Westwater Canyon Rafting Trip

If you’re looking for a river rafting trip that has it all, but you only have a weekend to get away, look no further than our Westwater Canyon Rafting trip on the Colorado River in Utah! Get a little taste of everything a river trip has to offer. Spend a weekend discovering the majesty of the Colorado River in the canyon that some call a miniature Grand Canyon.

Paddle an inflatable kayak or a stand-up paddle board beneath smooth pink and orange sandstone walls. Run exciting rapids through a canyon made of polished black stone (over a billion years old!). Explore side canyons and climb to the rim for a bird’s eye view.

Or, just relax! Kick back on a raft and let the world float by. Dig your toes into the sand at camp and dig into that book you’ve been wanting to read.

Still have questions? Call our office and chat with one of our amazing team members today!

 

Featured Review

What an absolutely wonderful experience. We went as a large group on the Westwater Canyon Rafting trip. The guides were especially excellent (thanks to Sam, Ellie, Brennan and Tristan!).

The locations were beautiful, camp sites perfect, and the food delicious! What a great organization that makes every part of your trip fabulous!

The dry bags were great and the tent+sleeping bag were in excellent condition and very clean. We really appreciated the good quality of the gear.

Really great guides and I very much appreciated the accommodation made for food as a vegetarian!”

(Martinez and Swain charter group, August 2022)


The Colorado River through Westwater Canyon flows through the traditional homeland of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people. While we are out here enjoying these magical places, it’s important to understand this legacy of displacement. Holiday acknowledges and respects the long history of these traditional inhabitants. We appreciate our own long-standing relationship with the modern-day tribe. Learn more about our land acknowledgments here.
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Trip Overview

  • Type:

    Rafting

  • Location:

    Colorado River - Westwater Canyon

  • Length:

    2 or 3 Days

  • Dates:

    May–September

  • Meet at:

    Green River, Utah @ 8:00 am

  • Difficulty:

    Intermediate

  • Min. Age:

    8

  • Prices:

    3-Day
    Adult - $890
    Youth - $800 (18 & under)
    Senior - $800 (65 & older)
    Group - $800 (10 or more)
    + $12 Land Use Fee

    2-Day
    Adult - $599
    Youth - $549 (18 & under)
    Senior - $549 (65 & older)
    Group - $549 (10 or more)
    + $12 Land Use Fee

  • Deposit:

    400

Highlights

  • Exciting Class III & IV whitewater rapids
  • Play on stand-up paddle boards & inflatable kayaks in the calm water
  • Stunning wilderness canyon with billion-year-old black rocks
  • Narrowest part of the Colorado River: Skull Rapid
  • See bighorn, birds of prey, & otters

Rates & Dates

Itinerary

The Colorado River glides over the Utah-Colorado state-line just west of the Colorado National Monument. Our three day rafting trip begin in Loma, Colorado and meanders through the sculpted red rock sandstone of Ruby Canyon before entering the black schist of Westwater itself.

The two day trip begins at the Westwater Ranger Station in Utah. Both trips end 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 issue your waterproof bags and give you time to pack them. You can buy any last minute items from our warehouse store at this time (see our packing checklist for a list of items we stock). Next we’ll load up into our vans for the two hour ride east to the put-in at Loma, Colorado.

This is 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. A side hike up Rattlesnake Canyon reveals a variety of desert plants and wildlife. Camp at Black Rocks, where 1.7 billion-year-old black schist provides a stunning background setting. Consider hiking up to the rim, or playing in the water from camp.

Day 2

Enjoy a peaceful morning of floating 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 canyon, and savor a steak dinner while watching the stars come out.

Day 3

Gear up 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 rapids, sit back and look for bald eagles, great blue herons, and even an occasional big horn sheep before stopping for one last lunch on the river.

We aim to be at the Cisco boat ramp by 2:00. After loading boats and gear, we’ll make the 45-minute drive back to Green River. We typically return between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Westwater Itinerary - rapids

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!

F.A.Q.

Weather & Water

Spring and fall in Westwater Canyon will see temperature highs in the mid-70’s to mid-80’s, and lows in the 50’s. Summertime highs are in the 90’s, ideal for those who want to swim in the river and embrace the splashy rapids.

While it is known for the exciting section of Class III-IV whitewater in the depths of a stunning black rock canyon, this trip consists of mostly flat water, with some small riffles and rapids interspersed throughout. We typically plan to run the main section of whitewater on the morning of the last day.

Boat Options

This trip is run with oar rafts. A paddle boat will be considered for a 2-day trip upon request.

Stand-up paddleboards and inflatable kayaks are available to use as well.

Meals & Camping

The 3-day trip consists of three lunches, two breakfasts, and two dinners, all prepared fresh on the river. The 2-day trip consists of two lunches, one breakfast, and one dinner. To learn more about our meals, check out The Feast.

This trip, like all of our others, features riverside camping. Camping gear can be rented from Holiday, or guests are welcome to bring their own.

 

Trip Rating

This is considered a beginner-intermediate whitewater rafting trip and is suitable for guests aged 8 and up.

Private Charter Trips

We offer Westwater Canyon as an option for a private charter trip for a group of 16 or more. To learn more, head to our Private Charter Trips page.

Cancellation Policy

A deposit of $400 per person is due within 48 hours of placing a hold to confirm your seat on a Westwater trip. Full payment is due 90 days prior to the launch date. Cancellations made outside of 90 days from the first day of the trip are refundable less a $200 service charge per person. Cancellations within 90 days of the trip are non refundable.

Check out our FAQs page to find our full cancellation policy.

Reviews

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Holiday River Expeditions
Average rating:  
 272 reviews
 by Claudia G

Having an all woman's trip was really special. I was so impressed by the obvious skill of our guides, and their calm demeanor. They were a lovely combination of grit and fun!
They all obviously loved their jobs, something that I saw with your whole organization!

 by Susanna C

Inclusive and welcoming environment, you thought of every little detail.

 by Chris F

Guides were great! The entire experience was wonderful. Thanks for everyone’s wholehearted dedication to making the trip extraordinary. Thank you Eli, Thank you Sid, Thank you Ezra!

 by Daniel B

outsanding guides- sam, abby, and joe were top notch, always joyful and helpful

 by Greg Y

Pre-trip info was great. Packing list was important. The website videos offered good insight for drybag packing and what to expect for life on the river.
Morning of the trip was well organized.

Guides were fantastic. Friendly, hardworking and customer oriented.

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