RIVER TRIPS · RIVER KAYAKING IN THE USA

River Kayaking in the USA: the 15 to Book First

22 tours  ·  from $54 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 river kayaking in the USA justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Kayaking the Salt River Foxtail Trip - What unguided really means
River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, River Kayaking in the USA, the USA River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Kayaking the Salt River Foxtail Trip

1.Kayaking the Salt River Foxtail Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,395 reviews · from $57Our pick

You’ll launch from Saguaro Lake Ranch and paddle an unguided, two-hour stretch of the Lower Salt River to Foxtail. Expect mountain views, birds, possible wild horses, calm water, and a few swift sections where you may get wet. Kayak, paddle, and life jacket are included.

“Don’t forget your camera and sunscreen and some favorite tunes for inspiration . Lol Friendly people. Lots of wildlife along the way. Even wild horses !”

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Emerald Cave & Black Canyon Kayak Tour with Vegas Pickup - Getting set up at Willow Beach
Las Vegas River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, River Kayaking in the USA, the USA River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Underground River and Cave Trips, Underground River and Cave Trips in the USA

Emerald Cave & Black Canyon Kayak Tour with Vegas Pickup

2.Emerald Cave & Black Canyon Kayak Tour with Vegas Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,266 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $149

Trade the Las Vegas Strip for a calm four-mile paddle through Black Canyon. Your guide handles kayak instruction, safety, local stories, snacks, and water, with Emerald Cave and a swim stop along the way. Guides such as Chelsea, Lauren, Jeff, and Eugene are known for making beginners feel at ease.

“An amazing experience from pickup to drop off. Lauren was an amazing guide. She went above and beyond for the group.”

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Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure - Four miles of paddling, with no shortcut
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Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure

3.Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 790 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $145

Paddle four miles on the Wailua River, then hike about three miles through rainforest, muddy trails, and four water crossings to 110-foot Secret Falls. Guides such as Thomas, Sierra, Ty, and Kay add local stories about plants, wildlife, and Hawaiian history. Lunch and equipment are included.

“Great experience Thomas was an excellent guide and knew everything about the local plant life you come in contact with on the trail”

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Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch - Starting at Kayak Kauai in Kapaʻa
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Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch

4.Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 783 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $155

Paddle a tandem kayak about 2.5 miles up Kauai’s Wailua River, then follow a state-certified guide through muddy forest trails to a waterfall. Guides such as Annie, Harrison, Lindsey, Anya, and Jay add local insight and humor. Lunch, snacks, safety gear, and walking sticks are included.

“Our tour guide Annie legit made this experience!! Her commentary and stoke was throughout the whole trip was hilarious! The kayaking was very enjoyable and the picture spots were on point. The hike to the waterfall was an adventure and so worth it! Highly recommend doing this experience.”

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Kayak Tour on the Verde River - Checking in at Cottonwood and choosing your kayak
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Kayak Tour on the Verde River

5.Kayak Tour on the Verde River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 591 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $115

You’ll paddle a scenic 3.1-mile stretch of the Verde River near Sedona in a single or tandem inflatable kayak. Guides such as Ken, Walt, Blaine, and Maverick provide safety help, local nature stories, and photos, while Class I and II rapids add easygoing fun.

“This was a great tour that I would recommend to anyone. The tour guide on the river (Blane) was great and made the trip very enjoyable. Thank you for a great day!”

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Small Group Guided Colorado River & Emerald Cave Kayak Tour - The first two miles toward Emerald Cave
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Small Group Guided Colorado River & Emerald Cave Kayak Tour

6.Small Group Guided Colorado River & Emerald Cave Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 500 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Drive yourself to Willow Beach Marina for a beginner-friendly four-mile kayak trip with guides Brett or Griffin. Paddle through canyon country toward Emerald Cave, stop to swim in the Colorado River, and return at a relaxed pace. Kayaks, life jackets, and small-group guiding are provided.

“Griffin was an amazing guide. We had such an amazing day. Highly recommend and we would definitely do it again.”

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Las Vegas: Colorado River to Emerald Cave Half-Day Kayak - Launching at Willow Beach
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Las Vegas: Colorado River to Emerald Cave Half-Day Kayak

7.Colorado River to Emerald Cave Half-Day Kayak

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 241 reviews · 4 hours · from $119

Paddle the Colorado River from Willow Beach to Emerald Cave with guides such as Paul, Don, or Isaac. Expect a calm but active 4-mile round trip, cold clear water, canyon views, snacks, swimming, wildlife, photos, and shuttle service from Las Vegas.

“The guide was very informative and added a few extra activities such as a short walk to see the river from above and he took pictures of us too! He even dropped us off at our hotel.”

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Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour and River Raft or Emerald Cave Kayak - Willow Beach to Emerald Cave by kayak
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Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour and River Raft or Emerald Cave Kayak

8.Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour and River Raft or Emerald Cave Kayak

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 241 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $699

Spend about 11 hours combining a 90-minute helicopter flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Black Canyon, and the Grand Canyon West Rim with either a motorized Colorado River float or a four-mile kayak trip to Emerald Cave. Hotel transfers are included, but the kayak option does not include lunch.

“It was awesome Staff great Pilots great Bus driver exceptional Me and my family had fun and look. Look forward to coming there again thank you.”

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Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle - Self Drive - What the $108 Price Really Covers
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Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle – Self Drive

9.Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle – Self Drive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 222 reviews · 3 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $108

Meet at Willow Beach for a 3 to 3.5-hour guided paddle to Emerald Cave. You’ll cover 4.5 miles with a certified guide such as Gio, Dave, or Don, stopping at a historic gauging station and receiving gear, snacks, water, sun hats, and digital photos.

“We ordered this kayak tour and from the reservation , Gio the guide was wonderful - patient and professional and answered on all my questions. He explain that we meet early to avoid lots of crowd and he was right . We started our kayak tour at 8:30 and the lake was pretty empty. The kayaks were in very high quality and safe and all the time Gio explained to us things and took care of us . We made 2 breaks and Gio was generous and gave us lots of snacks . Our teenagers said it was fantastic . Don’t miss this attraction with Gio !!!!”

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Madison River Guided Kayak Tour - Meeting in Bozeman and riding to the river
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Madison River Guided Kayak Tour

10.Madison River Guided Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Paddle and float about six miles on the gentle Madison River with a certified guide from Bozeman Kayak Company. You will spend about 1.5 hours on the water, watching for bald eagles, beaver, deer, pelicans, and other birds. The calm Class I current suits first-time kayakers, families, and mixed groups.

“There were just two of us on the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and understood right away that we wanted to hear about the birds, fish, river. He was super friendly. The paddle was easy and super relaxing. Anyone could do it.”

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From Cottonwood: Guided Kayaking Tour on the Verde River - A short shuttle to the Verde River
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From Cottonwood: Guided Kayaking Tour on the Verde River

11.From Cottonwood: Guided Kayaking Tour on the Verde River

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 2h 30m · from $103

Spend two hours on a 3.5-mile stretch of the Verde River with OAC Tours, paddling a single or tandem inflatable kayak through class I and II rapids. Guides such as Blaine, Chris, Ken, and Nick help beginners feel secure, while a swim stop and trip photos round out the outing.

“It was our first time kayaking and the skill level was perfect. The guides were very helpful and friendly. We had a great time. Highly recommend!”

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Indian River Clear Bottom Kayak or Paddleboarding Manatee and Dolphin Tour - Choosing a clear-bottom kayak or paddleboard
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Indian River Clear Bottom Kayak or Paddleboarding Manatee and Dolphin Tour

12.Indian River Clear Bottom Kayak or Paddleboarding Manatee and Dolphin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75

At Kiwanis Island Park near Cocoa Beach, you can choose a clear-bottom kayak or paddleboard for a guided 90-minute trip on the Indian River Lagoon. Guides such as Captain Mike, Tom, and Troy know the area well. Expect calm water, local wildlife, included photos, and a small group of up to 12 people.

“Troy was just a great guide. Very personable and knowledgeable. We can’t wait for our next adventure with him.”

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Emerald Cave Kayak Rental - Self Guide Colorado River - Emerald Cave and the river setting
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Emerald Cave Kayak Rental – Self Guide Colorado River

13.Emerald Cave Kayak Rental – Self Guide Colorado River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $77

At Willow Beach, EZ Kayak provides a kayak, paddle, life vest, pump, phone case, and sun hat for a 3 to 4-hour self-guided paddle through Black Canyon. You set the pace along the Colorado River, with staff such as Don and Gio helping you get prepared before launching.

“EZ Kayak is an absolutely great company to use to experience the emerald caves. Gio was very thorough in booking the trip, preparing us for the meeting spot and staying in touch as the day approached. Upon arrival David was early and ready for us. The kayaks were sized right for each of us and in great condition. They also provided a small snack bag, waters and they had any other supplies we may have needed. We brought our own, but they had water cases for our phones, a wet bag for our stuff and even a sun hat if needed. I thought that was going the extra mile. Finally,…”

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Rogue River Family Float & Discovery Park-Rafting and Kayaking - Wildlife, Water, and Guide Stories
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Rogue River Family Float & Discovery Park-Rafting and Kayaking

14.Rogue River Family Float & Discovery Park-Rafting and Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $111

Set out from Ashland with Noah’s River Adventures for a six-hour Rogue River float through class I-II rapids. Guides such as Logan and Trevor keep the ride lively while you watch for wildlife, swim, kayak, and stop at river-access-only Rogue Discovery Park for food and drinks.

“We did this with our 3 kids ages 12, 7, and 4. They all loved it. My 7yo did the kayak with me and 12yo did it on her own. Everyone loved it all! Trevor was a fantastic guide. Highly recommend!”

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Oahu: Single & Double Kayak 3-Hour River Rental - Choosing between the single and double kayak
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Oahu: Single & Double Kayak 3-Hour River Rental

15.Oahu: Single & Double Kayak 3-Hour River Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 31 reviews · 3 hours · from $75

Rent a single sit-in kayak or a stable double sit-on-top kayak from Kahana Adventures for three hours on the Kahana River and Bay. Host Larry and his wife welcome you at their property, where you can paddle at your own pace, reach the beach if waves permit, and bring your own snacks and camera.

“Dont be afraid to book this excursion! Me and my girlfriends booked a 3 pm kayak session on 9/25. We followed the map location given on the website and entered between the two surfboards. The tour does begin at the hosts residence. From what I understand, the owners are native hawaiians that have owned the property for over 150 yeats. Host Larry and his wife were very welcoming and hepful. We had arrived a little early and brought our lunch from Adela’s Country Eatery and they allowed us to take our time and utilize their tables and chairs for an outdoor picnic. The river went on and on, bonus it…”

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New in River Kayaking in the USA

★ 5.03 hour Lazy River Kayak FloatFrom $37512 reviews

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