Push Off Below Hoover Dam, Step Ashore in Arizona
A guided, motor-assisted raft runs Black Canyon from just below Hoover Dam to Willow Beach, with a beach stop and a packed lunch.
This trip starts on the Colorado River directly below Hoover Dam and runs downstream through Black Canyon for about three hours, with a guide narrating the whole way. It ends on the Arizona side at Willow Beach, the top end of Lake Mohave.
The booking card below covers two versions of the same river day. Drive yourself to check-in at Lake Mead RV Village, or add round-trip transport from select Las Vegas hotels.
3-Hour Black Canyon Motorized Raft Tour with Optional TransportMotor-assisted raft from below Hoover Dam to Willow Beach, Arizona, with lunch. Self-drive or round-trip Las Vegas hotel transport.www.viator.comCheck In by the Lake, Launch Below the Dam
Check-in is inside the Coyote Room, behind the store at Lake Mead RV Village, 268 Lakeshore Road in Boulder City. Driving in, you pass through a Lake Mead fee station first; the operator's directions then say to turn at mile marker 2 at the sign for Boulder Beach Campground and the RV village, keep right, and find the store on your left. Parking there is free.
The raft leaves at 10:00 AM, and the operator wants you at the desk by 9:30.
From check-in, a shuttle takes about 15 minutes to the launch site, down Lower Portal Road, the road the dam's construction workers used. On transport bookings, the listing says hotel pickups start about two hours before the 10:00 AM departure and asks you to call the operator at 1-800-455-3490 right after booking to confirm your exact pickup time.
Three Hours Down Black Canyon
The raft is a motor-assisted inflatable with bench seating, run by the guide, and the operator says no rafting experience is needed. It is smooth water, with some splashing at times. The guide narrates the dam's history and the canyon's geology, and the raft goes as close to the dam's secure-zone buoys as it is allowed.
Desert bighorn sheep, osprey and great blue herons live along this stretch; the operator says sightings happen often but are not guaranteed. The listing mentions waterfalls and hot springs on the way.
The operator's park contract does not allow stops at Goldstrike Canyon, Boy Scout Canyon or the Arizona Hot Springs. When the water level allows, it may stop at the Rain Cave and Weeping Springs Cove.
A Beach Stop for Lunch and a Cold Swim
Partway down, the raft pulls in at a side beach for about 30 minutes to swim, stretch and eat. Lunch comes packed in an insulated bag you keep; the operator lists a turkey wrap, chips, fruit, a cookie and water. Ask for vegetarian or gluten-free when you book; the operator also does peanut-free, dairy-free and vegan on request.
There is no shade on the raft for the three hours, and the operator puts the river at a brisk 54 degrees.
Wear a swimsuit under your clothes, plus closed-toe shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Beach towels are not supplied, and the operator notes the seat cushions can get a little hot in summer, so a towel to sit on helps. Extra snacks and drinks are fine, but no glass, styrofoam or alcohol.
Who Fits on the Raft, and How You Board
The operator says it can take everyone from infants to seniors. The listing prices infants from 0 to 4, children from 5 to 15 and adults from 16; infants ride on an adult's lap, and children need an adult with them. Life jackets are on board for everyone, and Coast Guard rules require them for children 12 and younger. The operator's rafts are certified for 30 passengers, with a larger one for 45, and one booking covers up to 15 travelers.
The listing marks the trip wheelchair accessible, and the operator's own accessibility notes give the detail: the launch site is a concrete path to a rocky shoreline with a downhill slope, and boarding means two steps down into the raft. Wheelchairs need to be collapsible, access can change with the water level, and one shuttle bus has a wheelchair lift that the operator asks you to request ahead. The check-in desk has three steps with a ramp, and staff can meet you outside.
📍 Check-in by 9:30 AM: Coyote Room, behind the store at Lake Mead RV Village, 268 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, NV.
- Departures: 10:00 AM, Wednesday through Sunday, on both the booking calendar and the operator's own reservation calendar. The operator closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
- Time: about 3 hours on the river. Plan on about four and a half hours from check-in if you drive yourself, about 6 hours door to door with transport.
- Included: the guided raft trip, lunch, and hotel transport if you chose that option.
- Not included: gratuities. Self-drive bookings do not include the national park fee, which you pay at the Lake Mead fee station on the way in: a private vehicle pass is 25 dollars for 1 to 7 days, cards only, and an America the Beautiful pass covers it.
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before departure. The operator says it may cancel for high winds, hail or electrical storms.
The river ends at Willow Beach in Arizona, where there is time for the souvenir shop before the bus heads back over the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.