Black Canyon
Boulder City, Arizona
| GPS: |
36°0'36.1"N 114°44'34.4"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
Rivers Rocks
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Hot Springs, and Kayak
Black Canyon is a canyon along the Colorado River, just below the Hoover Dam. Located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the canyon and subsequent wilderness area by the same name reside mostly on the Nevada (west) half of the river, although it does straddle the state line between Nevada and Arizona.
Black Canyon is a medium-sized (17,220 acres) wilderness area with distinctly different landscapes on the west and east sides. The west side has gently rolling hills formed by the flow and erosion of basalt; while the east side has steep volcanic cliffs cut by deep canyons. The entire landscape is densely covered with desert-varnished volcanic boulders and very sparsely covered by vegetation. Elevations are relatively low, ranging only from about 600 to 3,000 feet. Courtesy of birdandhike.com
Popular activites in Black Canyon include hiking along the desert canyon, canoeing or kayaking down the Black Canyon Water Trail, and visiting the hot springs.
Primitive camping is allowed along the shoreline of Black Canyon; however, ground fires are not.
As of March 6, 2016, access to Willow Beach and other entrance areas within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area require an entrance fee. In addition, for those who wish to canoe or kayak:
Only authorized vehicles are permitted within the Bureau of Reclamation restricted security area near Hoover Dam, including the launch site. ... Any others who bring private craft and equipment will need to use an authorized livery service to launch at Hoover Dam, and may arrange retrieval, shuttle of passengers, or other rental services as they desire. Courtesy of lcrwatertrailalliance.com
Nearby Arizona Hot Spring is accessable through hiking in the canyon from a trailhead 8.4 miles away from the Lake Mead Visitor Center.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
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Be careful. Pay attention to posted signs and always test the waters before you get in. Some hot springs can get up to boiling temperatures. Be sure to drink plenty of water to combat the dehydrating effect of the spring.
Be respectful of other soakers and the hot spring. Don't hog the pool. Camp at least 200 yards away and keep fires in designated areas. Keep your pets out of the water and never pee in thermal feature. Glass bottles should never go near a hot spring.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Boulder City, Arizona
- Head east on Arizona St toward California Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Avenue I (0.2 mi)
- Turn right to stay on Avenue I (187 ft)
- Turn right onto Nevada Way (0.7 mi)
- Turn right onto US-93 S (3.5 mi)
- Take the Hoover Dam exit (0.3 mi)
- Turn left onto NV-172 (463 ft)
- Turn right to stay on NV-172 (1.2 mi)
- Turn rightRestricted usage roadDestination will be on the right(1.8 mi)
The wilderness area can be accessed from dirt roads that run along the west and south sides of the area, and also from the river on the east. On the south side, the Burro Wash Road runs along a powerline corridor, and (assuming dry roads) driving to the crest of the mountains only requires a high-clearance, 2-WD vehicle. Several roads penetrate the western side of the wilderness area.
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