Durango Half Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River

4 hours
Durango, USA

About this activity

Splash down the Animas River through Durango for a couple hours through class II-III rapids! Get a new view of town and join the locals for their favorite way to spend the day.

Highlights

  • Our Class III certified guides are highly trained and exceed state requirements.
  • Custom self bailing rafts with foot cups to help you stay in the boat!
  • The perfect mix of excitement through fun rapids and relaxation.
  • Great for all experience levels!
  • A great trip that pairs perfect with our other Durango tours.

Full description

Half Day Trips provide approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes on the water, taking you through the heart of Durango where the funnest rapids ripple! Meet us at our Durango Office and suit up for the river! You'll meet your guides and get fitted for a life jacket, helmet, and other river getup if needed (wetsuits or splash jackets when the weather/water is chilly). Then we'll shuttle over to the river! Your guides will provide a quick safety orientation before heading out on the beautiful Lower Animas River. You'll bound through plenty of Class II and one Class III rapid throughout the trip. Class II rapids are "fun and friendly," rolling over the bow and dousing those at the front of the boat. Class III rapids are "wet and wild," usually soaking everyone in the raft head to toe. Keep in mind the size of rapids will vary throughout the season with water levels, with spring typically having higher flows and summer lower flows. Our experienced and entertaining river guides will get you downstream, and you're welcome to paddle with them or just sit back and relax. They'll share fun stories and the history of the area, adding fascinating insights to Durango wild days of yore. After a couple of hours chortling it up on the river, we'll take out, load up the boats, and shuttle you back to our Durango Office.

Included / Excluded

  • Professional, Interpretive & Entertaining Guides
  • Helmets and Coastguard approved Personal Floatation Devices
  • Splash jackets
  • Roundtrip transportation from the meet location
  • Industry-leading river equipment
  • Safety orientation and paddle instruction
  • Lunch/snacks
  • Gratuities
  • Wetsuit (rentals available for $15)

Meeting point

Start Location

Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours, 50 Animas View Dr, Durango, CO 81301, USA

Important information

Know before you book

  • For safety, 4 and 5-year-olds will be escorted around the Smelter Rapid if your trip goes through the whitewater park.
  • When water levels rise, we take extra safety precautions which may include walking around one of the rapids where the river narrows or using other river sections.
  • Low water season usually starts in late July and rapid classes drop a ½ to a full notch. Our trips become more technical as we navigate through the rocks in the river.
  • Wetsuits are often required from May through June, and wetsuit boots are recommended all season. Rentals are available!
  • All itineraries are subject to change due to water conditions.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Reviews

Google
Elisha Robertson
Jun 2026
5.0

What a great experience! Konrad was a great guide, very easy going, knowledgeable and fun! He explained things well and was enjoyable to visit with. Everything was so well organized. We highly recommend mild to wild and look forward to our next adventure with them.

Google
Jennifer Smith
Jun 2026
5.0

Conrad was great! He was easy going and kept us safe. I highly recommend!

Google
Tiffany Thomas
Jun 2026
5.0

This river rafting trip was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary. It offered just the right amount of adventure—something out of the ordinary without ever feeling unsafe or overly strenuous. Tom was an excellent guide. He was quick to point out interesting sights along the river, shared cool information about the wildlife we encountered, and sprinkled in a few personal stories that made the experience even more engaging. His enthusiasm was contagious, and he did a great job making everyone on the boat feel involved and entertained. We had a great time and can't wait to come back with our children so they can experience the beauty, excitement, and fun of the river for themselves.