Colorado River › Westwater Canyon
Colorado RiverWestwater Canyon Rafting
Seventeen miles of the Colorado squeezed into a gorge of black Vishnu schist. It is the first whitewater stretch on the river in Utah, and the closest serious whitewater to Moab. BLM's own description is unusually direct: challenging at all water levels, recommended only for experienced boaters, and capable of being "a very humbling and dangerous place."
Class III to IV, 17 miles, run as a long day or an overnight. Not a beginner section under any circumstances. The permit is capped at five private permits or 75 people per day through summer, which makes it the hardest non-lottery permit near Moab. Go with an outfitter unless you have genuine whitewater experience.
At a glance
- River
- Colorado
- Difficulty
- Class III to IV, challenging at all levels
- Length
- 17 miles
- Trip length
- 1 to 2 days
- Put-in
- Westwater Ranger Station
- Geology
- Vishnu schist, the inner gorge rock
- Private permit
- Required year-round, 5 permits/day in summer
- Managing agency
- BLM Moab Field Office · (435) 259-2100
- Gauge
- USGS 09180500 (Cisco)
What the Run Is Like
Westwater opens gently. The first several miles are unremarkable desert canyon, wide, sunny, deceptively calm. Then the walls turn black and close in, and the character changes completely.
The inner gorge is where the rapids are, and they come in quick succession rather than spaced out. There is limited opportunity to scout from the water and limited room to recover between features. Groups that are casual about the first ten miles get a sharp reminder in the last seven.
The rock itself is the other reason people come. Vishnu schist is roughly 1.7 billion years old, the same formation exposed deep in the Grand Canyon, here at river level and close enough to touch.
Westwater's rapids, Skull chief among them, change character with flow and shift over time. Use a current printed river guide for rapid-by-rapid detail rather than relying on any website, including this one.
How Hard Is Westwater?
BLM rates the canyon Class IV and states plainly that it is challenging at all water levels, a useful corrective to the assumption that low water means easy water. At high flows the rapids become powerful and pushy; at low flows they become technical and rocky. Neither is forgiving.
International Scale ratings assume a range, not a fixed number. The same rapid at spring runoff and at September low water are different problems. Check current flows before you commit, and treat any rating, including ours, as a starting point rather than a promise.
"As with any remote river section, Westwater can be a very humbling and dangerous place if not treated with proper respect and ability." That is the agency's language, not ours. This section is only recommended for experienced boaters, and holding a permit is not a substitute for the skills to use it.
When to Run Westwater
Permits are issued year-round, but the character shifts substantially across the season. Spring runoff brings the biggest, coldest, pushiest water. Summer is warmer with more moderate flows and the tightest permit competition. From 1 October the daily permit cap rises from five to seven and the people limit from 75 to 150, which makes autumn both quieter and easier to get onto.
Check flows at USGS gauge 09180500 before committing.
Guided TripsGoing With an Outfitter
Licensed outfitters hold their own permits, supply the boats and gear, and handle the shuttle. For most visitors this is the sensible way to run Westwater, and on the harder sections it is the only realistic way without significant whitewater experience.
Publishing soon: Trip comparison Moab outfitters What trips cost
Private BoatingRunning It Yourself
The permit is the first hurdle and the skills are the second. Private use is capped at five permits or 75 people per day from 1 April to 30 September, whichever limit binds first, rising to seven permits or 150 people from 1 October to 31 March. Fees are non-refundable. Full detail in our Westwater permit guide.
Getting to the put-in
The Westwater Ranger Station is the launch. BLM gives two routes:
- Main: from I-70 take exit 227, turn south at the stop sign, continue nine miles to the ranger station.
- Alternate: from I-70 take exit 221, turn north, turn right onto the road paralleling the interstate, then left shortly after crossing Westwater Creek. Follow 4.5 miles.
BLM warns that the section of the alternate road passing under the interstate becomes impassable when wet. After rain, use exit 227.
Westwater Canyon FAQ
How difficult is Westwater Canyon?
Class III to IV, and BLM describes it as challenging at all water levels. It is recommended only for experienced boaters and is not a beginner run at any flow.
How long does Westwater take?
Seventeen miles, most often run as a long single day. Some parties split it across two days with a camp in the canyon.
Can beginners run Westwater?
Not privately. With a licensed outfitter, passengers without experience regularly run it, since the guides carry the technical load. Organising your own trip requires real whitewater competence.
Do I need a permit for Westwater?
Yes, year-round, for both private and commercial trips. Private use is capped at five permits or 75 people per day in summer. See our permit guide.
What is the black rock in Westwater?
Vishnu schist, roughly 1.7 billion years old, the same ancient formation exposed in parts of the Grand Canyon. It forms the inner gorge where the rapids are concentrated.
Last reviewed: July 2026. River conditions, access and regulations change. Confirm current details with the managing agency before your trip, and if something here is wrong, tell us.