Emerald Cove gets its name from the brilliant, greenish hues that light up the water when the sun’s at just the right angle. It was one of the most elusive natural wonders on my Arizona Bucket List. Keep reading for tips on how you can bag this gem of an experience.
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Once I added Emerald Cove to my bucket list, it took me a few years to get there. Why did it take so long? Location. It’s about a 4-hour drive from my home in Phoenix, then a 2-mile paddle upstream – hardly a daytrip.
I had originally booked this trip for April 2020 and had to cancel it due to COVID-19 closures of national parks properties. My next opportunity to go was the third weekend of October. It was definitely worth the wait – and the effort.
Now that I’ve been to Emerald Cove, I can share a little more info to help you plan your visit. Below I’ll answer some of the most common questions asked by people thinking of going.
Where is Emerald Cove?
Emerald Cove is a small notch in the Colorado River canyon wall. The closest access point is Willow Beach Marina located on the Arizona side of the river, roughly 60 miles from both Kingman, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. From the marina, it’s about a 2-mile paddle upstream. See it on Google maps.
How long does it take to kayak from Willow Beach to Emerald Cove?
Plan for at least 4 hours on the water
Four hours is enough time to paddle from the marina to the cave, and back. You can do it quicker, but why rush?
My suggestion is to pack enough snacks and drinks to spend the better part of the day on this adventure. You can paddle beyond the cove for many more miles, if you want. There are plenty of sandy beaches on both sides of the river to pull over and take a break.
Key point: You’ll start out paddling upstream. Depending on the speed of the river’s current at the time you go, it may take a bit longer to paddle up to Emerald Cove than to paddle back down to the starting point.
Video: Kayaking from Willow Beach to Emerald Cove
How far is Emerald Cove from Willow Beach?
It’s about two miles from Willow Beach to Emerald Cove
What to look for
Emerald Cove is a relatively small notch on the right side, a little way beyond the small cable car hanging over the river, as you paddle upstream.
When you see a big cave on your left, look directly across the river to find Emerald Cove.
Emerald Cove is often referred to as Emerald Cave. Either name is fitting because it’s really just a cave with a mouth that opens to the river. If you were traveling upstream at a fast speed in a motorboat, you might not even see it. Fact is, there’s a bigger, more noticeable cave directly across the river.
Best time to go: early afternoon in spring or fall
Keep in mind, the Colorado River divides Arizona and Nevada – two of the warmest states in the U.S.. In the summer, it gets dangerously hot and very uncomfortable. In these parts, early morning is the only smart time to exert yourself outside between May and September.
For optimal weather, go during these months:
- March
- April
- October
- November
Best time of day: Early afternoon
The water doesn’t really show off the brilliant emerald color until the sun passes far enough in the sky to illuminate the vegetation growing on the river bottom. Some people swear that 2 p.m. is prime time, but lighting can fluctuate throughout the year, depending on sun angle.
Best day of the week: Monday
From a visibility standpoint, no day of the week is better than another. But, if you want to avoid crowds and motorboat traffic, Monday is the best day to go. Sunday is second-best.
Why Monday is best:
- No powerboats
- Fewer people
Tip: On Sundays and Mondays, powerboats are not allowed to travel the stretch of river between Willow Beach and Hoover Dam. That means you’ll only encounter other human-powered crafts on those days. However, since Sunday is on the weekend, many more people take to the water than on Monday.
Can you kayak down the Colorado River?
Yes. Many people launch just below Hoover Dam and kayak downstream to Emerald Cove.
There are several outfitters that help simplify this process with shuttle services and rental gear ( if needed). Otherwise, you’ll need to coordinate with friends to leave one vehicle at Willow Beach and drive another one (or more) up to the Hoover Dam put-in spot.
Is a permit required to kayak from Willow Beach to Emerald Cove?
Not exactly. You don’t need a permit to access the river. However, since the marina and campgrounds at Willow Beach are located within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, you’ll need to purchase a national parks pass online ahead of time or at the entrance station upon arrival.
Can I rent a kayak at Willow Beach?
Yes. You have a couple options for kayak rentals. My recommendation is to rent from this Viator operator for cost savings and convenience. Another, more costly, alternative is the marina at Willow Beach for single- and double-seater kayaks, along with canoes and stand-up paddleboards.
Are there guided tours to Emerald Cove?
Yes. Several river guide outfitters operate tours on this section of the Colorado River.
