Colorado River below Hoover Dam
The best Emerald Cave kayak tours
Guided tours from Las Vegas, a guided trip from Willow Beach, and kayak rentals with or without a shuttle. Here is which Emerald Cave trip to book. We also give honest advice on when the cave glows, fees not in the price and the weather.
See our 6 picks
The best Emerald Cave kayak tour is the guided trip from Las Vegas. It takes 4 hours and starts from €128 with transport, a guide and gear; to paddle on your own, rentals at Willow Beach start from €62.
Emerald Cave is about 2 miles upriver from Willow Beach, the park service says. All six picks have free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Our 6 picks for Emerald Cave kayaking
Three guided tours and three rentals. Check each listing for the park fee: some include it and some do not.
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from €128 per person Our top pick 4 hours 4.8 (479) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided Emerald Cave tour from Las Vegas
A 4-hour trip with transport from Las Vegas, a guide, a 4-mile paddle, a performance kayak, safety gear, snacks and water. You spend about 3.5 hours on the water.
Best for First-timers who want it all arranged
Check availability: Guided Emerald Cave tour from Las Vegas on GetYourGuide -
from €106 per person 4 hours 4.5 (398) reviews on GetYourGuide
Colorado River half-day kayak
A 4-hour guided trip with a shuttle to and from Las Vegas, kayaks, life jackets, snacks and photos. The shuttle meets at the MGM Grand rideshare area at 9 a.m.
Best for Groups who want photos taken
Check availability: Colorado River half-day kayak on GetYourGuide -
from €76 per person 4–8 hours 4.6 (58) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided tour from Willow Beach
A guided paddle from Kayak Launch Beach, next to Willow Beach Marina, with a performance kayak, safety gear, water and three photos. Pickup is available as an option.
Best for Drivers who want a guide
Check availability: Guided tour from Willow Beach on GetYourGuide -
from €70 per person 4 hours 5.0 (51) reviews on GetYourGuide
Kayak rental with dry bag
A 4-hour rental at Willow Beach with a single or tandem kayak, a dry bag, a waterproof phone case, a sun hat, water and snacks. There is no transport.
Best for Confident paddlers with a car
Check availability: Kayak rental with dry bag on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 5 h 30 min 4.5 (63) reviews on GetYourGuide
Kayak rental with shuttle
A 5.5-hour self-guided rental with a shuttle from Las Vegas, a kayak, a paddle, a life vest, water and basic tips. The park entry fee is not included.
Best for Paddling on your own without a car
Check availability: Kayak rental with shuttle on GetYourGuide -
from €62 per person 5 hours 4.8 (64) reviews on GetYourGuide
Kayak rental without transport
A 5-hour rental at Willow Beach with a single or double kayak, a life vest, a paddle, water and directions. There is no guide and no transport.
Best for Budget paddlers with a car
Check availability: Kayak rental without transport on GetYourGuide
Emerald Cave kayak tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Emerald Cave tour from Las Vegas | €128 per person | 4 hours | Up to 20 | Pickup included | First-timers who want it all arranged | The full package from the Strip, with a guide and all the gear. |
| Colorado River half-day kayak | €106 per person | 4 hours | Up to 24 | Pickup included | Groups who want photos taken | A cheaper guided trip from the Strip, from €106; the $15 Willow Beach Marina fee is extra. |
| Guided tour from Willow Beach | €76 per person | 4–8 hours | Up to 12 | Pickup optional | Drivers who want a guide | The cheapest guided trip, from €76, if you drive to Willow Beach. |
| Kayak rental with dry bag | €70 per person | 4 hours | Up to 20 | Meeting point | Confident paddlers with a car | A rental with the most gear thrown in; you must fill in an online park waiver first. |
| Kayak rental with shuttle | €88 per person | 5 h 30 min | Up to 10 | Pickup included | Paddling on your own without a car | The only rental with a shuttle from the Strip. |
| Kayak rental without transport | €62 per person | 5 hours | Private, up to 48 | Meeting point | Budget paddlers with a car | The cheapest way onto the water on our list, from €62. |
Guided Emerald Cave tour from Las Vegas
€128 per person4 hours 4.8 (479)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want it all arranged
- Why we picked it
- The full package from the Strip, with a guide and all the gear.
€106 per person4 hours 4.5 (398)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 24
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Groups who want photos taken
- Why we picked it
- A cheaper guided trip from the Strip, from €106; the $15 Willow Beach Marina fee is extra.
€76 per person4–8 hours 4.6 (58)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 12
- Pickup
- Pickup optional
- Who it suits
- Drivers who want a guide
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest guided trip, from €76, if you drive to Willow Beach.
€70 per person4 hours 5.0 (51)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- Confident paddlers with a car
- Why we picked it
- A rental with the most gear thrown in; you must fill in an online park waiver first.
€88 per person5 h 30 min 4.5 (63)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Paddling on your own without a car
- Why we picked it
- The only rental with a shuttle from the Strip.
Kayak rental without transport
€62 per person5 hours 4.8 (64)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 48
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- Budget paddlers with a car
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest way onto the water on our list, from €62.
- All 6 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Where to kayak near Las Vegas
The place to kayak near Las Vegas is the Colorado River in Black Canyon, below Hoover Dam. Willow Beach, at river mile 52½, is the public put-in and take-out for paddlers.
Launching right below the dam needs a permit. Only approved companies can do it: they take you by bus into the dam security zone.
Emerald Cave is about 2 miles upriver from Willow Beach. Paddlers glide in backwards, and afternoon light can make it glow green, the park service says.
The river trip starts below Hoover Dam; see our Hoover Dam tours for the dam itself.
Guided tour or rental
Pick a guided tour if this is your first time on the river. A guide leads the way to the cave.
Pick a rental if you paddle with confidence and have a car. Rentals at Willow Beach start from €62.
Pair it with other day tours from Las Vegas in our day-trips guide.
The cheapest way to kayak to Emerald Cave
The rental without transport is the cheapest, from €62. You drive to Willow Beach yourself and pay the park fee there.
The guided tour from Willow Beach starts from €76, if you want a guide but can drive.
Before you book an Emerald Cave kayak trip
Budget for the park fee
Lake Mead National Recreation Area charges $25 per vehicle or $15 per person. All three rentals and the Willow Beach tour leave it out of the price.
Weather can change plans
The guided tour from Las Vegas is weather-dependent, the listing says. Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours ahead.
Check the weight limits
The Willow Beach tour allows up to 240 lbs in a single kayak and 450 lbs in a tandem. The half-day kayak is not for guests over 275 lbs.
Bring cash and water shoes
The guided tour from Las Vegas says to bring cash. The half-day kayak suggests water shoes, a towel and biodegradable sunscreen.
Fill in the waiver
The rental with dry bag needs an online park waiver before you arrive.
Emerald Cave kayaking questions and answers
Can you kayak to Emerald Cave without a tour?
Is Emerald Cave kayaking worth it?
What is the best kayak tour for Emerald Cave?
How long does it take to kayak to Emerald Cave?
Can you kayak inside Emerald Cave?
Do you pay a park fee to kayak to Emerald Cave?
More Emerald Cave kayak tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore day trips from Las Vegas
Sources (2), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Las Vegas editorial team.