1.5-Hour Float, No Transport

A guided 90-minute float on the Colorado below Hoover Dam, drifting through the dark walls of Black Canyon. The water below the dam is calm, so the ride is gentle rather than whitewater. Trips run from $69 per person.

Overview

This is a 1 hour 30 minute raft trip on the Colorado River through Black Canyon, run by Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures, and its whole appeal is the angle: you float on the water directly below Hoover Dam, a perspective most visitors only see from the top. The raft drifts past the dam and under the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, both treated as pass-by sights rather than stops, while a guide narrates the history of how the dam was built.

There is no hotel transport in this product. Travellers check in at the west parking lot of the Hoover Dam Lodge and Casino on US-93 near Boulder City, no later than 10:30 AM, for an 11:00 AM departure. Along the way, guides point out wildlife such as bighorn sheep and birds, according to traveller accounts.

The boat carries a maximum of 30 travellers, though some reviewers reported far fewer on their rafts. A life jacket, a fruit cup and cookies, and a souvenir water bottle filled with water are all part of the package. It suits families, one of whom called it family friendly, and anyone who wants a relaxed, informative outing rather than whitewater, and the operator states the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Hoover Dam LodgeArrive at the west parking lot of the Hoover Dam Lodge and Casino, 18000 US-93, Boulder City, NV, no later than 10:30 AM. The raft departs at 11:00 AM sharp.
2. Colorado River float, 1 hour 30 minutesGuided raft tour through Black Canyon with views of Hoover Dam from the river. Admission is free, and the dam and the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge are passed by rather than stopped at.
3. Return to the meeting pointThe activity ends back at the Hoover Dam Lodge and Casino meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from the fixed check-in time to what actually happens on the water.

• Timing and check-in. Check-in closes at 10:30 AM and the raft leaves at 11:00 AM sharp, so build in driving time from Las Vegas or Boulder City. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off with this product, so a rental car or other transport to the Hoover Dam Lodge is needed.
• Pace and fitness. This is a calm float, not rapids, and the operator says most travellers can participate.
• Water time. More than one reviewer mentions a swim or playing in the water during the trip, and one describes a stop at a cave with warm spring water. These are not promised in the listing, but they come up often enough that quick-drying clothes are worth packing.
• Food and drink. A fruit cup, cookies, and a souvenir water bottle with water are included, so no meal planning is needed for a trip this length. Gratuity for the guide is not included.
• Group feel. The raft holds up to 30 travellers, but reviewers often mention much smaller loads on their trips, with one reporting only 10 people aboard. Quieter departures tend to make the ride more pleasant, according to that same reviewer.
• Wildlife and scenery. Bighorn sheep, a beaver, and cormorants all appear in traveller accounts, alongside canyon walls with cactus and palm trees. Bring a camera or phone for the view up at the dam from the water.

Common issues. No hotel transport and no Hoover Dam Power Plant Tour are included, so anyone wanting the inside of the dam needs a separate booking. The raft can carry up to 30 travellers, which may feel crowded on busy departures, and one reviewer found the stretch after the dam too long and uninteresting. Weather matters: the operator cancels for poor conditions, and a minimum traveller count applies, with a different date, a different experience, or a full refund offered in those cases. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the 11:00 AM start are not accepted and receive no refund.

Before You Book A Raft