Read time: about 2.5 minutes. Published 2026-01-01

One of our most memorable experiences in Las Vegas took place far from the Strip – we went kayaking down the Colorado River, starting near the base of the Hoover Dam. 

This was an all-day adventure that started very early on a November morning. It was a rather cool day, considering average highs that time of year are still in the low 80s. Instead, it was in the mid-50’s with a light rain on and off – not at all what we expected for a day in the desert! 

But it was amazing nonetheless. Our guide was great, setting a pace that allowed for taking in the sights, but kept us rowing enough to keep the blood pumping. We had opted for a double kayak, with Victoria in front to take lots of pictures (and she literally took hundreds of them), and Adam in the back doing most of the rowing (which he enjoys, so it worked out). With high cliffs towering over us on either side for most of the way, the views were breathtaking! 

It was a very small group that day – just us, the guide, and a woman named Lorie. That kept things quiet and peaceful, allowing us to float along, just enjoying the moments as they passed. Our first stop was a sonic cave with interesting acoustics. It was right on the river, so we just paddled in to check it out. A hot spring trickled out inside the cave, making it very hot and humid inside, allowing us to thaw out a bit.

Next, we stopped at the hot spring pool. We did have to leave our kayaks behind for this, walking along the spring to get to the pool. There was even a spot where we had to climb up a 15-20 foot ladder, which I was proud of Victoria for doing. The spring was very relaxing, with water around 120 degrees F. It felt even hotter, since we had been in the cold rain all morning. Unfortunately, as we were leaving the pool, Victoria’s foot slipped as she stepped over the pool wall, scraping her knee and twisting her ankle. That made the trip back down to the kayaks – including the ladder back down – more of an adventure, but we made it.

After continuing in our kayaks for a while, we stopped for lunch on a gravely area and got out to stretch our legs and refuel. Then it was back to the winding river and the views around every bend. The rain had stopped, and the sun was starting to come out, which made the tail end of the trip even more enjoyable. We stopped briefly in a small emerald cave, but there was just enough cloud cover at the time to not get the full effect of it.

In the early afternoon, we had reached the end of the tour and it was time to get back to the hotel for a nice, hot shower! River kayaking is one of our favorite outdoor activities, and the Colorado River is a great place to do it if you’re taking a Vegas trip!