Black Canyon Half Day Kayak & Offroad Tour with Transportation

The standard half-day Black Canyon trip paddles out from Willow Beach and back again. This one comes in from the top. A staff-driven UTV carries the group off-road to a slot canyon, you hike 15 to 20 minutes down through it to the river, and only then do you get in a kayak. The paddle covers 4 miles one way through Black Canyon, with a stop at Emerald Cave and a beach break for a swim and lunch before the take-out at Willow Beach.

Blazin' Paddles says no other company runs this combination on the river. In the slot you may need hands and feet to climb up or down, the operator warns, and it rates the day moderate overall, so your shoes have to handle both water and rock. Wind can also reverse the plan, starting at Willow Beach and finishing at Cranes Nest, which lets the guides paddle with the breeze.

Compared with the simpler Black Canyon Kayak Tour with Transportation, you add lunch, the UTV and a route with no backtracking, and you pay for them: from $260 including fees. Kids can join from age 8 with a parent's permission.