There certainly are. You can float Black Canyon year-round below Hoover Dam in rafts, canoes, and kayaks. Most boaters put in just below the dam and travel 11 miles down to Willow Beach. The canyon walls are sheer, waterfalls abound, and some small beaches along the way offer good stops for eating, hiking, and taking breaks.
The ride is essentially flat and gentle, though according to Bob Sehlinger in The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas, "The put-in below the dam is rocky and slippery. More than a few boaters have accidentally launched their boat before they climbed aboard, while others have managed to arrive in the river ahead of their boat." In addition, the water is a brisk 53 degrees year-round (it's taken from the bottom of Lake Mead), so if someone falls in or there's a capsize, it's imperative to get out of the water quickly.
Also, headwinds that blow up the canyon can be a huge hassle. "If the weather service predicts headwinds in excess of 18 miles an hour, cancel your paddling trip," Sehlinger advises. Finally, conditions can change rapidly if the water authority releases electrical-generating water. The river can rise several feet, so you need to tie up your boat high and secure.
A commercial raft trip on huge 25-person motorized rafts leaves from just below the dam and takes three hours to float down to Willow Beach; expect to pay upwards of $110 or so for the raft trip and transportation from your hotel. Contact Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures, 702/294-1414; blackcanyonadventures.com.
To do your own trip, you need a permit; only 30 non-commercial boats a day are allowed to do the Willow Beach trip. Try to make your reservations as far in advance as possible; this is a very popular trip, especially on weekends. The permit costs $10 and the Park Service entrance fee is another $3 per person. Apply for a permit at the above Web site, or call and have one emailed or faxed to you.
