Animas
Location: Southwestern Colorado, in the heart of the snowcapped San Juan Mountains, between Silverton and Durango (about 200 miles southwest of Denver).
Length of trips: Upper Animas 25 to 28 miles in two or three days; Lower Animas 5 to 12 miles in a half or full day.
Season: Upper Animas April or May through July (peak flow in late May or early June); Lower Animas April or May through August (peak flow in early June).
Weather: Due to the high altitude, temperatures are cool50s (F) in spring, 70s in summer. It sometimes snows in June. Thunderstorms can quickly swell the river.
Lodging: Campsites in evergreen forests.
Boats: Kayaks, oar boats, paddle rafts.
Rapids: The Upper Animas has dozens of Class III and IV rapids and several Class V rapids. The Lower Animas has Class I+, II, and III rapids. The water is clear (except during peak flow) but cold (40°-45°).
Special features:
- Dramatic alpine peaks and canyons.
- Durango & Silverton narrow-gauge railroad parallels the Upper Animas.
- Excellent hiking.
- Wildflowers in spring and summer.
- Beautiful autumn colors.
- White-tailed deer, black bears, elk, bald eagles, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, ospreys, Canada geese, mallards.
- Fishing for brown trout, rainbow trout, and steelhead.
- Solitude (Upper Animas).
- The Lower Animas provides an easy introduction to white-water rafting for families, seniors in good physical condition, and first-time paddlers. Families with young children are welcome during summers low-water levels; check with your outfitter about age limits.
- Challenging alpine white water for advanced paddlers on the Upper Animas.
Nearby excursions:
- Old mining towns of Durango and Silverton.
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
- Mesa Verde National Park.
For a list of outfitters:
- USDA Forest Service, San Juan Resource Area, 701 Camino Del Rio, Durango, Colorado 81301; +1 970 247 4874, fax +1 970 385 1375. Try to book at least two months in advance for trips in July and August; less advance notice is needed for trips at other times of the year.
- For a list of Colorado outfitters, contact the Colorado River Outfitters Association (CROA), 4098 Surrey Court, Lafayette, Colorado 80026; +1 303 369 4632.
For more information:
- Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority, P.O. Box 22005, Denver, Colorado 80222; +1 303 296 3384 or 800 265 6723.
- Colorado weekend story in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER, September/October 1990. To order a copy, please click here.
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