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Other Whitewater Trips on the Animas River
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 Lodging in Colorado
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:: Upper Animas Whitewater Kayaking Trip
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Upper Animas Whitewater Kayaking Trip on the Animas River |
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Related River Guidebooks on AllAboutRivers |
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Upper Animas Info
Use this information at your own risk. See our legal notices. |
| Put In: |
Mineral Creek |
| Take Out: |
Tacoma or Rockwood |
| Difficulty: |
Class IV
+ , Class V
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| Gradient: |
78 ft/mi |
| Run Length: |
25 or 28 miles |
| Flow Information (phone): |
Watertalk 303-831-7135; 7*, 2*. Animas River at Durango, CO. |
| Good Level: |
800-3,000 cfs |
| Season Comments: |
May, June, July
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| Permit: |
No permit required |
| Character/Similar To: |
The Upper Animas has a steep, continuous gradient, few eddies, several Class V rapids,and an unrunable gorge below the takeout. In the Rockwood Box, the boating is forceful and for the expert paddler. |
| Hazards: |
The entire Upper Animas run can be considered a hazard due to high altitude, extremely cold water, isolation and difficult whitewater. Don't miss the take-out! Downstream the Animas flows into the deadly Lower Box Canyon, an unrunnable section with huge double drop waterfalls, log jams, a gradient of 200 ft/mi and absolutely no place to recover. A well placed sign warns boaters not to go any farther than the take-out. Take its advice. In addition, someone who knows the river well should be on every trip. |
| Water Craft: |
kayak,wwcan,raft |
| Land Ownership: |
USFS, BLM and private |
| Wilderness: |
No |
| Camping on River: |
Good riverside sites. Several USFS campgrounds in the area. |
| Location: |
In the Rocky Mtn Region (CO), 338 miles Southwest of Denver |
| Shuttle Logistics: |
Put-in: Right bank of Mineral Creek below the US 550 bridge southwest of Silverton. Rafts often launch directly onto the right bank of the Animas just below Mineral Creek.
Take-out: Left bank opposite Tacoma Powerhouse and ride out on the Durango and Silverton Railroad. Tickets must be purchased and arrangements made in advance at 970-247-2733. The Rockwood take-out is illegal but boaters have been using it for years. About 16 miles north of Durango, off HWY 550 you will find a pullout just before the railroad depot to park. Both take-outs are a good distance from your car. |
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Towns near Upper Animas Kayaking |
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