Most of the tour operators are based in Boulder City and Las Vegas, NV – both cities are less than an hour away. Although I chose the self-guided tour option, I came away with a favorable impression of the guides for this tour operator based on an interaction I had with one of their guides. He was very professional, and his group seemed to be having a lot of fun.
Where are the best places to camp near Willow Beach?
Regardless of your camping style (glamping or primitive), you have several camping location options for this adventure. Following are some of the more popular options available to you.
Willow Beach RV & Tent Campground
Willow Beach Campground is a modern campground suited for both tent and RV camping with all the amenities you’ll need. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table and hook-shaped pole to hang a lantern (or anything else). While cell phone service is unreliable, there is free wifi available throughout the campground. There are also well-maintained restrooms with running water and private shower stalls.
Related: Free Camping Near Me? How to Find Free RV Camping Sites
On a beach along the river
Many natural beaches exist along both banks of the river offer primitive camping opportunities for people with the gear and know-how. Remember to pack out everything that you pack in.
Other camping options
- Chloride RV park: a 33-site RV park set in the high-desert ghost town of Chloride, 45 miles southeast of Willow Beach.
- Dispersed camping on nearby BLM land or at Packsaddle or Windy Point Recreation Areas, approximately 50 miles southeast of Willow Beach.
Now that I’ve been to Emerald Cove, I’m already dreaming of my next trip there. It’s not just the opportunity for more Instagram-worthy images that I crave. I was amazed by how beautiful and tranquil this stretch of the Colorado River is.
Although I really enjoyed my stay in the Willow Beach Campground, my next trip will be planned around a night of camping on the banks of the river.
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Questions? Leave them in the comments box below and I’ll respond to the best of my abilities. Thanks for reading, liking and sharing.
Thank you for the insight! My friend and I are going in early November. Would you recommend wetsuits/drysuits? We will be using SUPs (taking kayak paddles for help through strong winds).
Sorry, Noel. I am definitely not qualified to answer that question. I have zero experience with a standup paddleboard, and therefore I have no idea how wet someone generally gets while paddling that. Nor do I know what kind of experience it takes to avoid falling off of one.
Hopefully, another experience paddleboarder will jump on here and answer your question. Best of luck to you
Hi Noel,
I was able to join a group from my workplace in 1987. We rented canoes (about 15-20 canoes) and put in just below Hoover Dam.
The water in the river from the dam down to Willow Beach is a constant 55 degrees.
I would recommend a wetsuit. And get out of the water asap and get to a shore to dry off and warm up if you happen to fall in.
They told us that hypothermia will take over in 20 minutes and you will be dead in 30.
That being said there is HOT WATER springs flowing into the river at several spots along that section of the river.
It was a great paddle trip!
55° and hypothermia don’t even go together are you nuts
Hi! Would a cheap inflatable boat also work there? 🙂
Hi! Where would people park if they are driving there?
There are two large parking lots adjacent to the marina.
Is there a day that they shut the damn off, so the current isn’t as strong? TIA
If so, it isn’t widely communicated. I’m sure dam adjustments are more of a seasonal thing.
So coming from Phoenix leave the day before or day of super early? What would you recommend? Anything else to do in the area while there?
That all depends on the individual. If you enjoy camping, I would definitely suggest going the night before and camp there in the area. There isn’t a whole lot to do other than kayak and hike in that area near Willow Beach.
However, there is a cool old mining town called chloride about an hour south east of Willow Beach recreation area. Las Vegas is about an hour to the north west of Willow Beach.
I hope that helps. Have fun!
Great article, thank you! As a bit of a beginner how are the currents/waves up and back?
Sorry for slow reply. Just seeing your question now. When I went in October the flow was so slow it was like paddling on a lake. I imagine it flows faster in spring and summer months. We did have some strong winds and choppy water to deal with in the afternoon. I hope that helps.
This was so very helpful! Thank you!! We will be heading out there this fall.
Thanks for that feedback, Amy. I hope the info helps you have a memorable adventure.
This blog was wonderfully informative! I’m bringing a friend along with my two inflatable kayaks to Emerald Cove from Willow Beach next week, and this provided me with some details I couldn’t dig up elsewhere, like time of day and how to spot the entrance to Emerald Cove.
Thanks for this article!
You’re welcome, Kathy. I really hope you enjoy it. We have so many natural treasures in Arizona.