Westwater Lost and Found: Expanded Edition

Westwater Lost and Found: Expanded Edition is the continuing story of Westwater—a relatively short, deep canyon near the Utah-Colorado state line that has become one of the most popular river-running destinations in the Southwest—and its lasting significance to the study of the Upper Colorado River. Thousands of recreational river runners have pushed this backwater place into the foreground of modern popular culture in the West. Westwater represents one common sequence in western history: the late opening of unexplored territories, the sporadic and ultimately often unsuccessful attempts to develop them, their renewed obscurity when development doesn’t succeed, their attraction to a marginal society of dreamers and schemers, and the modern rediscovery of them due to new cultural motives, especially outdoor recreation, which has brought many people into thousands of remote corners of the West.

This expanded edition brings to light historical events and explores how Westwater’s location greatly contributed to early Grand (Upper) Colorado River boaters’ knowledge and how the lush Westwater Valley and Cisco became critical stops for water, wood, and grass along the North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail.

Loaded with extensive information and river-running history, Milligan’s guide is sure to enhance readers’ knowledge of the Upper Colorado River and Grand Canyon regions.

The book is published by Utah State University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“A thorough and fascinating book, one that should be in the library of river runners and western history buffs alike.” (The Daily Sentinel)

“Milligan’s work is a great read. . . . Highly recommended.” (The Times Independent)

"This new, expanded edition fills an important niche...belongs on the shelf of every river rat in the West." (Andrew Gulliford, author of The Woolly West and Bears Ears)