River permits › Westwater Canyon
Permit GuideWestwater Canyon Permit
Westwater is the hardest permit to get near Moab that is not a lottery. Seventeen miles of Class IV water in a black granite gorge, rationed to five private permits a day through the summer. The constraint is not luck. It is arithmetic, and you can plan around arithmetic.
Permits are required year-round for both private and commercial trips. From 1 April to 30 September, private use is capped at five permits or 75 people per day, whichever comes first. From 1 October to 31 March it rises to seven permits or 150 people per day. Fees are non-refundable. Weekdays and the shoulder season are dramatically easier than summer Saturdays.
At a glance
- Managing agency
- BLM. Moab Field Office
- Permit required
- Yes, year-round, private and commercial
- Length
- 17 miles
- Difficulty
- Class IV. Challenging at all water levels
- Summer cap
- 5 permits or 75 people per day (1 Apr to 30 Sep)
- Winter cap
- 7 permits or 150 people per day (1 Oct to 31 Mar)
- Commercial cap
- 75 passengers per day in summer, counted separately
- Fees
- Non-refundable
- Field office
- 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532 · (435) 259-2100
The Caps Are the Whole Story
BLM limits use in Westwater to protect the canyon's primitive character, and the numbers change with the season. This table is the single most useful thing on this page.
| Season | Private permits per day | Private people per day | Commercial passengers per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April to 30 September | 5 | 75 | 75 |
| 1 October to 31 March | 7 | 150 | Confirm with BLM |
The summer limit is five permits or 75 people, whichever occurs first. That "whichever occurs first" matters: three large groups can exhaust the people limit before the permit limit is reached, closing the day to everyone else.
Despite what many sites say, there is no draw for Westwater. Permits are reserved in advance. What makes summer weekends hard is the daily cap, not chance, which means preparation genuinely helps, unlike a lottery.
Westwater's allocation system has changed before, and BLM's published material is not always updated in step. Before you plan around any particular system, call the Moab Field Office on (435) 259-2100 and confirm what applies to your season.
How to Book
Reservations are made through Recreation.gov. Fees are non-refundable, so confirm your date and roster before paying. Permits are also required for commercial operators, so an outfitted trip does not consume your private allocation. The two pools are counted separately.
Improving Your Odds
- Go on a weekday. Nothing else you do matters as much. Summer Saturdays are the scarcest permit near Moab; a Tuesday in the same week is a different proposition entirely.
- Go after 1 October. The cap rises from five permits to seven, and from 75 people to 150. Autumn also brings some of the best weather of the year.
- Keep the group small. Because the people limit can bind before the permit limit, smaller parties are easier to accommodate.
- Be ready the moment your window opens. Have dates, group size and payment details prepared in advance.
- Have alternates. A second and third choice of date is worth more than a perfect first choice you cannot get.
Getting to the Put-In
The Westwater Ranger Station is the launch point. BLM gives two approaches:
- Main route: from Interstate 70, take exit 227, turn south at the stop sign and continue nine miles to the ranger station.
- Alternate route: from I-70 take exit 221, turn north at the stop sign, turn right onto the road paralleling the interstate, then left shortly after crossing Westwater Creek. Follow this road 4.5 miles to the ranger station.
BLM specifically warns that the section of the alternate road passing under the interstate becomes impassable when wet. If it has rained recently, take exit 227 instead.
BLM describes the canyon as challenging at all water levels and recommends it only for experienced boaters, noting that it can be "a very humbling and dangerous place if not treated with proper respect and ability." It is remote, the rapids are continuous through the inner gorge, and a rescue is neither quick nor simple. A permit does not make you ready for it.
Westwater Permit FAQ
Is the Westwater permit a lottery?
No. Westwater is allocated by advance reservation with hard daily caps. Because allocation systems do change, confirm what applies to your launch year with the Moab Field Office before planning.
How many Westwater permits are issued each day?
Between 1 April and 30 September, five private permits or 75 people per day, whichever limit is reached first. From 1 October to 31 March, seven permits or 150 people per day. Commercial use is capped separately at 75 passengers per day in summer.
Do I need a permit for a Westwater day trip?
Yes. Permits are required year-round for all private and commercial use, day trips included.
When is it easiest to get a Westwater permit?
Weekdays in the shoulder season. After 1 October the daily cap increases substantially, and midweek dates face far less competition than weekends at any time of year.
Are Westwater permit fees refundable?
No. BLM states plainly that permit fees are non-refundable. Confirm your plans before you pay.
How long does Westwater take?
The canyon is 17 miles. Most parties run it as a long day trip, and some split it across two days. Time on the water varies considerably with flow.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Permit rules, fees and dates change annually. Confirm with the managing agency before you plan around anything on this page, and if you find something out of date, tell us.