Paddling newcomers have plenty of options for kayaking and canoeing on Nevada’s lakes and rivers.
The Silver State may be the country’s driest state, but beginner kayakers and canoeists, have no fear; there are plenty of lakes and rivers in Nevada suited for novice paddlers.
Whether polishing your paddling skills in a year-round whitewater park or launching from the foot of an iconic dam, kayaking and canoeing in Nevada is worth the hype. Just be sure to stick to calm, slow-moving water, familiarize yourself with paddle sports safety, wear a lifejacket, and never go alone. Also, don’t forget to keep away from Nevada’s mythical underwater creatures.
As a bonus, many of the Nevada bodies of water mentioned below offer guided tours, a great way for beginners to get their sea legs.
Truckee River Whitewater Park
Downtown Reno
Situated along the pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk at Wingfield Park in Downtown Reno, the Truckee River Whitewater Park is a free and friendly place for beginning to intermediate kayakers, canoers, tubers, and rafters. The half-mile Northern Nevada park has 11 drop pools, each decreasing in elevation as it runs downstream, with rocks and boulders installed along the banks and in the 50 to 70-degree water.
Access to the whitewater park is available year-round at the Downtown Plaza near First Street and Wingfield Park. Rentals are available from Sierra Adventures and other Reno providers.
Lake Tahoe
East Shore
A freshwater lake and popular recreation spot in Nevada and California, the 122,600-acre Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, trailing only the five Great Lakes in volume. Millions visit the greater Lake Tahoe basin year-round to enjoy the serene Northern Nevada lake, a scenic trail system in the Sierra Nevadas, skiing, and casinos (on the Nevada side).
Solid spots for launching paddlecraft on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe include Sand Harbor State Park, Cave Rock, and Zephyr Cove. All three are located along the 27-mile East Shore with easy access to rental and tour providers.
For kayak and canoe rental options, here’s a full list of Tahoe paddle shops.
For more information about paddling on Lake Tahoe, read this Lake Tahoe Beginner’s Guide.
Sand Harbor State Park
The most visited state park in Nevada, Sand Harbor State Park on the shores of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, is a hotbed of activity, with kayaking, canoeing, and other water sports. Kayakers and canoeists tend to head north to explore the lake’s hidden rocky coves or south to view the Thunderbird Lodge, a historic gem built in 1939.
For more information on reservations, fees, and other frequently asked questions, check the Sand Harbor Reservations web page.
Cave Rock State Park
Nestled on the southeastern shore of Lake Tahoe, this Nevada State Park is less touristy than Sand Harbor, with cool rock formations, hiking, and a small beach for launching paddlecraft.
Check the Nevada State Park’s website for fees and other pertinent information.
Zephyr Cove Resort
A vacation destination with a mile-long sandy beach, Zephyr Cove Resort is a one-stop shop for canoeists and kayakers who want to explore the lake’s clear-blue waters and jagged rocks, offering rentals on site at its marina.
For more information, check out the Zephyr Cove Marina FAQs.
Topaz Lake Recreation Area
Carson Valley
Located south of Lake Tahoe, about 45 minutes from Minden and Gardnerville, Topaz Lake was created by the waters of the West Walker River in the 1920s. Like its significantly larger northern alpine neighbor, the 2,410-acre Topaz Lake straddles Nevada and California. Its tree-lined shores attract trout fishermen, campers, boaters, and other water sports enthusiasts.
Launch access for Topaz Lake is found near the campsites at Topaz Marina. The marina offers self-service kayak rentals. Renters pay online or with a phone app.
Walker Lake Recreation Area
Hawthorne
A remnant of the ancient Lake Lahontan, and the ancestral home of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, the 38,000-acre Walker Lake lies within the Walker Lake Recreation Area. Mountain ranges and wildlife surround this perennially sunny lake. Paddlers enjoy the calm waters any time of year.
