Class I Colorado River, NV/AZ

In 2014, the Secretary of Interior designated this portion of the Colorado River as a National Water Trail, making it the first in the Southwest and the first to flow through a desert. You can access the water trail through a guided tour at the base of the Hoover Dam, from Willow Beach, Arizona, or near an old mining town in Eldorado Canyon, Nevada.

As you travel the 30-mile trail, you’ll find beaches, caves, coves, hot springs, wilderness and solitude. Desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife are often seen on the cliffs along the river. Historic structures associated with the construction of Hoover Dam can also be viewed. (Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources)