This Rafting Trip on the Colorado Is Led by Santa Claus

Below the 726-foot walls of the great Hoover Dam, which is made from enough concrete that it could pave a highway from San Francisco to New York, lies the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. The designated national water trail is a favorite of kayakers and rafters, but around this time of year, you might also spot an unexpected visitor paddling by: Santa.

In the days leading up to Christmas, Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures offers a special Holiday Rafting trip through the Black Canyon with Santa. It’s a 12-mile on-water journey that feels both festive and adventurous, appealing to travelers of all kinds. In addition to quality time with Santa and his merry crew, the six-hour trip gives guests a rare perspective of the towering canyon wallsthe massive dam, and the desert landscape of two neighboring states—Arizona to the east and Nevada to the west.

Along the way, it’s common to spot desert bighorn sheep, osprey, and great blue herons. The trip includes a stop below the Hoover Dam to appreciate it from the water before continuing downriver to Willow Beach, where the journey ends near the famed Emerald Cave.

The Holiday Rafting tour lasts about six hours and takes place on a motor-assisted inflatable raft that’s guided by an expert and crewed by Santa himself, who is available for holiday photos and on-river chats during each step of the journey.

This year, the Holiday Rafting trip runs during the week leading up to Christmas, from Dec. 17 to 21, and on Christmas Eve. The tour includes all required safety equipment, a box lunch, and beverages. For an additional $69 per person, you can add round-trip transportation from a Las Vegas hotel (around 40 minutes, each way) on an air-conditioned bus. The return bus journey to Vegas includes a trip over the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which gives travelers an elevated look at the Black Canyon and river below as it runs over the dam, linking Arizona and Nevada.

Rates for the holiday rafting trip with Santa are $100 for adults and kids ages 16 or older, and $88 for kids ages 5 to 15. The trip is free for children ages 4 and under, and there are family and couple ticket bundles available. The tour price excludes the $15 national park entrance fee, which must be paid by anyone 16 or older.