Sportsman’s Beach is the most developed site for launching canoes and kayaks at Walker Lake, offering paved access, a public boat ramp, and amenities such as campsites, vault toilets, and covered picnic tables. Located on the lake’s western shore, it’s known for its howling coyotes, year-round access, and gorgeous sunsets.
Additional launch sites at Walker Lake include Tamarack Beach and Twenty Mile Beach. Visit the Walker Lake Recreation Area website for information on fees and amenities.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
A vast desert oasis, Lake Mead National Recreation Area stretches across 1.5 million acres in Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona, encompassing Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Lake Mohave, and Davis Dam. Millions of visitors play in the NRA’s waters, mountains, beaches, canyons, and crevices every year, with seven million flocking to Boulder City’s Hoover Dam alone.
Paddlers have their pick of two shimmering reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, as well as a meandering 67-mile stretch of the Colorado River.
Be sure to check out the U.S. National Park Service’s tips for canoeing and kayaking within Lake Mead NRA.
Lake Mead
Only 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, human-made Lake Mead is a hub for outdoor recreation, with coves, rocky cliffs, sunken treasures, and sandy beaches spanning 110 miles across Nevada and Arizona.
There are four marinas at Lake Mead, but Hemenway Harbor in the lake’s Boulder Basin area is the main launching point for boats and other vessels. Located close to the park’s Boulder entrance, near the Alan Bible Visitor Center, parking here is easy. Paddlecraft rentals and launching points are steps away, perfect for beginner kayakers and canoers.
Black Canyon National Water Trail
This 30-mile section of the Colorado River, running from the base of Hoover Dam in Boulder City to Eldorado Canyon, near Nelson, is a nationally designated water trail. It drips with scenery, wildlife, coves, hot springs, caves, such as the popular green-glowing Emerald Cave, and historic structures associated with the construction of Hoover Dam.
If you’re thinking about cooling off in the Colorado River’s Black Canyon, launching from the base of the Hoover Dam is considered a bucket list experience. Since the iconic dam is a critical piece of national infrastructure, you can’t launch from there without a guide. Only a handful of vendors offer permitted paddlecraft tours starting at the Hoover Dam.
Guided tours also launch from Willow Beach Marina, about 10 miles upstream from the dam on the Arizona side of the river, a 56-minute drive from Las Vegas. You can also launch from Willow Beach on your own.
While the water trail continues from Willow Beach to Eldorado Canyon, this part of the southern route is not an easy paddle. Beginners should stick to the area between the dam and Willow Beach.
Lake Mohave and the Mohave National Water Trail
The next section of the Colorado River is known as the Mohave National Water Trail. The trail runs 37 miles south to Lake Mohave and Davis Dam in Laughlin. The lake itself is 67 miles in length and encircled by 237 miles of shoreline.
Paddlers can rent a variety of watercraft to launch from Lake Mohave’s scenic Cottonwood Cove, located one hour south of Las Vegas in Searchlight. Cottonwood Cove began a $10 million transformation of the marina’s beachfront motel, recreational amenities, RV Park, and long-term boat-docking capacity earlier this year.
While there are other launching points along the national water trail—including Placer Cove, a half-mile south of Eldorado Canyon; Laughlin Heritage Greenway Park, just north of the Laughlin Bridge; and Fisherman’s Cove, just south of the bridge—these areas are not generally considered beginner-friendly due to the river’s swift currents and heavy motorized boat traffic.
Lake Las Vegas
If you’re seeking a bougie water experience with amenities like nearby dining and shopping, Lake Las Vegas may be for you. The privately owned 320-acre lake is the centerpiece of an Italian-style village, with palm trees, lakefront resorts, a golf course, a spa, and an outdoor shopping mall.
Lake Las Vegas visitors can rent kayaks and canoes from Lake Las Vegas Water Sports in the MonteLago Village mall for one or two hours, or bring their own. Either way, check in with Lake Las Vegas Water Sports before heading out on the water.
