How to Float Ruby Horsethief Canyon (Fruita to Westwater)

Ruby Horsethief Canyon Float Guide

This is the planning half of Ruby Horsethief. If you want the story of what the float is actually like, I wrote that up in my Ruby Horsethief overnight float trip report. This one is the logistics: permits, flow, required gear, camp, and the shuttle, so you roll up to the put-in with nothing missing. I ran it solo on my first ever overnight packraft trip, so I learned most of this the hard way.

Ruby Horsethief mileage and layout

Ruby Horsethief runs about 25 miles on the Colorado River from Loma Boat Launch in Colorado to Westwater in Utah. The put-in is Loma Boat Launch, off I-70 exit 15, about 5 miles west of Fruita (people say Fruita, but the ramp is at Loma). Most floaters split it over one or two nights, with the Mee cluster around the halfway point as the go-to camp zone.

The navigation detail to burn into your brain for day two: do not miss the Westwater takeout. Right below it is Westwater Canyon and its Class 5+ rapids. Check your mileage often as you get close.

Ruby Horsethief permits and reservations

Overnight trips need a permit year-round, booked through recreation.gov. From November through April the permit itself is free, though the reservation fee still applies. There is a $6 non-refundable reservation fee, and from April through October a nightly campsite fee that scales with your group size, so check the current campsite numbers on recreation.gov before you book.

Reservations open 60 days ahead of your date, and the popular sites disappear within minutes of the window opening, so treat it like buying concert tickets and be logged in and ready. The other way in is a last-minute cancellation, which is how I got mine.

Required gear for Ruby Horsethief

This is the step I skipped, and it cost me two hours. I drove to the put-in ready to go, got stopped by a ranger, and found out my permit was not enough. I was missing a fire pan and a leakproof container for my wag bags, and had no idea either was required. Back to Grand Junction I went for a fire pan and a spare paddle from Walmart. Rangers check at the put-in, so bring it all.

What you need:

• Fire pan (a disposable chafing dish worked for me)

• Leakproof waste container for wag bags if you are packrafting, or a groover if you have the space

• A PFD

• Spare paddle

• Repair kit

If you are missing something, Grand Junction is your closest stop, with a Walmart and a full REI.

Ruby Horsethief CFS and flow

Flow changes the character of this trip. Around 3,000 to 5,000 CFS reads as mellow and manageable, which is the range most people suggest for a first trip. Higher flows bring stronger swirls, pushier water at Black Rocks, and faster current overall. When I went in mid-May I was around 11,000 CFS at peak spring runoff, and while my husky and I had no serious trouble, that sits well above what a first-timer should plan around. Aim low for your first float, and always check the flow before you launch.

Ruby Horsethief campsites and where to stay

Mee Corner and the Mee cluster sit right around the halfway point and are the popular overnight stop, with hiking access into Mee Canyon. Sites are reserved through your permit on recreation.gov. I broke down every site on the route, with river mile, shade, and landing notes, in my Ruby Horsethief campsite guide, so use that to pick your site before you book.

Black Rocks on Ruby Horsethief

Black Rocks gets into your head before you reach it. I read trip reports the night before and psyched myself out. At moderate flows it is mostly swirling current and pushy eddies rather than anything technical. The move is to stop fighting the swirls, let the water carry you, and keep your bow pointed downstream. It reads scarier in the reports than it felt on the water at normal flows.

Ruby Horsethief shuttle logistics

This is a point-to-point trip, so you need a way back to your vehicle after you take out at Westwater. Your options are staging a car at Westwater before you launch, booking a commercial shuttle out of the Grand Junction area, or asking around at the takeout, where groups often have a shuttle already organized. That last one has worked for me every time. The drive is about 45 minutes each way.

Wind on the final stretch

The final few miles into Westwater can pick up wind in the afternoon. After 25 miles of paddling, a headwind is the last thing you want. If you can time it to finish earlier in the day, the wind is usually calmer. I learned that after grinding into it at the end and being more wiped out than I expected.

Who this trip is for

This float suits a first overnight river trip, solo packrafters, lightweight setups, and anyone who wants canyon scenery without technical whitewater. Continuing into Westwater Canyon is a different trip that asks for a different skill set.

Final thought

Ruby Horsethief gets called easy, and it mostly is, but easy is not the same as thoughtless. Sort your gear, watch your mileage on day two, and respect the takeout. For the full story of how my solo run actually went, husky and all, read my Ruby Horsethief overnight float trip report.

Ruby Horsethief float FAQ

Do you need a permit for Ruby Horsethief Canyon?

Yes. Overnight trips require a permit year-round through recreation.gov. Permits are free November through April, and April through October carry a reservation fee plus a nightly campsite fee, with reservations opening 60 days out.

What CFS is safe for Ruby Horsethief Canyon?

For newer paddlers, 5,000 CFS or below is generally manageable. Higher flows create stronger swirls, pushier water at Black Rocks, and faster current. Always check conditions before you launch.

How difficult is Black Rocks on Ruby Horsethief?

At moderate flows it is mostly swirling current and eddies rather than technical whitewater. Stay composed, keep your bow pointed downstream, and do not fight the swirls. It is nothing close to the Class 5+ rapids waiting downstream in Westwater Canyon.

What happens if you miss the Westwater takeout?

Immediately downstream are the Class 5+ rapids of Westwater Canyon. If you are not equipped for advanced whitewater, missing the takeout is genuinely dangerous. Watch your mileage and know where you are getting out.

Can you packraft Ruby Horsethief solo?

Yes, and it is done solo regularly. Just make sure you are comfortable with self-rescue and navigation, and have your permit sorted through recreation.gov before you launch.