Two Hour Trip | Inflatable Kayaks | Half-day Trip with Lunch
The
Animas River drainage encompasses about 692 square miles in Southwest Colorado.
The watershed extends far above Silverton and winds its way through Durango
then joins the San Juan River. The Animas River (River of Lost Souls) was named
by Father Escalante back in the 1700's while searching for a route from Sante
Fe, New Mexico to California. The river didn't get it's name from lost rafters,
but rather Native Americans in the area who didn't want to be converted to
Catholicism. They were the lost souls and this was their river........
The Animas as we call it now is one of the last runnable free flowing rivers in the United States. We can expect high water 6,000 CFS (cubic feet per second) during spring runoff usually mid June. At this level the river reaches Class IV for about a week making it a wild ride. During the summer months the river is feed by springs and isolated mountain showers, making the trip a milder Class I-III, perfect for family and friends of all ages.
When we started durango rivertrippers many years ago river running was considered a sport for daredevils. State of the art equipment, technology and modern safety practices have brought river running to a more socially acceptable level. Although its still a thrill, you will find that your imagination is scarier than the trip.
Our two hour trip is the classic "Whitewater" run in Durango, appropriate for all ages, and our most popular. This Class I-III stretch of the river starts north above town and meanders downstream about six and one half miles long. During this trip you can expect to experience several rapids and historical landmarks of the Old West.
After a thorough safety orientation and a few minutes on the river to get everyone situated and comfortable on the raft, the fun starts off with Rivertripper Rapid. We are very proud of this drop. We designed and built the rapid after the area was disturbed with utilities buried beneath the river bottom. It is fun as well as being a good example of how a disturbed area in nature can be aesthetically enhanced while using the natural elevation change in the river. To create wildlife habitat, a good rapid, and fun for all.
We then continue onward through Main Street Bridge, Little Smelter, Smelter Rapid, Santa Rita Hole, Sawmill Rapid, K-Mart Rapid, as well as an international Whitewater race course.
This is a great trip for the "Beginner" as well as the "Seasoned Adventurer", families, groups, and friends. For those looking for even more adventure try one of our inflatable kayaks. They're stable, forgiving and even more fun.
INFLATABLE KAYAKSFor those looking to magnify there river experience we offer state of the art Inflatable Kayaks. You will be outfitted with all the necessary equipment and instruction to highlight your trip. Experience is helpful but not necessary.
For those wanting to spend a little more time on the river we suggest our Lunch Trip. The trip starts off with our two hour trip and continues downstream another eleven miles through the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. This stretch of the Animas River is beautiful. There are lots of opportunities to spot wildlife in the natural habitat and enjoy the scenery. Lunch will be served by durango rivertrippers.
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"durango
rivertrippers"
720 Main Ave.
Durango, CO 81301
Voice:
970-259-0289 800-292-2885
E-Mail: rivtrips@frontier.net
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