What To Expect: Rafting Westwater Canyon

If you're looking for an unforgettable whitewater experience near Grand Junction, Westwater Canyon offers the perfect blend of remote wilderness, iconic rapids, and awe-inspiring canyon walls. Located just downstream of Ruby-Horsethief on the Colorado River, this stretch is not for the faint of heart, but for experienced rafters and adventurers with proper gear and preparation, it's a bucket-list-worthy run.

Route Overview

• Put-in: Westwater Ranger Station, Utah
• Take-out: Cisco Boat Ramp, Utah
• Distance: 17 miles
• Rapids: Eleven Named Rapids Class III-IV. Most of the rapids are concentrated in a two-mile stretch in the heart of the canyon.
• Time: Most boaters complete Westwater in 1 day, though overnight trips are also allowed with a permit.
• Optional extension: Combine with a Ruby-Horsethief permit to launch from Loma, CO, and extend your trip to ~45 miles over 2–3 nights.

Permits & Season Info

Permits for Westwater Canyon are required year-round and are issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The process and availability change with the season:

• High-Use Season (April 1 – September 30)
  • Permits are required and must be reserved in advance on Rec.gov.
  • Only a limited number of daily launches are allowed.
  • Fees apply per person per day and for overnight camping.
• Low-Use Season (October 1 – March 31)
  • Permits are still required but are free and easier to obtain.
    
  • You must still register your trip through Rec.gov for safety and conservation purposes.

Whitewater & Rapids Breakdown

Westwater Canyon is the first whitewater on the Colorado River in Utah. Its geology is comparable to the Grand Canyon, and the remote vibe and iconic rapids will leave whitewater enthusiasts thrilled. It features a mix of flatwater stretches and a tight canyon corridor filled with back-to-back Class III–IV rapids, with the last nine rapids occurring in a 2-mile stretch at the heart of the canyon.

Notable Rapids (in order)

• Wild Horse
• Little Dolores (Little D) (Class III)
• Marble Canyon (Class III)
  
• Staircase (Class III)
  
• Big Hummer(Class III)
• Funnel Falls (Class III) *
• Surprise (Class III)
  
• Skull Rapid (Class IV)*
• Bowling Alley (Class III)
• Sock-It-To-Me (Class III) *
• Last Chance (Class III)
  

*These rapids are generally considered the most challenging in this section.

About Skull Rapid & The Room of Doom

Perhaps the most infamous section of the canyon, Skull Rapid and the Room of Doom have earned their names for good reason.

Skull is a tight, technical drop with large waves and powerful lateral currents. If you miss the line, your boat can get pushed into “the birth canal” (try getting an 8-foot boat through a 6-foot gap on river right). Powerful laterals also offer you the opportunity to experience the Rock of Shock up close with free entry passes into the Room of Doom! (Read this with false enthusiasm.) The Rock of Shock can have a 4-foot pillow of water known to flip boats. This pillow then leads to a powerful eddy line along The Room of Doom; a swirling eddy behind the Rock of Shock that has flipped many rafts and held gear and…other things…hostage for hours.

The Room of Doom behaves very differently depending on flow. At certain levels, it sucks boats in, and it can take significant time, effort, and energy to get out. At higher water, the hydraulics in this rapid are more forgiving, but everything moves faster. At lower water, rocks become more exposed, requiring technical maneuvering.

Pro Tip: Don’t attempt this section unless you’re with experienced boaters who have run Westwater before. The entire canyon demands attention, but Skull is what this canyon is known for.

Understanding Westwater Flows: The Terrible Teens & Beyond

Westwater changes character drastically depending on CFS (Cubic Feet per Second). Always check flows before you go, but here is the general breakdown of what you need to know.

• <3,000 CFS: Technical and rocky. Boat control is everything.
• 3,000–7,000 CFS: Classic Westwater. Rapids are powerful but navigable.
• The "Terrible Teens" (13,000–19,000 CFS):
  • This is when the canyon gets fast and pushy and becomes a very serious Class IV run, with very few eddies for recovery between rapids.
  • Holes become harder to avoid.
    
  • Waves can swamp rafts.
  • Skilled boaters prepared for swiftwater rescue only.
• >20,000 CFS:
  • Some rapids wash out, but the river moves FAST.

Required Safety & Gear for Westwater

Westwater is not a float-and-bloat kind of river. Be prepared and smart. For a full detail of stipulations, visit the BLM site for Westwater Canyon.

Required gear: 

• Whitewater-approved (Type I, III, or V) PFDs for all passengers
• Helmet (strongly recommended)
• First aid kit (major + minor)
  
• Repair kit(s) for all boat types on the trip
• Air pumps adequate for the boats on the trip AND bail buckets or bilge pumps for non-self-bailing craft
• Type IV throwable device AND a commercially made throw bag with at least 40’ of line for each boat 16’ or longer
• An extra oar, paddle, or motor capable of maneuvering the vessel, per boat 
• One spare paddle for every three low-capacity vessels (kayaks, sups, packrafts, and inflatable kayaks
  
• Toilet system that is leak-proof and washable (groover)
  
• Elevated Fire pan (if camping overnight)

Other safety tips for Westwater:

• Scouting rapids in Westwater can be challenging, sometimes impossible. Do your homework online for your anticipated flows. 
  
• Go with a crew that includes at least one experienced Westwater boater.
  
• Know the forecast—weather changes fast in the canyon.
  
• Consider bringing a motor if doing a day trip. The final 7 miles are flatwater and can be brutally slow in afternoon winds.
  

Day vs Overnight vs Multi-Day Westwater Trips

• Day Trip: Launch at Westwater Ranger Station and take out at Cisco. Start early to beat winds and give time to deal with any unexpected events.
  
• Overnight: Get a camping permit and take your time. Camp at one of the riverside sites inside the canyon.
• Linked Multi-Day: Start at Loma (Ruby-Horsethief), spend a night or two in Ruby, then enter Westwater on your final day(s).

Final Thoughts

Westwater is a crown jewel of Colorado River rafting- and one of the most exciting stretches within easy reach of Grand Junction. But it demands respect. Plan ahead, know the flow, go with the right crew, and enjoy every wave, canyon wall, and campfire moment.

Need gear? We’ve got rafts, duckies, SUPs, coolers, dry boxes, fire pans, and groovers in stock at The Gear Junction.

Stay safe and happy floating!

Looking for a mellower float first? Check out our blog on Ruby-Horsethief Canyon for a great warm-up trip. Don't forget to visit The Gear Junction for all your rafting needs!