Colorado River — Westwater Canyon
🌿 Wilderness
Grand Co. · 11 mi · Class III–IV
1,840CFS/ 2.73 ft
Flood↓Falling slowly (-40 cfs/hr)· -90 cfs in 3h
Water temp: 61°F
Optimal: 3000–15000 CFS · USGS #09163500
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BLM Westwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area (permit required)
Westwater Canyon packs 11 miles of Class III–IV whitewater into a dramatic Precambrian granite gorge on the Colorado River near the Utah-Colorado border. A BLM permit is required, and the canyon delivers big-water rapids through 1.7-billion-year-old black schist and gneiss.
Trip sections
Westwater Ranch to canyon entry — 2 mi, Class I, flatwater approach
Westwater Canyon — 7 mi, Class III–IV, granite gorge whitewater
Canyon exit to Cisco — 2 mi, Class I, desert flatwater
Permit Required
⚠This river requires a permit for all launches
Westwater Canyon River Permit
Managed by: BLM Moab Field Office
Type: Reservation
Required for: All launches
Application Window
Opens: Reservations open 2 months in advance
Season & Logistics
April 1 – October 31
Group size: 1–25 people
Reservation-based. Permits open two months in advance and fill within minutes for the popular spring and summer launch dates — set a calendar reminder. Day-trip permits and overnight permits both available. Cost is a per-person fee — current schedule on the BLM site. Seventeen miles of Class III–IV through a striking sandstone canyon with no road access between put-in and take-out.
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Commercial trips available
Multiple Moab outfitters run guided day and overnight Westwater trips. See outfitters below.
Last verified: 2025 · Permit rules change annually — always confirm with the managing agency before applying.
Outfitters
Moab Adventure Center
Westwater Canyon guided rafting trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.