Summary

Wild Westwater Canyon - 1 Day

Prices From	USD$ $155.00
1st Departure	06.25.2009
Provider	Sheri Griffith Expeditions
Destination	Colorado River
Duration	10 hours
Challenge	Easy
Avg Rating	Not Rated

Westwater Canyon was featured in National Geographic's "Wild and Scenic Rivers" book. This scenic voyage has all the components of a classic river trip: great whitewater, wonderful camp sites, spectacular and drastic geology, variety of wildlife, and remote wilderness canyons. This particular stretch of the Colorado River is wild and free flowing, resulting in a variety of water levels through the rafting season. The narrow canyon of 1.7 billion-year-old black schist rock is a sharp contrast to the red rock cliffs preceding and following the whitewater section. Indian pictographs and other relics of human and natural history are some of the hiking highlights.

Itinerary

Day 1

This proposed Wild and Scenic River is totally isolated from modern civilization: a canyon of serene solitude surrounded by red sandstone spires. The river cascades through the ever-deepening sandstone monuments and into the narrow Black Granite Gorge. The river meets opposition from the canyon walls, creating the fast and furious rapids that give Westwater its reputation: Funnel Falls, Last Chance, The Steps, and, of course, the infamous Skull Rapid.

This trip is designed for adventure seekers and canyon lovers, for those looking for great rapids on a remote and regulated river. The smaller number of people allowed in the canyon each day is strictly controlled. This means you will encounter almost no one else on the river during your trip. We use oarboats, here, but paddleboats are available for the experienced by advance request.

Gear List

ESSENTIAL ITEMS:

• Water bottle
• Sunglasses with a retainer*
• Sunscreen ~ SPF 15 or greater~ a must!*
• Lip moisturizer ~ SPF 15 or greater*
• Rain jacket & pants ~ thunderstorms in the desert are very unpredictable!*
• Fleece or sweatshirt ~ nights & mornings are cool; also great under raingear.
• T-shirts * (one per day)
• wimsuits/sports bras ~ ladies-a sports top & swim shorts are very convenient!
• Quick dry shorts ~ swimsuit and shorts all in one!
• River sandals or shoes that can get wet, will dry quickly, and will not slip off of your feet.
• Moisturizing lotion ~ Aloe Vera
• Waterproof camera *

Packing Tips

• Handy Items: Ziploc and trash bags are very useful for separating personal items in your dry bag such as medications, shampoo, soap, wet items, and dirty laundry. Wet wipes are great for washing your face, wiping your hands, and cleaning sand or dirt off of personal belongings. Pack a few clothespins and rope to dry clothes while on the river. Remember, on the river it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! All of these items can be invaluable and do not take up much space or add much weight to your luggage.

• Carabiner: Carabiners are very handy in the outdoors as well as back home. Their oval shape and simple gate mechanism allow you to easily clip your water bottle, camera, hat ~ just about anything ~ nearby.

• Extra Snacks: We provide snacks throughout the day, but is a good idea to bring extra snacks for children, for individuals who have snack preferences, or for those who may be diabetic.

• Beverages: Each boat has an ice cooler for "personal" drinks such as soda, juice, beer, wine, etc. Since there are no stores along the river, we recommend bringing more than you anticipate needing. Please do not bring glass. SGE provides water, available to you all day long, with lemonade, Gatorade, and iced tea mixes.

Travel Information

Activity Location Best Western Antlers 423 W Main Street Vernal, Utah 84078 USA