My previous post was an introduction to the river sections in and around Moab. Today I would like to expand a bit on the first one I mentioned, Westwater Canyon.
In the above drawing, you can see Westwater Canyon starts just on the Utah side of the state line with Colorado and ends approximately 17 miles downstream. Because of its location and how remote the canyon is, it takes about an hour and a half to drive to the put-in from Moab. Once we get to the take-out, the almost ghost town of Cisco, Utah, it is about 45 minutes drive time back to Moab.
Westwater is the most amazing one-day whitewater rafting trip you can take in the west. The rapids are awesome, the geology is amazing, and the wildlife is breathtaking.
The first part of the day is spent in the upper section of Westwater where you’ll see the red sandstone walls disappear before your eyes to be replaced by a Schist intrusion. There is only one other place in the world this particular rock is exposed, the Grand Canyon. Because of this, Westwater is often nicknamed the Little Grand Canyon. Small class I and II rapids are the only action you’ll see before lunch.
After lunch, the rocking, rolling, frolicking good times in the main rapids start! There are 10 class III - IV rapids over the next five miles of river. For the most part, these rapids are formed because of constriction and debris.
The schist dominates the landscape in Westwater Canyon, and is much harder than the sandstone up and down stream on the river, causing the river to narrow (constriction). This, in turn, makes the Colorado River move faster through Westwater. Rock falls from the canyon walls and boulders being pushed into the main river channel from flash floods in side canyons add the debris.
These rapids are fun to navigate, but can be dangerous. This is why all of our guides have logged numerous hours in the canyon before taking guests downstream and are well versed in first aid and swiftwater rescue in case the need arises. The guides will also give an in-depth safety talk to all participants after lunch so that each person knows what to expect in the rapids to come and will know how to react.
The last few miles are spent in peaceful reflection on the again calm waters of the Colorado River before the take-out. Go for a swim, recount tales of daring-do you just went through, take a nap, or ask the guides for some stories to pass the time. All too soon the adventure will be over.
There are a few things that everyone should know before deciding on whether Westwater Canyon Rafting is the perfect adventure:
Experience Level:
You do not have to be experienced in rafting, rapids, or the outdoors in order to enjoy Westwater Canyon. Everyone who is in reasonable physical condition is encouraged to come out and play. There are only a few age restrictions for children and youth (detailed in the “Time of year” section). This trip can be catered to you as well. Ride along in comfort and ease on the Oar Boat or paddle all day in the Paddle Boat (outlined in the “Types of boats” section).
Time of year:
Spring trips: From the start of our season (about April) until approximately June 15th the water is cold! During this time we require wetsuits be worn by all participants (including the guides). Also, full rain gear, jacket and pants, is a bonus! If you only have a jacket, that is OK but not ideal. Everyone will get wet in Westwater Canyon! Because of the hypothermia threat during this time of year, we will not allow any children under the age of 12 on this trip.
High Water: The Colorado River is a free flowing river before the Glen Canyon Dam that creates Lake Powell. Because of this, the water we get from the Colorado Rockies is not regulated in any way. We just take what we get when we get it. That being said, High Water usually comes down the river sometime between May 15 and June 15. It is also subjective. Sometimes, like in 2011, the water is HUGE peaking at well above 40,000CFS*. Contrast that with the peak flow of 2004 of 10,000CFS* and you can see that the levels fluctuate greatly. (* CFS is Cubic Feet per Second. One Cubic Foot is approximately the volume of a basketball. So, using the numbers from above, that would be 40,000 and 10,000 basketballs of water flying past one spot every second.)
Summer & Fall trips: The water is generally lower in Westwater after June 15th but that doesn’t mean it’s any less exciting! Westwater Canyon is one of those sections with reliable whitewater during the lower water trips as well. The water is warmer, too, meaning that a trip through the canyon will be pleasant in a bathing suit instead of a wetsuit. The age limit on trips this time of year lowers to 9 years old and up.
Types of boats:
Oar Boat: These are our 16′ inflatable rafts rigged with a frame in which the guide sits in the middle of the boat and rows the guests downstream. The guests sit on the tubes in the front and back of the boat. This boat is the primary boat used in Westwater because it is safer than any other boat in the canyon and it can hold the gear (such as lunch). These boats typically hold 5 - 7 guests on the Westwater Rafting Trip.
Paddle Boat: These are our 12′ Spyders in which the guide sits on the back of the raft and steers the boat while 4 - 6 guests sit on the sides and paddle the boat downstream. These boats cannot hold gear and are only along to provide a more ‘hands on’ experience to the guests.
When each type of boat is used: Spring and high water trips are typically only Oar Boat trips because of safety and gear. Because the Oar Boat is bigger and heavier it is less likely to capsize in the rapids. Also, because there is usually more gear needed in the early season, this boat can hold all the gear with ease.
Later in the season we bring along paddle boats on every trip. It is very unlikely that we will ever have more than four boats in the canyon and we comprise those of two oar boats for those who don’t want to paddle and for the gear and two paddle boats for those who want to paddle. When making reservations with Tag-A-Long, you will need to specify that you would like to be in the “paddle boat” otherwise we will assume you would like the oar boat.
There is always the possibility to have a paddle boat in the spring and more oar boats and fewer paddle boats in the summer. The boat options we use depend on the preferences of the guests and, ultimately, the comfort of the guides in navigating the canyon at different water levels in different craft. Some water levels are simply too unsafe for the smaller boats.
Reservations:
Tag-A-Long is the most permitted outfitter on the upper Colorado River. Because of the way Westwater is regulated, only a few people at a time can go out on the river. We hold the most permits, so are able to go out quite a bit more often than other outfitters in the area. There are only 25 people allowed in the canyon per launch and only 3 commercial launches per day meaning only 75 people can see Westwater per day. To ensure you are one of those 75 people on your ideal travel date, book well in advance!
July and August are our most popular times for Westwater trips. We are usually completely booked months in advance for those two months. April, May, June, and September are not as popular and there are usually some last minute seats available on these dates… but I wouldn’t count on it! To see what dates we currently have available, check out our Rates and Dates page for the One Day Westwater Canyon Rafting and the Rates and Dates page for the Overnight Westwater Rafting Adventure.
Westwater Canyon is one of those places that should be on every adventurer’s list to see. If you have any other questions about rafting through Westwater or about traveling to Moab, feel free to let us know by phone or an e-mail! I also invite your comments below. Have you ever been to Westwater and did I miss anything?
~Sarah Sidwell
About the Author - I grew up in Moab hiking and 4-wheeling all over the red rock country. Later in life, I discovered the river and all the fun and adventure it had to offer. I didn’t start out to be a guide, but kind of fell into it when I decided that I wasn’t getting enough time outdoors. Tag-A-Long Expeditions hired me on and I quickly moved up through the ranks. I am now a senior guide and Sales/Marketing Director of Tag-A-Long. I still love getting out and exploring and that’s where you can find me when I’m not at my desk. Moab is my home, and there’s no better place on earth!
