes were just gorgeous. The Hoover Dam/Black Canyon paddle was a terrific experience, and well worth the time and money. One piece of constructive advice - the gear is clearly getting heavy use. Everything was nevertheless safe and comfortable with one exception - One of my guests had a malfunctioning seat back and I felt badly about that. A small equipment kit on the river may have allowed us to fix it on the fly. We are experienced outdoors folk and that is our only comment on improving the quality of the experience. This is something we couldn't have done so far from home without access to an outfitter. I was worried that it would be thrown together, watered down, touristy, but that most definitely was not the case. Everyone in our group had a wonderful time. Thank you! read more

I highly recommend Desert Adventures. We stayed on the strip on Vegas, I thought I was going to lose my mind with all the crowds, heat and the ding, ding constantly from the machines. I do not do well in this type of atmosphere! I booked an all day trip with Desert Adventures to kayak down the Colorado River. It turned out me and my kids were the only ones on the tour so what ever we wanted to do on the tour was up to us. It was so relaxing, scenic and cool compared to the heat on the strip. I had a totally different view on Vegas after that. I plan on going back so I can kayak down the Colorado River with Desert Adventures again. read more

I have used several outfitters in the past and I have to say the communication and follow through with this company is on point. We just took a 2 day float down the Black Canyon of the Colorado river, everyone in our group had a great time. Thank you Desert Adventures! read more

We kayaked the Black Canyon section of the Colorado River on June 5th, 2021 during a very intense heatwave with wind gusts up to 18mph. Launch was at Riverbank below Hoover Dam, which was beautiful. Melissa was very professional and very clear about all the rules, particularly the speed at which we needed to launch at Hoover Dam, and why we needed to move quickly. She was polite and respectful about it and I think we all did a good job of getting our kayaks in the water efficiently. I appreciated all of that. As I write this review, I realize that the local weather isn't always the same, and it changes from season to season, and even day by day. My comments are provided as a business suggestion at being more flexible with what the experience and the business can offer, so in the event of a heatwave or big wind gusts, this experience can be enjoyed by all, and in ANY weather situation. We launched and it was fantastic. Along the way, we found some great, shaded spots to rest and explore. From Hoover Dam to Arizona Hot Springs was delightful, fun and everything you want and expect it to be. About a mile after AHS, the experience changed for us. The wind started to pick up, the sun was shining hot above us and there was hardly anywhere to stop and rest in the shade. We finally found a spot behind some large rocks and took a swim. By noon, the wind was pretty horrible. We tried kayaking closer to shore as Melissa had recommended, but the wind was coming straight thru and up the river, and we had no choice but to paddle against that. In general, NOT recommend going past Arizona Hot Springs if there are wind gusts above 15mph. I understand this is a business, and you would likely be cancelling a lot of trips, but the reality is, it just isn't fun, relaxing or enjoyable. It's hard work. I suppose if someone is looking to do some exercise in 107 degree weather, go for it. We were not. My suggestion is this. Offer an optional way to kayak to Arizona HS and get picked up from there, either by boat or whatever. It could be the SAME price, and just an option should there be wind gusts or exceptionally hot weather. Allow yourself to offer more by being flexible. It can be done, and I know it can be done because other people were at AHS camping, and they were awaiting a pick up! We would have loved to have been given the option to be picked up at AHS! The other issue we had was the place for pick up. Melissa was very clear about it, so this is NOT on her in any way, and there are a LOT of instructions at the beginning and we could not remember where the pick up was. My suggestion is to write it down differently on the map you provide to your guests. It can read something like this; " Kayak PAST the Willow Beach Marina. You'll see the sandy shoreline on your left. Look for our kayaks & vans at the end of that shoreline, and we'll be waving and looking out for you too." Melissa was looking out for us, we just didn't know it was PAST the Marina...(just not AT the Beach or AT the Marina) The last thing I would suggest is checking your equipment. While we are not kayak experts, we do own a couple of cheap Costco kayaks at home. They were $300 bucks, and our kayak tracks better and more efficiently than that green pelican I rented from you. It was a horrible kayak and not a lot of fun to maneuver in the water because it was SO unresponsive, even when it wasn't windy. Invest in good kayaks for your customers. And invest in good paddles too; these were very heavy for a 12 mile journey. Antonia gave us a ride back, and he is super great, friendly and the cold water and Popsicles were a great touch! I hope you read my review as more than just a "review", but as suggestions to make it a better experience for all, because I think this experience can be better. I'm sure it's very different in Spring or when it isn't so damn hot, but we vacationers who happen to be bad at "weather timing" want to enjoy what you offer just as much as anyone else. In the end, thanks for doing what you do. It's a beautiful area, and it seems like you have great staff all around. read more

VERY accommodating people! We had car troubles the day we were supposed to rent kayaks and I called in and she let me reschedule our rental date. There was a slight reschedule fee but for the experience of kayaking on the Colorado River below the Hoover Dam well worth it! There are other rental companies and kayak tours that launch from the same location but Desert Adventures is well marked and knowledgeable. Beautiful river and color! Would go back! read more

Excellent great guide in Dan my wife and sister law went weekend before me and my friend had so much fun had to go following weekend drove from Laughlin to Bolder Dan very knowledgable. Thanks for GREAT TIME read more

Nothing like good weather and a excellent guide to take us down the Colorado River. Darin did a wonderful job sharing his knowledge of the river and the Hoover Dam. I highly recommend doing this tour. read more

I haven't actually gone on my trip with Desert Adventures ... yet. I booked a trip for early January but both my partner and I were on the brink of pneumonia so we had to cancel. In my journey to reschedule they have been super professional, insightful and patient. By this point, I have probably had a phone call or email exchange with every staff member and their customer service is consistent and wonderful. Looking forward to my actual journey in early October! read more