Rafting or canoeing the Black Canyon Water Trail is to experience a mixture of beauty and rich history. The entire water trail is approximately 30 miles long. The Colorado River forms the border between Nevada and Arizona along this stretch of river. River right is Nevada, and river left is Arizona. The official trail begins just below the Hoover Dam (permit required) and travels 30 miles downstream to El Dorado Canyon. This guide presents an alternate trip with no permits required. The suggested trip in this guide is to put in at Willow Beach, 11.5 miles downstream of the Hoover Dam, and to paddle upstream towards the Dam to one of many riverside campsites. From your campsite, you can float back to Willow Beach as a round trip. This trip is most commonly done on canoes or kayaks. There are tons of options for kayak/canoe rentals out of Willow Beach. Shop around online to find the best deal. The NPS has a list of approved outfitters offering tours that can be found, here.

Upper Black Canyon Water Trail

WARNING: Conditions change frequently and may make this guide useless. This guide is NOT a replacement for sound judgment, experience, or skill level. 

Willow Beach to Hoover Dam

Mile 0 – Willow Beach Put-In : River left. The start of your trip! This well-stocked marina has various amenities as well as a campsite. Learn more about Willow Beach.

Mile 0.6 – Willow Beach Fish Hatchery: River left. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the hatchery. The intention of the hatchery is to protect endangered species including the bonytail chub and razorback sucker. The hatchery began operating in 1962 and has been active ever since. You can take a self-guided tour of the hatchery if you pull off on river left.

Mile 1.36 – Gauger’s Homesite: River left. Pull your boats up on the beach and start your walk. The gauge house is very nearby – up and to the left of you when you are walking away from the beach. This site contains the remains of the homesite used by the gauger that lived here between 1935 and 1939. The gauger would hike upstream along the cliffs in order to access the cable crossing that would take them to their gauging site on the Nevada side of the river. Make sure not to disturb the remnants of the structure if you visit this site. You can camp at the wash where you pull your canoe in to start your hike up to the gauge house. Make sure to pull your boats up high onto the beach if you are camping as the water level fluctuates throughout the day and night. ”

Mile 2.14 – Emerald Cave: River left. Paddle all the way into the cave. Once inside, turn around and enjoy the radiating light inside the cave. The namesake of the cave is from the beautiful emerald color that the water takes inside the cave during the afternoon.

Mile 2.32 – Gauging Station: River right. The gauging station was built in advance of the construction of the Hoover Dam. The station was used during and after the construction to monitor water levels and silt output. The cable that runs across the river was built to provide access to the station from the Arizona side of the river. The worker that ran the gauge lived downstream on the Arizona side of the river. You can imagine how intense, and beautiful, their commute to work was.

Mile 3.96 – Cranes Nest Wash : Cranes nest is an exposed yet beautiful campsite. There is a canyon worth exploring by foot from camp. Make sure to carry your boat up high onto the shore if you camp here as the water level fluctuates throughotu the day and night.

Mile 4.36 – Primitive Camp #1: River right. Pull in to the wash at the foot of the canyon. This camp is exposed, and hiking is limited – so be prepared to focus on the beauty of the river if you stay here. Make sure to carry your boat up high onto the shore if you camp here as the water level fluctuates throughout the day and night.

Mile 4.69 – Primitive Camp #2: River right. Pull in to the wash at the foot of the canyon. You can explore a ways up the canyon if you decide to camp here. Make sure to carry your boat up high onto the shore if you camp here as the water level fluctuates throughout the day and night.

Mile 6.9 – Primitive Camp #3: River right. Pull in to the wash at the foot of the canyon. This camp is relatively exposed, so be prepared for the heat if you are planning on camping during the hot months. Make sure to carry your boat up high onto the shore if you camp here as the water level fluctuates throughotu the day and night.

Mile 8.06 – Arizona Hot Springs: River Left. The Arizona Hot Springs are a must-see. Excellent camping pairs with a world-class hot spring experience in this remarkable place. When you arrive at the beach, make sure to pull your boats up high. The water level fluctuates considerably at this site, and you do not want to have your boats swept downstream overnight. Learn more about the Arizona Hot Springs.

Mile 8.19 – Ringbolt Rapids: Look approximately 15 feet above the high water line and you will see large ringbolts drilled into the rock wall. These ringbolts were used in the late 1800’s to winch steamboats up through a set of extremely difficult rapids. The construction of dams downstream of the rapids led to them washing out, but the evidence of their former glory remains through the presence of the bolts.”

Mile 8.33 – White Rock Canyon: If the camping is too crowded at Arizona Hot Springs, White Rock Canyon offers a nice alternative for the night. Make sure to pull your canoes up high on to the beach if you decide to camp. The water level fluctuates throughout the day and night. You can hike up the canyon for over six miles. The hike is strenuous, and to be avoided in the summer heat.

Mile 8.74 – Primitive Camp #4: River right. This primitive camp is a good option for a private campsite at the foot of a canyon. Carry your boats up high to avoid them being affected by the water level fluctuating.

Mile 10.01 – Boy Scout Canyon: River right. Boy Scout Canyon offers excellent camping as well as hiking. If you are camping, drag your boats up a ways into the wash to avoid issues the water level fluctuating. For hikers, beach your craft on the sand of the river wash and get ready for a somewhat challenging hike. As you hike up Boy Scout Canyon you will be hiking alongside and through a geothermally heated creek. There is a nice waterfall along the creek as well as several small pools that you can soak in.

Mile 11.15 – Goldstrike Canyon: River right. Goldstrike canyon is another stellar day-hike with hotspring pools, a waterfall, and beautifully colored rocks and vegetation.

Mile 11.37 – Sauna Cave: River right. This cave was accidentally created by construction workers involved with the Hoover Dam. The intention was to build a tunnel at the cave site, but intense geothermal heating prevented the tunnel from being completed. Access to the cave is up a steep, short hill from the shoreline. The cave is relatively straight and quickly becomes pitch black as you explore its depths. The heat from the geothermal activity becomes increasingly intense as you go deeper into the cave.

Mile 11.48 – Restricted Access: For non-permitted trips, this sign that spans the river is the end-of-the-line. Please respect the sign and use this as a turnaround point.