This Emerald Cave Glows Bright Green for a Few Hours Each Day-and It's Just an Hour From Las Vegas

"This natural marvel, known as the Emerald Cave, is only part of the experience, which begins on the Colorado River where Nevada meets Arizona. Towering canyon walls rise on either side of the river, while the cave itself is a small, shadowed recess in the rock. From within it, you can watch the sunlight dance on the water, transforming it into a luminous emerald green."

"He adds that while the initial draw is the cave, "the true spectacle is the Black Canyon corridor itself: the cliffs, the wildlife, and the history of the river tied to the Hoover Dam. Families often tell us they came for the cave but left talking about the wildlife-bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and osprey overhead-the peaceful emerald waters, and how calm they felt afterward.""

Just an hour from the Las Vegas Strip, a ribbon of water in Black Canyon glows a surreal emerald green when sunlight hits the Colorado River. The Emerald Cave is a shadowed recess where sunlight transforms the water’s color; algae in the Colorado River produce the emerald hue, most intense when the sun aligns between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Towering canyon walls, wildlife such as bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and osprey, and the river’s history tied to the Hoover Dam define the corridor. Visits begin at Willow Beach in Lake Mead National Recreation Area by guided kayak tour or private kayak or paddleboard; guided tours last three to 3.5 hours and include equipment, a guide, snacks, and photos.

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