Upper Animas
One Day Needleton Section
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
Season
Late May – Early August
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 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
New Flexible Payment & 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 24 hrs 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
Receive an 80% refund with written notice 5 days prior to trip departure. Less notice, unfortunately there will be no refund.
At Upper Animas orientation, if it determined this river 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. Train tickets may be able to be transferred depending on the train’s availability. We conform to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad cancellation policy.
Trip Insurance through RoamRight is recommended to help cover unforeseen circumstances.
Itinerary
* Please note that all itineraries are subject to change due to river conditions.
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
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