Westwater
Westwater Canyon is carved by the Colorado River through the desert of the eastern Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau spans a large area surrounding the intersection of the borders of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona and is flush with numerous geographic wonders. The basement rock in the heart of the canyon reveals exposed black granite from the Proterzoic era; rock 1.75 billion years old found in few places on the Colorado River outside of the Grand Canyon. The upper canyon is composed of sandstone. Bring your geologist friends and let them gush effusively over the impressive unconformities and textbook examples of geologic uplift as you float through this remarkable desert canyon.
Suggested river levels for paddling this section of the Colorado River are between a bare minimum of 1,000cfs and a high of 16,000cfs.
River conditions sourced from USGS 09180500, the Colorado River Near Cisco
Remember only watercraft are permitted
at Westwater.
Run Stats
Status | Runnable |
Class Level | III to IV |
Elevation | 4,094 ft |
Run Length | 17.0 Mi |
Gradient | 10 FPM |
Streamflow Discharge | 13800 cfs |
Gage Height | 6.4 ft |
Air Temperature | 88° |
River | Colorado River |
Reporting Streamgage |
Colorado River Near Cisco
USGS 09180500 |
Marble
Class III to IV |
Staircase
Class III to IV |
Big Hummer
Class III to IV |
Funnel
Class III to IV |
Surprise
Class III to IV |
Skull
Class III to IV |
Bowling Alley
Class III to IV |
Sock It To Me
Class III to IV |
Last Chance
Class III to IV |
Little Dolores Rapid
Class III to III+ |
Gauge | Streamflow | Stage |
---|---|---|
Dolores River Near Gateway
USGS 09179450 |
747 cfs | 8.8 ft |
Colorado River At Potash
USGS 09185600 |
14,700 cfs | 13.4 ft |
Dolores River Near Cisco
USGS 09180000 |
685 cfs | 8.3 ft |
Mill Creek Blw Pack Creek Nr Mouth At Moab
USGS 09185100 |
5 cfs | 3.9 ft |
Dolores River At Bedrock
USGS 09169500 |
30 cfs | 0.9 ft |
Mill Creek Below Sheley Tunnel
USGS 09183600 |
4 cfs | 1.5 ft |
Dolores River Near Bedrock
USGS 09171100 |
33 cfs | 2.4 ft |
Castle Creek Below Castle Valley Near Moab
USGS 09182400 |
4 cfs | 5.8 ft |
Colorado River Near Cisco
USGS 09180500 |
13,800 cfs | 6.4 ft |
San Miguel River At Brooks Bridge Near Nucla Co
USGS 09174600 |
633 cfs | 3.4 ft |
Snotel Site | Snowpack | 24hr Change |
---|
Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rabbit Valley | 8 | 4,564 ft |
Ski Area | Snowpack | Air Temperature | 5 Day Forecast |
---|
River Run | Streamflow | Length | Class |
---|---|---|---|
Cisco to Hittle Bottom | 4620.0cfs | 24.0 Mi | I to II |
Hittle Bottom to Rocky Rapid | 4620.0cfs | 6.5 Mi | II+ to III |
Horsethief and Ruby Canyons | 4120.0cfs | 27.0 Mi | II to II+ |
Westwater | 4620.0cfs | 17.0 Mi | III to IV |
Moab Daily - Hittle Bottom to Take Out Beach | 4620.0cfs | 14.0 Mi | II+ to III |
Gateway to Dewey Bridge (Colorado River) | 648.0cfs | 32.0 Mi | III- to IV |