BIPOC Westwater Canyon Rafting Trip

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This 3-day voyage into the heart of the Colorado Plateau is the perfect backdrop for our third annual Black indigenous & people of color affinity group trip. In 2021 Holiday convened a circle of BIPOC identified facilitators, outdoor adventurers & friends, to co-create this affinity trip. This year we are exited to continue partnerships and invest in this growing tradition.

Cutting through traditional Ute Lands, the Colorado River through Westwater Canyon provides two days of calm water & smaller riffles allow you to sink into the slow-time of a river trip. At Holiday, we believe the fastest way to connect to nature is to slow down. But don’t worry, once you have gotten your literal feet wet, day three will thrill you with a slew of world-class whitewater, navigated by your skilled guide team. Bond with new life-long friends, reconnect with old ones, & most importantly allow yourself to truly relax into the refuge only found in affinity group spaces in the natural world. Join us on this now annual BIPOC Westwater Canyon Rafting Trip.

Can’t afford to come? This trip is offered on a sliding-scale! See below or give us a call (801-266-2087) and ask for Lauren to learn more!

Featured Review

“As someone who has not camped or done anything outdoorsy in about 15 years, this trip has ignited a desire to reconnect with the land and to spend more time outdoors. I loved being able to experience the outdoors in such a safe setting.

I was able to learn so much about the river, the rocks, and the wildlife from the amazing guides and I appreciated being able to hear their stories and the passion behind why they are guides. It was such an amazing experience and it really made me want to do more in my own life.” (Candi, 2023)

Acknowledging the traditional inhabitants of this land: in a gesture of respect and appreciation for the Indigenous people who have lived on and cared for the rivers and canyons where we play, Holiday wishes to acknowledge that Westwater Canyon is the traditional homeland of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people. Read more about our land acknowledgments here.

Book This Trip

Trip Overview

Type:

Rafting
Location:

Colorado River - Westwater Canyon
Length:

3 Days
Dates:

August 14 - 16, 2026
Meet at:

Green River, Utah @ 8:00 am
Difficulty:

Intermediate
Min. Age:

8
Prices:

Sliding Scale Available!
Regular rate: $890
+ $18 Land Use Fee
Deposit:

Highlights

Exciting Class III & IV whitewater rapids
Enjoy stand-up paddle boards & inflatable kayaks before the big rapids
Sink into the comfort & transformation BIPOC affinity spaces create
Breathtaking wilderness in a 1.7 billion year old black rock canyon
See bald eagles, coyotes & beavers

VIEW TRIP GALLERY

Insider’s Guide Things to Do in Green River, UT FAQs Getting Here Before You Go Packing List

Rates & Dates

Itinerary

The Colorado River slips over the Utah-Colorado border just west of the Colorado National Monument. Three-day rafting trips begin in Loma, Colorado, and float through the sherbet-colored sandstones of Ruby Canyon before entering the black schist of Westwater itself. The trip ends in Cisco, Utah, a ghost-town turned artist colony.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Meet at our headquarters in Green River, Utah, at 8:00 a.m., Mountain Time We’ll distribute your waterproof bags and give you ample time to pack them. You can buy any last minute items from our store at this time (see our packing checklist for a list of items we stock). When everyone is prepared we’ll load up into our vans for the two hour ride east to the put-in at Loma, Colorado.

Our first day is in Ruby Canyon, characterized by smooth sandstone walls and unique pillars. The water is calm at first, with a few small rapids, perfect for playing around with inflatable kayaks or stand-up paddle boards. Begin sinking into slow-time with new and old friends alike on our comfortable oar rafts. Camp at Black Rocks, where 1.7 billion-year-old black schist provides the backdrop.

Day 2

Enjoy a peaceful morning and possibly a silent float before reaching the Westwater Ranger Station. From there, the river enters the narrow, black rock canyon of Westwater itself. Rapids begin to get bigger, which means more fun in the inflatable kayaks! Camp just upstream of the biggest rapids, deep within Westwater and savor a steak or salmon dinner while watching the stars come out.

Day 3

After a delicious breakfast it’s to get ready for rapids! One right after another: Big Hummer, Funnel Falls, Surprise, and the narrowest point of the Colorado River, Skull Rapid. Once we’ve made it through the whitewater, sit back and be present with all the sights, sounds, & feeling of this unforgettable canyon. We try to be at the Cisco boat ramp by 2:00, assuming mother nature cooperates. After loading boats and gear, we’ll make the 45-minute drive back to Green River. We usually return between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

As mentioned earlier, this is a sample itinerary and should not be thought of as the exact trip you will experience. It is intended to give an idea of what the trip will be like, and could also be exactly what you do. Keep an open mind, be flexible, go with the flow, and enjoy!

One of the advantages of a river trip is the flexibility of the daily itinerary. It can vary widely from one trip to the next based on group desires, assigned campsites, weather, and other unpredictable elements. Embrace the adventure and go with the flow!

Reviews

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Holiday River Expeditions

Average rating:

6 reviews

Ashley F

Sep 8, 2024

by Ashley F

I am so grateful for this experience and opportunity. This was my second year in the trip and I brought a large group of my friends. This trip holds a special place in my heart and it feels like family, even when there are different participants. As plus size Black woman, I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. I only felt welcomed and loved by river guides and other participants. It is a blessing to be able to be a part of this experience. I learn so much about myself, about the water, and about the land around me. It feels so sacred. I’m grateful!

Candi T

Aug 20, 2024

by Candi T

I appreciate all of the information that is provided beforehand. The packing list was so helpful!

As someone who has not camped or done anything outdoorsy in about 15 years, this trip has ignited a desire to reconnect with the land and to spend more time outdoors. I loved being able to experience the outdoors in such a safe setting. I was able to learn so much about the river, the rocks, and the wildlife from the amazing guides and I appreciated being able to hear their stories and the passion behind why they are guides. It was such an amazing experience and it really made me want to do more in my own life.

Luis Miranda

May 30, 2024

by Luis Miranda

I remember floating last summer on the pleasantly cool waters of the Green River buoyed by my life vest, facing the sunny sky, and just letting go. The current carried me through sandstone canyons whose layers and formations bore witness of the history of our universe. It was a moment where I felt as if I melted into the veins of the planet and felt reconnected to my ancestors who have roamed the rivers of this continent for centuries. This level of safety, of reconnection, of healing was possible because of Holiday’s BIPOC river trip.

Trips like these have allowed people from families like mine overcome the cultural and economic barriers to access for me to explore the the beauty and majesty that our home state has to offer.

Shoutout to Syd for being an mighty guide, never running out of GORP, and leadings us through awesome rapids!

Jacob Vasquez

Aug 31, 2023

by Jacob Vasquez