From its headwaters high in the Rockies to its outflow into the Sea of Cortez, the Colorado River (formerly the Grand River) carves numerous canyons, the most famous being the Grand Canyon, and also one of the world’s most famous and expensive rafting trips. But Westwater Canyon, 30 miles downriver from Grand Junction, offers a shorter, more accessible, less-expensive river experience. The 17-mile run alternates Class III and IV rapids with sections that are gentle floats between red-rock cliffs that rise as high as 1,200 feet. Rafters frequently spot bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, turkey hawks and the occasional bald eagle.
