Large motorized rafts can hold up to 46 people, although there were 25 aboard the morning we took our float trip from the base of Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. After checking in at the cleverly painted tour desk in the Hacienda Hotel we were driven by bus using a non-public park service access road to the boarding area. The drive along the deep narrow winding road presented views not seen from the highway above.

Once on the boat we floated down the calm waters of the Colorado River through Black Canyon for 3 ½ hours enjoying the serenity, and surprising sights. One of the most amazing was a grotto-like cavity in the canyon wall spouting 120-degree hot water. There were many hot water springs along the route, and all the passengers got a chance to check the water temperature for themselves. We entered a cavern large enough, our entire raft fit into it. There was not a siren or glimmer of neon and Vegas seemed eons away. We heard from our tour guide the amazing story of the gauging station and its keeper before the dam was built. You can still see the arduous path the keeper had to trek to work everyday, and the rope and pulley he used to pull himself high across the river each day.

There's also Longhorn sheep and a variety of birds, so take binoculars if you have them. The swallows return every March to their nest made in the steep cliffs along the shoreline.

We made two beach stops along the way. Swimming is permitted if you are tough enough to weather the 54-degree water temperature. There are also trails for the hikers. The price of the tour includes a box lunch you may eat any time along the way, or on one of the beach stops.

Float is the key word, as this part of the Colorado River is smooth as glass all the way to Willow Beach. The ideal time for this unusual Nevada encounter is spring or fall, when the weather is most agreeable. You will find it hard to believe your hotel is only 20-minutes away in another world. You are floating down a river in a remote desert border area that divides two states and is reachable only by boat or expert hikers.

Our tour guide and raft pilot, Rick Rogers, is a fourth grade school teacher who has been a summer tour guide on the river for the past 13 years. He was a personable fellow with loads of river information for his passengers. His past includes the U.S. Cost Guard. Rick loves his work on the river and said, "I can't believe they pay me to do this".

Departing the raft my fellow passengers and I felt like true explorers. We had just ventured into a part of Nevada and time had stopped for a while, or so it seemed.

The river ride is conducted by Black Canyon Adventures from Hoover Dam to Willow Beach daily. For more information call 702-294-1414

Bobbie Green was born in West Virginia, grew up in Southern California. For the past seven years she has been owner/operator of a travel agency in Mesquite, Nevada. She has been writing travel articles for the past 3 years and is a member of North American Travel Journalist Association. She writes for various publications including Mesquitelocal.com, Desert Valley Times and Senior Wire Syndicates.

© 2004