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| - My wife and I have used these outfitters twice for non-guided kayak trips; once for Lake Mead (Sept. 2016) and once for the Colorado River from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach (the "Black Canyon" trip, on Memorial Day week-end, 2017). Great experiences with them both times, and the kayaking was phenomenal. Reasonable prices, quality equipment, and (mostly) knowledgeable, hard working staff. On rare occasion, the office staff has seemed a bit inexperienced, but the "field staff" responsible for drop offs and pick ups were all very knowledgeable, polite and efficient. Also, holiday week-ends can result in log jams at pick up, so be patient with the staff, who have a vested interest in getting people off the river and back to their cars/hotels as efficiently as possible.
Some practical observations for the Black Canyon trip:
The trip is about 12 miles, and we were provided with a very well-marked map showing key locations along the way. Plus, there are mile markers on the river, so you can gauge your progress. With minimal effort (we had a slight breeze at our back), you can cover a mile in fifteen minutes or less, so you have PLENTY of time to stop, view the sights, hike to various hot springs, etc. On the other hand, we have friends who have done the trip in canoes while having to contend with strong headwinds, and they found the paddling more challenging and the going much slower.
DO take to heart the admonition that the river flow varies according to water being released from Hoover Dam. We met a couple who camped overnight and discovered their canoe, which they had left on dry ground, had floated away during the night (they were rescued the following morning by a kind commercial pontoon boat operator and reunited with their canoe, which lucky for them, had been retrieved about a half mine downstream, complete with paddles). Make sure you tie up your canoe/kayak whenever you leave it!
Wearing some sort of water shoe is a must, given the slippery shore side rocks one must contend with when getting into and out of one's water craft.
Enjoy!
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