Black Canyon Field Trip with Docent Brewing and Deb Talen

This 12-mile stretch of the Colorado River on the border of Arizona & Nevada boasts crystal clear placid waters, natural hot springs, amazing scenery, and the serenity of the desert all wrapped in one. Paddling up & down river, we'll get an intimate look at all it has to offer. We will start this trip below the breathtaking marvel of the Hoover Dam. During this excursion we will be camping along the river and each day will have a celebratory happy hour and bonfire provided by our guides as well as all meals sourced from our local farms and purveyors. If you've always wanted to experience a multi-day paddle adventure, this is the perfect way to get your feet wet! We can advise on how and what to pack for this 4-day excursion.

This adventure is co-ed and all paddle craft is welcome. All of our “gear included” spots are with paddleboard gear included or canoe/kayak rentals from Desert Adventures.

Space is limited so email [email protected] to reserve your spot or for further details/questions.

$599 with your own paddling equipment
$675 includes paddling equipment (SUP, canoe or kayak).

Guides will provide filtered Colorado River water during the trip along with fresh brewed Bear Coast Coffee to start each day, locally procured craft dinners and of course, Docent Beer! We will also give guidance on essentials needed for this expedition. Again, this is a great way to learn the ins-and-outs of creating a fun and safe multi-day paddle trip while enjoying the majesty of the canyon. The lead guide is Erin O'Malley. Erin is an ACA (American Canoe and Kayak Association) Certified Instructor with near a decade of experience leading wilderness trips and will have another one to two co-guide(s) assisting her through the journey, always maintaining a safe guide-to-guest ratio for the expedition.
Paddlers should be physically fit and have stand up/paddling experience. We will provide specific instruction, but paddlers should have foundational skills for this trip.

May 18th-
On day one, paddlers will rendezvous at 8am at Hoover Dam Lodge, 18000 Highway 93, Boulder City, NV 89005. Once the entire group is accounted for and packed to go, we will shuttle to the dam with Desert Adventures. They are the contracted operator for the National Park and their assistance gives us access to launching from the dam. Once our boards are packed and ready, we'll begin our 7 mile paddle downriver to Arizona Hot Springs, taking our time to explore and experiment with technique along the way and visit a few of the hotspring gems of the canyon. Upon arrival at Arizona Hot Springs, we'll make camp, celebrate happy hour, and enjoy the solitude of the desert with a swim in the river, soak in the hot springs, a hike into the canyons or hills as the guides prepare an epic camp dinner.

May 19th -
After Bear Coast coffee and breakfast, we'll pack our boards/vessels for a day trip of paddling, hiking & soaking. We will visit Boy Scout Canyon which is spattered with amazing hot spring pools and a few roped waterfalls. This gorgeous canyon is a highlight of the trip. Towards the end of the day, we'll float back down to camp for happy hour and our second farm-to-table dinner. There’s nothing better than the open canyon sky, warmth of the campfire, and frosty beverages in good company.

May 20th-
We'll kick off the morning with coffee, breakfast, and optional yoga. For some, this may be an off day spent hiking, soaking, relaxing. This day is meant to give guests the ability to do a “pick your own” adventure. In years past we have had those that want to relax near camp with a mix of cliff jumping and soaking as well as some that wanted to embark on one more “upriver” adventure. We will make sure to have a designated guide with the groups that organically form as we get the day moving.

May 21st-
Unfortunately, we have to paddle out on Day Four. After a little morning relaxation, one last soak and a yummy breakfast, we'll pack up and hit the river for a 7-mile downriver paddle back to Willow Beach.