Upper Animas

The Ultra Upper Animas

About This Trip

Extreme Adrenaline!

Want to paddle through waves of whitewater until your arms fall off? Want all of the Class IV and V rapids that the Upper Animas River has to offer? Are you fit…as in, “Is there also a triathlon in town that I can participate in right now?” fit?

If you answered yes to the questions above, congratulations! The Ultra Upper Animas could be your adventure of a lifetime! Combining the Silverton and Needleton Upper Animas trips into One Day makes for a marathon of a high-adventure rafting trip.

The Upper Animas is our our most wild river. In order to participate, you must be physically fit and pass an on-river orientation the night before your trip. All trip times are approximate and depend on water levels. This combo is not available at all water levels.

Reviews from our Guests

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Jim Wade profile picture
Jim Wade
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It was an amazing experience.Jared the guide stopped along the way and explained all the amazing sights that we came to. Highly recommend this trip to everyone.
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Christopher Teaf profile picture
Christopher Teaf
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Excellent in every respect
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Cindy McCullough profile picture
Cindy McCullough
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Our guide was Jay. He was great. Lots of beautiful views and a history lesson along the way. Thank you 🥰
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Kimber R profile picture
Kimber R
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Fantastic!!! The experienced guides made it especially enjoyable. Anthony D. went above and beyond to help coach and encourage me as a first time white water kayaker. He is awesome!! Highly recommend! Highlight of my trip!!
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Chris Joyce profile picture
Chris Joyce
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Peyton and Dillon were our guides for our trip. They were friendly and professional. We had a great time!
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Deanna Myers profile picture
Deanna Myers
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Our guide, Miles, was very knowledgeable. It was a great trip. Would give it 4.5 stars only because it wasn't a jeep and there were 11 people. We were all compatible, but that is not always the case with a group that large. Overall, the trip was great.
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Mr. Debatable profile picture
Mr. Debatable
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Such an amazing trip today our tour guide miles was beyond amazing he answered every single one of my questions even though I had about 10,000. He was extremely knowledgeable and courteous and made our trip that much more memorable. I would highly recommend to anyone going to the area and I will definitely do another tour next time I visit
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Melody Urso profile picture
Melody Urso
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I did the Mesa Verde Tour with lunch and Ann Rapp, our guide, was the best! She not only provided us with in-depth information, history and theories about the sites we were seeing, but also took a lot of time at some of the less “popular” dwellings so we could understand the varied communities. I can’t speak highly enough of our tour and I think this is an ideal way to experience a broader picture of Mesa Verde and its history.
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Krystal Folsom profile picture
Krystal Folsom
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Tim paid close attention to our conversation on the way to the trail from Durango to Silverton Colorado and used what he learned about us to create the perfect off-roading experience. The route was exciting, scenic, and perfectly suited to our interests—a personal touch we truly appreciated. Even the snacks arrived at exactly the right moment! Tim made us feel comfortable, cared for, and completely immersed in the adventure. It was a memorable experience from start to finish, and we highly recommend both Tim and Mild to Wild!
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Alan Phillips profile picture
Alan Phillips
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We had an absolutely great time! Tim was our tour guide and he was awesome! Tim was very personable, very informative and super nice. He made sure to keep us hydrated and was always at our need. I highly, highly recommend this tour, this guide and this company!

What are you waiting for? Call today (800) 567-6745 OR (970) 247-4789

Payments & Cancellations

Payment Options

  1. Pay in full.
  2. 1/2 down, 1/2 charged 30 days prior to trip.
  3. 1/3 down with remaining balance charged in thirds.
  4. Call for other arrangements!

Free Courtesy Hold

We don’t want you to miss out on this trip so we’ll hold your spots, payment-free, for 24hrs while you make your final arrangements & prepare for payment.

Fees

In addition to the listed trip cost, we collect an additional 9% for River and Land Access Fees (ie. Forest Service, BLM, City, Private Land Use).

Cancellation Policy

We conform to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad cancellation policy. Train ticket refunds/cancellations are subject to a fee cancelled 5 days before your reserved date. There are no refunds issued on reservations cancelled less than 5 days before your reserved date.

A 90% refund, less the train ticket fees, is issued for cancellations received in writing 5 days prior to trip departure.

At the orientation, if it is determined that the Upper Animas is not the right trip for you, there is a $250 nonrefundable train ticket & orientation trip fee per person. Train tickets may be able to be transferred depending on the train’s availability. After the $250 nonrefundable fee, the remaining trip balance may be applied to any of our other trip options or kept on your account in a trip gift certificate for future use.

What to Wear & Bring

  • Wetsuit (available for rent)
  • Wetsuit boots all season (available for rent)
  • Splash Jacket (available for free)
  • Fleece jacket and fleece socks
  • Swimsuit/Quick drying clothing
  • Hat (that fits under your helmet)
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses with a strap
  • Water bottle
  • Camera with waterproof case

What To Wear On A Mountain Rafting Trip – Essential Rafting Attire

Scenic Upper Animas River - Upper Animas Rafting - Mild to Wild

Important Considerations

Upper Animas River-3
  • Orientation is at 4:45 the evening prior to your scheduled trip and is 100% required. Orientation will include a practice raft trip and a swim through a Class II+ to III+ rapid, so come with a swimsuit and be prepared to get wet!

  • Plan 2 to 3 hours for this orientation. If you need to schedule for a different time, there is a $50/person charge.

  • All participants must be in outstanding physical shape. When rafting, it is important to choose the trip that matches the level of the least adventurous and least physically fit person in your group. It is dangerous to ignore physical limitations.

  • After orientation, if it is determined that the Upper Animas is not the right trip for you, we will move you to a more suitable river. See our Cancellation Policy for rescheduling fees.

  • As the season progresses and water levels change, we reserve the right to change river sections based on the type of trip you are looking for and your abilities.

  • All itineraries are subject to change due to water conditions

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Upper Animas River Rafting – Durango’s Most Extreme Multi-Day Trip

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