BLM · Westwater Canyon River · Westwater, UT

Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)

Welcome to the wild and remote canyons and rivers of Eastern Utah. The Westwater Group Site is located next to the Westwater Ranger Station; the take-out for the Ruby-Horsethief and put-in for the Westwater Canyon sections of the Colorado River. This site is ideal for large groups looking to camp along the river.

This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Westwater Campground (Ranger Station), 11 sites, is next door.

More like this: reservable in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Westwater Group Site picnic tables underneath shade shelter.Westwater Group Site picnic tables underneath shade shelter and tent camping area.Westwater Group Site picnic tables underneath shade shelter and sign.Westwater Group Site shade shelter and picnic tables.
Photos courtesy of BLM Moab · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
Westwater Group Site25GravelNoneRiverfront30 / 10YesBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:01 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length25 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesGroup Site (max 30 people): $50 per night per site

The group site includes a shade shelter with picnic tables, a fire ring, and a vault toilet where groups of up to 30 people can gather. There are parking spaces for up to 10 vehicles.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.07 inches of precipitation, 9.5 inches of snowFebruary: 1.24 inches of precipitation, 11.4 inches of snowMarch: 1.41 inches of precipitation, 9.6 inches of snowApril: 1.39 inches of precipitation, 4.3 inches of snowMay: 1.30 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowJune: 0.67 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.88 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.05 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.57 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.64 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowNovember: 1.29 inches of precipitation, 7.0 inches of snowDecember: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 15.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.2°F averageFebruary: 29.7°F averageMarch: 38.3°F averageApril: 45.2°F averageMay: 54.6°F averageJune: 64.9°F averageJuly: 71.4°F averageAugust: 68.8°F averageSeptember: 59.9°F averageOctober: 46.9°F averageNovember: 35.4°F averageDecember: 25.2°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Glade Park 17W, 10 miles from the campground at 6,323 feet, station USC00053307 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 15 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 59 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Grand Junction Colorado (westbound traffic). Take I-70 from Grand Junction for approximately 35 miles to exit 227. Turn south at the stop sign and proceed for nine miles to the Ranger Station and put-in. From the west (eastbound traffic). Take exit 227 on I-70, then head south at the stop sign.

Nearest townWestwater, Utah
Coordinates39.0888° N, 109.1040° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

  • Please contact the BLM Moab Field Office for assistance with changes and cancellations at 435-259-2100.
  • Changes
  • You can make changes to a reservation through your online Recreation.gov user account any time prior to the arrival/first date of the reservation.
  • There is a $10 change fee If you wish to change to dates entirely outside of the original reservation dates.
  • There is no change fee if you wish to extend or shorten the original reservation dates as long as the changes include dates from the original reservation.
  • You cannot make changes to your reservation after the arrival/first day through your Recreation.gov account. However, the BLM Moab Field Office may be able to assist you, 435-259-2100.
  • For reservations with dates at the end of the available booking window (a.k.a. sliding window), you will not be able to make changes or cancellations until the site has been available to the general public for four days.
  • Cancellations
  • Please cancel your reservation if you do not plan to use it. This opens highly sought-after campsites for others to reserve.
  • You can cancel your reservation online through your Recreation.gov user account or through the call center (call center incurs an additional fee). A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
  • Late Cancellations
  • A late cancellation occurs less the 14 days before the arrival/first date of the reservation (a.k.a. cut-off window).
  • Late cancellations will incur a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
  • Early Departures
  • If you spend at least one night and then leave prior to the scheduled departure check-out date, please contact the BLM Moab Field Office (435-259-2100) to open the remaining nights for others to use. You will not be able to cancel these nights through your Recreation.gov account.
  • You will be eligible for a partial refund of the nights AFTER you depart that you did not use. If you depart after the facility check-out time, you will not be eligible for a refund for that night
  • No-Shows
  • A No Show occurs if you do not arrive at your campsite or cancel your reservation by check-out time (Noon) on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time (Noon) on the day following the arrival date.
  • No-shows are assessed a $20.00 Recreation.gov service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee.
  • Refunds

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Slough Canyon

    48 mi from the campground · 4,774 acres · 80% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗20.2 mi
Outdoor gearBass Pro Shops ↗26.9 mi
RV sales & serviceCentennial RV ↗26.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The town of Moab, UT, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park are located approximately 70 miles to the southwest. The cities of Grand Junction and Fruita, CO along with McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and Colorado National Monument are located approximately 35 miles to the east.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area begins about 1.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The site is adjacent to the Colorado River as it meanders through a valley. Views of Navajo Sandstone walls surrounding the valley can be seen from the site.

Recreation

The Colorado River is known for extraordinary boating trips including the Ruby-Horsethief section up-river of Westwater Canyon and the Cataract Canyon and Grand Canyon sections downstream. The Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River, from Loma, Colorado, to Westwater, Utah, is a 25-mile stretch of mostly flat-water with sections of Class I and II rapids. This section of the Colorado runs through beautiful red rock canyons and has many day hiking opportunities offering both solitude and exploration. Westwater Canyon offers boating excitement for experienced adventurers to test their skills navigating 11 named rapids ranging in difficulty from class I to class IV. While boating down the canyon, the area offers views of incredible geology and day hiking with glimpses of abandoned settler cabins and caves. Approximately 10,000 people float this section of the Colorado River each year. The 17-mile stretch is surrounded by the Westwater Wilderness Study Area. North of the site are many motorized and non-motorized trails. These trails include Kokopelli’s Trail, one of Colorado's and Utah's premiere mountain bike trails.

Guidebooks for Utah

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

Sites at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station) are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

Group Site (max 30 people): $50 per night per site

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

Check-in 12:01 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

You can cancel your reservation online through your Recreation.gov user account or through the call center (call center incurs an additional fee). A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station) have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

Yes, pets are allowed at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station). Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

The Colorado River is known for extraordinary boating trips including the Ruby-Horsethief section up-river of Westwater Canyon and the Cataract Canyon and Grand Canyon sections downstream. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station)?

Westwater, Utah. The town of Moab, UT, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park are located approximately 70 miles to the southwest.

Source: Getting there

What if Westwater Group Site (Ranger Station) is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Westwater Campground (Ranger Station) (0.1 mi, partly first-come), Knowles Overlook Campground (5.1 mi, first-come), and Jouflas Campground (7.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby