Last updated: April 30, 2025
Thing to Do
Black Canyon National Water Trail
NPS/A. Cattoir
In 2014, the Secretary of Interior designated this portion of the Colorado River as a National Water Trail, making it the first in the Southwest and the first to flow through a desert. Paddlers and boaters alike come to the Black Canyon to enjoy serenity and the awe-inspiring geologic formations.
As you travel the 30-mile trail, you’ll find beaches, caves, coves, hot springs, wilderness, and solitude. Desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife are often seen on the cliffs along the river. Historic structures associated with the construction of Hoover Dam can also be viewed.
There are many businesses that have authorization to conduct rental and/or guided outfitting services within the park. You can book an experience with one of these services to:
As you travel the 30-mile trail, you’ll find beaches, caves, coves, hot springs, wilderness, and solitude. Desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife are often seen on the cliffs along the river. Historic structures associated with the construction of Hoover Dam can also be viewed.
There are many businesses that have authorization to conduct rental and/or guided outfitting services within the park. You can book an experience with one of these services to:
- Rent a kayak. canoe, or paddleboard to paddle on the Colorado River
- Raft the Black Canyon from the Hoover Dam
Details
Duration
4-8 Hours
Duration varies depending on if you plan to paddle, raft, or boat and where you plan to start and finish.
Activity
Paddling
Pets Allowed
Yes
- Pets must be kept on a leash not to exceed six feet in length at all times.
- Pets should not be left unattended.
- We require that you clean up after your pet at all times.
Activity Fee
Yes
Entrance fees are required for all park visitors regardless of where in the park that you plan to recreate. Keep your park pass or proof of admission with your vehicle for rangers to inspect.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Visitors can paddle or boat year-round. Fall and winter allow for cooler temperatures, but days where you can experience high winds, often making it hard to paddle. Late spring and summer bring hot temperatures, but allow you to cool off. Be aware that monsoon season bring torrential rains and can cause flash flooding.Always be prepared for changing conditions and weather.
Plan accordingly.
Plan accordingly.
Time of Day
Day, Dawn, Dusk
Accessibility Information
N/A
How to access the Black Canyon National Water Trail
Launching at Hoover Dam is an exclusive experience provided by a limited number of vendors in Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona. Visitors are escorted to the launch site on a narrated bus ride into the Hoover Dam Security Zone. Before rafting or paddling down the water trail, guides describe the engineering marvel that is holding back up to 28.9 million acre feet of water in Lake Mead. Tours range from float trips near the dam to day trips to full exploration tours. Approved vendors for Hoover Dam access are listed below.
Willow Beach is the most popular spot to launch and takeout a personal paddlecraft or motorized vessel. There are several companies that offer canoe/kayak rental at Willow Beach. To find a company to rent a paddlecraft from, please see the list below.
The water trails ends at Eldorado Canyon. Visitors can launch or takeout at Nelson's Landing which is off of Old Nelson's Landing Road. There are no visitor services at this location.
Boating and Paddling Information
To paddle or boat in the Black Canyon, you will need a vehicle pass to enter the park and a vessel pass for each vessel to launch. These can be purchased at park entrance stations.
If paddeling with a personal watercraft or paddlecraft, it must be registered and equipped with safety equipment in accordance with your state's vessel laws.
When boating in Nevada, you are required to purchase and display an AIS (aquatic invasive species) decal on your vessel (unless it is registered in Arizona). These can be purchased online at https://nevada.licensing.kalkomey.com/products.
In Nevada
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All persons who operate vessels powered by a motor over 15 horsepower and who were born on or after January 1, 1983, must take and pass a boater education course or proficiency exam. The course exam must be one that is approved by NDOW.
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A person operating a personal watercraft must be at least 14 years of age.
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A person operating a vessel that is towing a person on water skis, a surfboard or any other device must be:
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At least 16 years of age or...
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At least 14 years of age and have on board a person at least 18 years of age in a position to supervise the operator.
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In Arizona
It is illegal for a person under the age of 12 to operate a vessel with a motor greater than 8 horsepower (which includes personal watercraft) unless:
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An emergency exists or...
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The child's parents or legal guardian is on board or...
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Another person at least 18 years of age is on board.
Before you launch, make sure that your vessel meets the federal requirements below.
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Display your boat's registration numbers on each side of the forward half of the boat.
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Carry a copy of current state registration documents on board.
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You must have a properly fitting, serviceable life jacket readily available on board for all occupants.
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Have a way to make a suitable day and night distress signal (flare, strobe light, etc.)
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Keep a portable fire extinguisher on board (types required vary by vessel).
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Follow ventilation requirements for your vessel type.
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All gasoline-powered inboard/outboard or inboard motor boats must be equipped with an approved backfire flame control device.
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Carry a sound-producing device (whistle, horn, etc.) that can be heard for at least 1/2 mile.
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All boats (including paddlecraft) must be able to display navigation lights.
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Boats 26 feet and over with a machinery compartment must display an oily waste pollution placard.
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Boats 26 feet and over in length must display a "MARPOL" trash placard. Boats 40 feet and over must also display a written trash disposal plan.
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Any installed toilet must be a Coast Guard approved device. Overboard discharge outlets must be capable of being sealed.
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Boats 39.4 feet and over must have on board a current copy of the Navigation Rules.
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Keep your deck free of hazards with a clean bilge.
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Protect fuses or manual reset circuit breakers from rain or water.
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Portable fuel tanks must be made of non-breakable material with a vapor-tight, leak-proof cap.
Before you launch, make sure that your vessel meets the federal requirements below.
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave are located in both Nevada and Arizona. As a boater, you are responsible for complying with the laws for both states.
View the Superintendent's Compendium for park-specific boating laws.
View the Superintendent's Compendium for park-specific boating laws.
All vessels, except sailboards, must have at least one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board or being towed. This includes paddlecraft.
Children under 13 years old must wear a life jacket whenever underway in a vessel, unless they are in a fully enclosed area. Inflatable life jackets are not approved for persons under age 16.
Each person on board a personal watercraft or anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a life jacket. Inflatable life jackets are not approved for these activities.
All occupants of hand-propelled craft operating between Hoover Dam and River Mile 43 (Chalk Cliffs) on Lake Mohave are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device when underway.
Restrictions
The waterway from the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach (Black Canyon) is narrow. To provide a wilderness experience in this part of the park, there are rules restricting certain watercraft at various times of the year. Houseboating, water-skiing and wakeboarding are prohibited year round for safety reasons.Year Round (Sundays and Mondays)
The water from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach is managed as a primitive zone. People can experience a variety of motor-less recreational opportunities in a natural setting. Personal watercrafts (PWCs, also known as "jet skis," and vessels with motors are prohibited in Black Canyon Sundays and Mondays year round.
From the day after Labor Day through Friday of Memorial Day Weekend (Tuesdays through Saturdays)
The water from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach is managed as a semi-primitive zone. Motors are restricted to 65 horsepower or less. PWCs are prohibited.
Between the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
(Tuesdays through Saturdays)
The water from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach is managed as a rural-natural zone. During the busy boating season there are no horsepower restrictions and PWCs are allowed.
