Westwater Campground (Ranger Station)

Welcome to the wild and remote canyons and rivers of eastern Utah. The Westwater Campground is located next to the Westwater Ranger Station, the take-out for the Ruby-Horsethief and the put-in for the Westwater Canyon sections of the Colorado River. This campground is ideal for those looking to camp along the river at the start or end of a river float trip or otherwise recreating in the area. It sits adjacent to the Colorado River as it meanders through a valley, with views of the Navajo Sandstone walls surrounding it. Each campsite has parking for two vehicles (a vehicle pulling a trailer counts as two), a picnic table, a fire ring, and close proximity to a vault toilet and trash receptacles. Drinking water may be available March through November; however, do not rely on this as the water source for your trip's needs, as it is not always operational. There are no electric hookups, and cell service is spotty to non-existent, though there is service for most providers at the Westwater Ranger Station. During business hours, the ranger station can assist visitors with trip planning and campground etiquette. The Colorado River is known for extraordinary boating trips, including the Ruby-Horsethief section up-river and the Westwater section downriver of the campground. The Ruby-Horsethief section begins in Loma, Colorado and consists of a 25-mile stretch of mostly flat water with sections of Class I and II rapids. It flows through beautiful red rock canyons and has many day hiking opportunities offering both solitude and exploration. The Westwater Canyon section offers boating excitement for experienced adventurers to test their skills navigating eleven named rapids ranging in difficulty from Class I to Class IV, and contains incredible geology and day hiking opportunities with glimpses of abandoned settler cabins and caves. Approximately 10,000 people float this 17 mile stretch of the Colorado each year, surrounded by the Westwater Wilderness Study Area. North of the campground are many motorized and non-motorized trails, including Kokopelli's Trail, one of Colorado's and Utah's premiere mountain bike trails. It stretches 140 miles from Loma, Colorado to Moab, Utah, with elevations that rise to 8,400 feet, following four-wheel-drive roads and single-track trails. The town of Moab, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park are located approximately 70 miles to the southwest, and the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado, along with McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and Colorado National Monument, are approximately 35 miles to the east.