Animas River Whitewater Rafting – Durango, CO

If you’re looking for a whitewater rafting adventure on the Animas River, then you are not alone. The Animas is home to nearly 9% of Colorado’s commercial rafting trips, with tens of thousands of happy customers paddling annually.

Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the San Juan Mountains, the Animas River cuts through southwest Colorado with over 100 miles of swift, raftable water. Today, there are many trips of various lengths and difficulties available on the Animas River.

Rafting Trips on the Animas River

On the casual side of the spectrum, many families and first timers elect for a quarter, half, or full day trip on the Animas River. For those looking to experience more world class whitewater, there are a few popular routes for multi-day trips as well. The Animas River is broken up into two popular sections in Colorado: the Upper and Lower Animas.

Whitewater Rafting Difficulty: Near Durango, the Animas River is defined by two distinct sections to satisfy either the beginner or advanced rafter. The Lower Animas is rated as a Class II-III run, whereas the Upper Animas River is IV-V.

Animas River Whitewater Rafting Durango CO — Rafting the Animas River in Durango, CO, with 4 Corners Whitewater. Photo: Jack Vinson

Here are the two popular sections of the Animas River to raft:

Lower Animas River

The Lower Animas River covers 22.5 miles of raftable water great for families or inexperienced riders. Many of the local outfitters offer quarter, half, and full day trips depending on your budget and schedule. The section is rated as a Class II-III. It is not considered to be very challenging, but contains exciting sections like the Durango Whitewater Park.

Typically, boats will use the Baker’s Bridge or Trimble Road access points to begin their journeys. As the river approaches and passes through Durango, trips will typically end at the 32nd Street, 9th Street, Four Corners River Sports, or High Bridge access point.

Upper Animas River

The Upper Animas River is one of the most famously challenging sections of whitewater in the United States, and the world! Reserved only for experienced rafters, the Upper Animas is a challenging route that passes through a series of 14,000’ mountains next to the Durango-Silverton Railroad.

The Upper Animas features long bits of continuously challenging sections like the aptly named Ten Mile Rapid. There are few moments along the Upper Animas River where a Class IV or V rapid is not right around the corner.

Many riders elect to spend one, two, or three full days to enjoy the world class whitewater experience on the Upper Animas River.

Animas River Rafting Guides

Activities near the Animas River

You can often combine a 1/2 day rafting trip with a zip line tour, a scenic train ride or a thrilling rock climb package. Just ask your guide. The Animas River is a tributary to the San Juan River, which can be accessed to the east in Pagosa Springs.

Besides hiking or taking the railroad, an overnight whitewater trip on the Animas river is one of the few ways to explore Chicago Basin, a popular backpacking destination in the Weminuche Wilderness. Similarly, the San Juan National Forest has many great opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, wildlife viewing and other outdoor activities.