Lake Mead Kayak Tour
- Duration
- 3 to 5 hours depending on the tour, plus roughly 1.5 to 2 hours each way if you take a shuttle from the Strip
- Price
- from $149 per person plus a processing fee (Desert Adventures Boulder Islands tour, 3 hours, guided)
- Departs from
- Strip hotel pickup on shuttle options; self-drive guests meet near Boulder City (e.g. Hoover Dam Lodge, 18000 US-93)
- Age policy
- Set by each operator: Desert Adventures' Lake Mead tour is 6 and up; Evolution Expeditions puts under-13s in a tandem with an adult, and Nevada law requires shuttle riders to be 8 or 80 lb; Blazin' Paddles' bike-and-kayak tour requires riders who can ride a bike
About
Lake Mead is the reservoir behind Hoover Dam, managed by the National Park Service as Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The guided kayak trips on the lake itself launch from the Boulder City side. They stay close to shore, around the Boulder Islands, or in the Kingman Wash slot canyons near the dam.
This is flat-water paddling with no rapids. The tours use sit-in touring kayaks with rudders, often tandems, and the operators say beginners are welcome. Wind is the main variable: Desert Adventures rates its Lake Mead tour easy to moderate depending on wind.
Many trips sold as Las Vegas kayak tours actually run on the Colorado River below the dam, on the Black Canyon Water Trail, which is also in the recreation area. That is where Emerald Cave and the hot springs are. Check the launch point before you book.
What to expect
Shuttle guests are collected from Strip hotels. Evolution Expeditions says pickup is 90 to 110 minutes before the tour starts. Self-drive guests meet the guide near Boulder City. After a safety briefing and basic paddling lesson, the group launches onto the lake.
On Desert Adventures' tour you paddle out to the Boulder Islands to hike, look for shells, swim and eat a picnic lunch. Evolution's route passes through the narrow Kingman Wash slot canyons to a view of the front of Hoover Dam, with the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman bridge overhead. Blazin' Paddles starts with a mostly downhill bike ride on the River Mountains Loop Trail, then paddles to an island for a swim and snacks.
Who runs it
Several companies run this tour from Las Vegas. These are the published terms on each company's own site; we don't rank them or earn anything from them.
- Desert Adventures$169 per person plus processing fee with hotel transport; $154 plus entrance and fees self-drive. Boulder Islands tour: $149 plus processing fee 路 4.5 hours (Boulder Islands: 3 hours) 路 Tandem kayak with rudder, paddle, life vest, dry bag, guide, lunch, snacks and water; pickup at Excalibur, Bellagio or Treasure Island
- Evolution Expeditions - Hoover Dam Discovery via Lake Mead$174.99 self-drive; $224.99 with shuttle and park entry 路 5 hours (about 3 on the water, 3.6 miles round trip) 路 Prijon touring kayak, NRS life jacket, snacks, juice, water, catered deli lunch, certified guide
- Blazin' Paddles - Bike River Mountains Loop + Kayak Lake Mead$160 per person 路 3 hours; 4-5 hours including shuttle 路 6.5+ mile mostly downhill bike ride, then a guided paddle to islands; bike, helmet, kayak, life jacket, snacks, water, Strip transport
Good to know
- Lake Mead charges an entrance fee: $25 per private vehicle for 1-7 days, or $15 per person on foot or bike. Under-16s are free. The park is cashless. Shuttle packages may include entry; check with your operator.
- NPS advice: always wear a life jacket, and remember that distances to islands and across coves are easy to underestimate.
- Summer monsoon storms bring lightning and flash floods. NPS advises checking the forecast and taking shelter in a protected cove if a storm breaks.
- For heat, NPS says to get out of the sun and drink water or sports drinks if you feel dizzy, nauseous or get a headache.
- Dress to get wet. Operators list water shoes or river sandals (no flip-flops), a swimsuit under non-cotton layers, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Cancellation terms vary. Blazin' Paddles and Evolution tour pages list full refunds with 48 hours' notice; Evolution's FAQ adds a 6% processing fee.
Questions about Lake Mead Kayak Tour
Is a Lake Mead kayak tour the same as an Emerald Cave tour?
No. Emerald Cave is on the Colorado River in Black Canyon, 2 miles upriver from Willow Beach, Arizona, below Hoover Dam. Lake Mead tours launch on the reservoir above the dam near Boulder City. Both are in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and some operators run both, so check the launch point on your booking.
Do I need kayaking experience for Lake Mead?
No. The operators here describe their Lake Mead trips as suitable for beginners and include a paddling lesson. The water is flat, but there is no current to help and wind can make paddling harder. Tandem kayaks are more stable, and Evolution Expeditions recommends them for anyone unsure of their ability. Evolution lists weight limits of 240 lb for single kayaks and 550 lb for tandems.
How much is the Lake Mead entrance fee?
The National Park Service charges $25 per private vehicle, valid for 1 to 7 days. The fee is $15 per person for anyone entering on foot or by bike. Visitors under 16 enter free, and the park does not accept cash. Some tour prices include entry: Evolution's $224.99 shuttle option includes park entry. Desert Adventures' self-drive price is plus entrance and fees.
Can kids go on a Lake Mead kayak tour?
Yes, within each operator's rules. Desert Adventures lists a minimum age of 6 for its Lake Mead tour. Evolution Expeditions requires children under 13 to paddle a tandem with an adult. It also notes that Nevada law requires shuttle riders to be at least 8 or 80 pounds; younger children can come if the family drives. Blazin' Paddles' bike-and-kayak tour requires knowing how to ride a bike.
What should I bring kayaking on Lake Mead?
Operators recommend a swimsuit under quick-drying, non-cotton layers, water shoes or river sandals (not flip-flops), a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. In cooler months (November to March), Desert Adventures adds a fleece, a wind or rain jacket, a beanie and gloves. Bring cash for tips; Desert Adventures says guide tips typically run 10 to 20 percent of the trip cost.