About This Trip

Ready to conquer non-stop Colorado whitewater on the undeniably rambunctious, free flowing Upper Animas River?! This special stretch comes with constant Class II and III rapids, with a handful of Class IV and V drops throughout the run.

It’s the most welcoming section of the Upper A, but not to entice the faint of heart— The suds are still quite sizable out here folks! An orientation is required to run this wild section of the Upper Animas with us.

All participants must be strong swimmers and able to put the paddle to the metal while the boat bounces, spins, and submerges in this world-class whitewater run. To add to the special nature of this wilderness trip, you’ll board the historic Durango & Silverton Train to access the put-in and take-out for the excursion.

From late June to late July, this is a fantastic, high adventure rafting trip to check off early in the season. To step it up a notch in the ultimate swell of fresh snowmelt, the run is great for advanced boaters from mid-May to June.

The only way to make the Upper Animas better is by staying at our semi-permanent camp for a night in the roaring belly of the Weminuche Wilderness on a Needleton Camp Out trip.

Upper Animas – One Day Needleton trips start at $499.00

Rafting The Upper Animas River

Overview

Season

Late May – August

Restrictions

High water: Ages 16+ (May – June)

Mid-Low water: Ages 14+ (Late June – August)

Other Considerations:

Physical fitness essential
Required river swim practice at start of trip
Wetsuits required (rentals available)
Paddling experience recommended

Class of Rapids

High Water: IV & V with continuous II & III

Low Water: Continuous, technical II & III with IV+

Meet Time

8:00 AM

Return

4:00 PM

Boat Options

Standard Raft - Up to 4 guests

Book Your Trip

1 Day Needleton Rafting Trip

Trip Planning

Itinerary & Map

Orientation Evening Prior (Required)

Those who cannot make the orientation the evening prior have the option to complete it the morning before their trip (comes with a $75 charge.)

4:45 PM

Check into our office to get fitted for your thermal wetsuit gear and go on the orientation raft trip where you will take your practice swim in a Class II+ to III+ rapid.

Day of

8:00 AM

Meet at our Main Office in Durango.

Shuttle to Rockwood station to board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Descend from the train and get suited up for the river.

Hit the river! Enjoy continuous Class III rapids as a warm up. Scout “Broken Bridge”, a Class V rapid, and run it! Hit more continuous Class III rapids.

Stop for lunch, a delicious deli-style spread.

Hurry back to the river for even more Class III rapids. Scout and run “Tank Creek” rapid. Run your final Class IV rapids, “Specter” & “The Narrows.”

Arrive at the Tacoma Power Station, take out and de-rig boats for the train ride back. Board the train and relax as you take in the sites of the Rockwood Gorge.

Arrive at the Rockwood station, and shuttle back to Durango.

4:00 PM

Arrive back at Mild to Wild.

* Please note that all itineraries are subject to change due to river conditions.

Booking Options

Standard Rafts

15 foot self-bailing rafts.

15 foot self-bailing rafts rigged as an oar boat with paddle assist.

Be ready to paddle and swim on your pre-trip orientation!

Ages 16+ until late June
Ages 14+ late June through the end of season

Per Person

$499

Reviews from our Guests

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

Payments & Cancellations

Payment Options

1/2 down, 1/2 charged 30 days prior to trip.
1/3 down with remaining balance charged in thirds.
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.

Receive an 80% refund with written notice 5 days prior to trip departure. Less notice, no refund.
At Upper Animas orientation, if determined this is not right for you, for 1 day trips you may apply the trip cost to another available trip, less $250 per person for the nonrefundable train ticket & orientation. For overnight trips, the non refundable amount is $300 per person. Train tickets may be able to be transferred depending on the train’s availability.
Trip Insurance through RoamRight is recommended to help cover unforeseen circumstances.

Trip Departure Policy

We reserve the right to switch river/locations based on current conditions and a minimum number of participants. This trip requires 4 participants or paid seats to depart.

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

Important Considerations

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

Travel Guides

Adventure Junkies

The ultimate guide to Durango for the Adventure Junkie out there. To those who just have to send it, this guide is for you.

Adventure Junkie

Mountain Biking

Get your guide to popular trail options in Durango.

Mountain Biking

Off the Beaten Path

Your guide to the top places to adventure off the beaten path in Durango.

Off The Beaten Path

Upper Animas History

Learn the origins of rafting the notorious Upper Animas River.

Upper Animas History

National & State Parks

There are several National & State Parks in the Durango area. If you’re at all into outdoor adventure, then you’re all but guaranteed an awesome time.

National & State Parks