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All the United States Nevada Boulder City Black Canyon National Water Trail
AO Edited

Black Canyon National Water Trail

See Hoover Dam and the bypass bridge from a perspective usually off-limits to the public, and float the upper part of the Black Canyon National Water Trail.

Boulder City, Nevada

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slgwv
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Looking downstream.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Looking downstream.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Clear cold green water.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Into Black Canyon.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Green grotto.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Coyote at the water.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Blue water and dark rock.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Desert bighorn sheep.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
The Dam and bridge from the launch point.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Rocky ridge.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Blue water, dark rock.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
More crags.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Lake Mohave below Willow Beach.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
End of the trip–marina at Willow Beach.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
At Willow Beach.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
The bridge and dam as seen from the water.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
View downstream near the launch point.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Cormorants at the gaging station.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
More crags.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Opening out downstream.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Desert bighorn sheep.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
The bridge from the water.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Willow Beach.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Desert bighorn sheep.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Outlets of the old diversion tunnels, on the Arizona side, below the dam.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Downstream.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Drainage channel from the access road.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Hoover Dam and bridge from the access road.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Blue water and dark rock.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Craggy rock.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Green shrubs, red-brown rocks.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Grotto on the Nevada side.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Side canyon.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
The access road, normally closed to the public.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
Side canyon, on the Nevada side.   slgwv / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Hoover Dam has tight security, especially in this post-9/11 era. There are strict limits on where the public is allowed in the vicinity of the dam. In particular, views of the dam from downstream are not available to the public, with one exception: an authorized float trip that puts into Lake Mohave, which is backed up by Davis Dam downstream, just below Hoover Dam. This launch point is reached on a road that otherwise is closed to the public.

The launch point marks the beginning of the Black Canyon National Water Trail. It was the first water trail in the Southwest and the first in a desert. Although the rapids formerly present here have been drowned by Lake Mohave, so that the float trip is not a whitewater experience, the lake remains narrow enough to preserve much of the flavor of the Colorado River as it flows through this deep desert canyon. A well-defined current is even still present. Dark craggy rock walls loom over the water, with springs marked by incongruously green vegetation here and there. Sightings of wildlife, including the desert bighorn sheep, are practically guaranteed. The water is cold and clear, due to Hoover Dam, so that even on a hot summer day when the sun is baking the canyon walls a dip in the water provides quick relief.

The takeout point for the float trips is usually Willow Beach, a small marina, campground, and launch ramp on the Arizona side about 11.5 river miles below Hoover Dam. At this point Lake Mohave is clearly broadening out into a lake, although the Black Canyon trail officially continues another 13.5 miles to Eldorado Canyon on the Nevada side.

Related Tags

Water Trails Canyons Dams

Know Before You Go

The National Park Service maintains a list of authorized outfitters for the float trips.  Typically the outfitter provides bus transportation to the launch point and back from Willow Beach. You must use an authorized outfitter to take this trip!

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slgwv

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December 31, 2021

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Black Canyon National Water Trail
29956-29978 US-93
Boulder City, Nevada, 89005
United States
36.011275, -114.743397
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Photo of Boulder City

Boulder City

Nevada

Places 8

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Hoover Dam Old Exhibit Building

Boulder City, Nevada

miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boulder City

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Places 8

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