Westwater Canyon, Colorado River
Grand Canyon in Miniature
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Rafting Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River in eastern Utah is a thrilling, permit-required one- or two-day whitewater adventure through a dramatic 17-mile stretch of sandstone and narrow Black Granite Gorge, featuring 11 named Class III-IV rapids packed into a compact, intense gorge—including the notorious Skull Rapid with its massive mid-river boulder, tight slot, huge holes, and high flip risk—plus big waves, technical lines, and wildlife like bighorn sheep, eagles, and otters. The run offers serene flatwater for camping, hiking to petroglyphs, and stunning isolation in this Wild and Scenic candidate corridor. It was first run in 1916 by Ellsworth Kolb and Bert Loper , who navigated the treacherous gorge in wooden boats, marking a bold milestone in Western whitewater history, Bert Loper later reflected on his lifelong passion for the rivers: “The river is my church, and I go to it every chance I get.”
River Class / Skill Level
• Class: II–IV whitewater with powerful rapids in Westwater Canyon.
• Skill Level: Intermediate paddlers recommended due to technical canyon rapids.
Season / Permits / Weather
• Boating Season: March through October.
• Permit Required: Yes — permits issued by the Bureau of Land Management.
• Best Time to Run: May through June during peak Colorado River runoff.
• Weather: Warm desert days with cool evenings.
Water Levels / River Character
• Typical Flow Range: ~3,000–40,000 cfs depending on Colorado River runoff.
• Low Water: More technical maneuvering through rapids.
• Optimal Flows: 4,000-20,000 cfs produces large wave trains and powerful hydraulics.
• High Water: Big water conditions with extremely powerful rapids.
• Special Considerations: Famous rapids include Funnel Falls, Skull Rapid, and Sock-It-To-Me.
Put-In / Take-Out
• Standard Put-In: Westwater Ranger Station
• Standard Take-Out: Cisco Boat Ramp
• Trip Length: Approximately 17 miles, typically run in 1–2 days.
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River Trip Launch Pad
Essential links for permits, conditions, maps, shuttles and gear before you hit the road.
Rec.gov
Westwater Permits/Regs
Aquatic Species
Colorado Boat Inspections Map
Camping
Local Camping
Directions to Put In
Westwater Ranger Staion
Weather
Westwater Forecast
River Map
Rivermaps
Shuttle
Rim Rock Shuttles
Gear
Local Gear Shop
Hot Springs
Nearby Hot Springs
Solid Block Ice
List of solid Block Ice
Groover
Map of Dump Stations near Westwater
Snow to Flow
Snowpack and Water Forecasting
Directions to Take Out
Cisco Boat Ramp
Your Westwater Trip
Google Docs PDF