Explore the hideouts of Black Canyon
Temple Bar Marina, Arizona
Details
Distance
12 miles
Route Type
Point-to-Point
Description
Added by Elsie Vanderveer
Just outside Las Vegas and away from the neon lights and strips of casinos you will find a different kind of light and serene oasis on the Colorado River. Stunning cut in the middle of the desert, cool crisp water, warm soothing hot springs, secret alcoves, and meditative caves scatter this 12 mile route with the option of paddling longer if you can arrange a pick-up!
Starting at Hoover Dam and continuing 12 miles downstream to Willow Beach, this trip can easily be done in a day. (I had a late start after a last minute decision to shorten from an overnight trip to a single day trip, beginning at 9:00 and finishing at 3:00, well before my 4:00 pick-up and that included multi-stop explorations and a nap.) Most people do this as a two-day trip but as an Outbounder if you're looking for something not so gear and time intensive you can easily manage as a day trip depending on how many stops you make.
Don't be wary of nosing into caves, coves, and nests! Look up and around you; the natural wildlife population is drastically deceasing and the Bald Eagles and Big Horn Sheep have been most effected.
Recommended stops:* Sauna Cave* Goldstrike Hot Springs* Sea Cave* White Rock Canyon* Arizona Hot Springs (perfect lunch spot)* Petroglyph Wash* Dragons Back* Emerald Cave* Mini Emerald (about 25 feet downstream of Emerald is a little cave nook perfect for hooking up the bow of the boat for a serene nap- I made up the name...)* Bouldering near the Catwalk* Historic Trailhead (short hike)
Go in the spring or fall to avoid crowds and heat. There are no rapids on this trip.
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Goldstrike Hot Springs
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