Whitewater Rafting - Animas River

Whitewater rafting on the Animas River leaves one to decide between rafting the lower or the upper sections of the Animas River. A family outing favorite is the lower Animas River, which usually begins in Durango, Colorado and offers a 5-12 mile stretch with rapids varying from class I up to class III.

The adventure extremists usually decide to take on the upper Animas boasting 26 miles of heart stopping class IV-V+ rapids. This particular section winds through 13,000 ft. mountains and has a gradient that drops an average of 85 feet per mile. While tackling the challenging whitewater, the cliffs shower cascades and waterfalls that pour into the river. During high water, the Upper Animas is sought after by folks around the world and is known as the most difficult commercially run river in the United States.

Whether you plan an enjoyable family day of rafting and a scenic jeep ride return on the lower or a thrill of a lifetime on the upper Animas, you can easily find a professional river rafting outfitter.

The river flows high among the San Juan Mountains near Durango and Vallecito Lake down into New Mexico. The river passes by the Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway, Southern Ute Indian Reservation and old mine ruins. Compared to most rivers in Colorado, the Animas has one of the longest river running seasons due to spring rains and snow run off. Don't let your Four Corners vacation go by without a whitewater rafting trip down this magnificent river.

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