Westwater Canyon Permit
Colorado Plateau Rivers · Utah
17 miles of the Colorado River through a black granite inner gorge, with 11 named rapids and only five launches a day.
Get an alert when a Westwater launch date opens.
When it opens
- 2 months
- First come, first served from two months before your start date, at 8 am MountainYou book on Recreation.gov.
Source: recreation.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Westwater were gone within 10 minutes.
Westwater reservation dates
- route distance, point to point
- 17mi
- daily quota
- 5permits
- max group size
- 25people
How to get a Westwater permit
As of September 2026, Westwater in Colorado Plateau Rivers, Utah requires a permit issued via first-come, first-served. Westwater is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Westwater permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Westwater route covers 17 miles, rated expert.
- Type
- River Access
- Location
- Colorado Plateau, UT
Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
More on Westwater: Live availability activityWhen Westwater permits open upDo I need a Westwater Canyon permit?
How much a Westwater permit costs
Westwater permit fee: $10 per person, plus a $6 reservation fee.
The Westwater trip
- Distance
- 17 miles
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 1-2 days
- Difficulty
- Expert
About this permit
BLM caps Westwater at five permits or 75 people a day, whichever comes first, so this is one of the tightest launch quotas in Utah. The canyon is 17 miles with 11 named rapids from Class I to Class IV, and BLM is blunt that it is challenging at every water level and only recommended for experienced boaters.
You can run it as a long day or as one night. Only one night is allowed inside the canyon, it has to be the night of your authorized launch, and a ranger assigns your campsite at the put-in rather than you picking one when you book.
Permits open two months before the launch date at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, and any open date inside that two-month window stays bookable up to 11:59 a.m. on the launch day itself. That late cutoff is what makes a cancellation alert worth setting here.
Westwater trip highlights
- 11 named rapids across 17 miles, Class I to Class IV
- The Black Rocks inner gorge, Vishnu schist that BLM dates to about 1.7 billion years
- A ranger compliance check and campsite assignment at the put-in
- A congested put-in that doubles as the Ruby-Horsethief take-out
- No cell service or coverage inside the canyon
- No drinkable water, and silty river water that is hard to filter
How hard the Westwater trip is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended experience: Multi-day backpacking or river experience recommended.
When to float Westwater
Best time to visit
BLM says the river typically peaks near 20,000 cfs in late May or early June and recedes through summer to about 3,000 cfs in fall. Some rapids get harder at high water and others get harder at low water, so pick the flow you have practiced on.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
69°
59°
36%
Wed
82°
59°
Thu
85°
56°
Fri
86°
64°
Sat
87°
66°
Sun
88°
67°
Mon
84°
67°
Westwater rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- All drinking water, at least a gallon per person per day
- Human waste carry-out system
- Whitewater-capable boats and rescue gear for Class IV
- Alternate communication device, because there is no cell coverage
Rules & regulations
- 01Five permits or 75 people a day, whichever comes first
- 02Maximum group size is 25, subject to available quota
- 03One night maximum in the canyon, and it must be the night of your authorized launch
- 04Campsites are assigned by the ranger before launch, not chosen at booking
- 05Permits release two months ahead at 8 a.m. MST and stay bookable to 11:59 a.m. on the launch date
- 06The alternate trip leader must be entered at booking and cannot be changed later
- 07Permit holders must be 18 or older
- 08One person may hold up to three permits at a time
- 09Dogs, cats and pets are not allowed in Westwater Canyon
Hazards & considerations
- Skull Rapid and the rest of the Class IV water at every flow level
- Peak flows around 20,000 cfs in late May or early June per BLM, dropping to about 3,000 cfs by fall
- Localized storms that change conditions inside the canyon quickly
- No cell service and a long rescue
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Westwater.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Westwater · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Westwater FAQ
How hard is it to get a Westwater Canyon permit?
BLM authorizes five permits or 75 people a day from the Westwater Ranger Station put-in, whichever limit comes first. That is the entire private and commercial allocation for the canyon.
When do Westwater Canyon permits become available?
Two months before the launch date at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. Any date still open inside that window can be reserved right up to 11:59 a.m. on the day of the launch.
Can I camp in Westwater Canyon?
One night, and only the night of your authorized launch. Rangers assign your campsite at the put-in during the permit compliance check.
Can I bring a dog on a Westwater Canyon permit?
No. BLM prohibits dogs, cats and pets in Westwater Canyon.
Westwater river conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
No questions yet
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Westwater permit
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Ruby-Horsethief Canyon
The 25 miles of flatwater directly upstream, ending at the Westwater put-in.
Tradeoffs
Class I to II instead of Class IV. You reserve specific campsites there rather than getting one assigned.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Desolation & Gray Canyons
84 miles of Green River through Utah canyon country.
Tradeoffs
Much longer trip and a lottery instead of a rolling release.
Where to stay near Westwater
- Sand Flats Recreation Area Group CampsitesSand Flats Recreation Area
- Kings Bottom Group SiteMoab Field Office (BLM)
- campgroundUS
- All Utah campgrounds
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