What is the minimum age to participate?

Participants must be 13 years of age or older.

How long is the paddle?

The experience lasts approximately one to two hours on the water.

Are park entrance fees included?

No—park entrance fees are not included in the listed kayak rates.

What are the weight limits for kayaks?

Single sit‑on‑top kayaks have a 250 lb limit; tandems have a 450 lb limit.

No—this trip enforces a no‑pets policy for safety and wildlife protection.

What should I bring for photography?

Bring a waterproof case for your phone, a headlamp, and be prepared for long exposures to capture reflections.

Lake Pleasant Glow Paddle: Celebrate America 250 Fireworks Kayak Experience

On a warm Arizona evening, Celebrate America 250 offers a calm paddle across Lake Pleasant Regional Park’s North Entrance, just west of Morristown. This guided evening kayak experience stages a front‑row seat to fireworks without the crush of lakeside crowds: reflect the explosions across glassy water while desert ridgelines cut silhouettes against the sky. The program runs the Arizona Glow Paddle Experience timed for America’s 250th fireworks show, and is designed for participants ages 13 and up.

The trip is compact and low‑fuss—one to two hours on the water—so you spend more time watching the sky than prepping gear. Rates are listed as $60 for a single sit‑on‑top kayak and $120 for a tandem. Important details: a valid ID is required at check‑in, park entrance fees are not included, and weight limits are 250 lb for single kayaks and 450 lb for tandems. These straightforward limits and a short duration make this a good option for families with teens or groups that want an easy, memorable night paddle.

Lake Pleasant’s shoreline is defined by wind‑sculpted basalt and granite outcrops, low desert slopes, and pockets of cottonwood and mesquite where riparian lines follow the water. On an evening launch you’ll notice great blue herons and egrets slipping along the margins, and raptors quartering the shoreline. The lake itself is a broad reservoir in the Sonoran Desert that serves regional water and recreation needs; the park’s open, stony coves create intimate viewing pockets that a kayak lets you access while remaining spread out from shoreline crowds.

What makes this offering stand out is the contrast: fireworks’ bright, choreographed bursts mirrored in a dark pool framed by cactus and scrub, and the quiet that only water can give. Rather than shoulder‑to‑shoulder shorelines, paddlers drift in small groups with headlamps and the guide’s quiet cueing. The experience is both cinematic and transportable—simple gear, minimal paddling, maximum payoff.

Practical tips: arrive early to handle park entry, carry a headlamp and water, and follow guide instructions about staging and distancing during the fireworks. Expect cool desert nights even after hot days; dress in layers. If you want photographs, bring a waterproof case for a phone and brace for long exposures to catch reflections.

Book early; spaces sell out for holiday shows. Plan to arrive thirty minutes before launch to sign waivers and fit life jackets. Parking near the North Entrance is limited and restrooms are available at the staging area. The operator enforces a no‑pets policy and maintains spacing to protect shoreline wildlife.

Celebrate America 250 on the water for a fresh way to mark a national milestone: accessible, low‑stress, and strikingly photogenic, this evening paddle reframes a classic celebration as a small‑group adventure under Arizona sky.