Durango, Colorado, is renowned for its world-class rafting on the Animas River. The rush of whitewater rapids and stunning canyon scenery is truly unforgettable. But did you know Durango offers so much more than thrilling river adventures? Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, this vibrant town is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts […]

Should You Kayak or Raft? How to Choose Your Adventure During Low Water Season Well good paddlers, the time has come once again. Summer has turned up with its wonderful and inevitable simmer, and with it tamer waters. It warrants the profoundly deep question that confronts us all, fiberglass fin in hand— Shall I kayak, […]

4 Riveting Facts You Didn’t Know about Pagosa Springs Looking for a little more fun know-how with a side of cold hard facts about Pagosa Springs? Beyond the well-known yet undeniably-fascinating tidbit that it’s home to the world’s deepest geothermal pool, aka the Pagosa hot spring. And if you didn’t already know that, there’s your […]

3 Reasons to Ride the Durango Train One Way If you’re on the fence about whether to ride the Durango Silverton train one-way, or do the whole kit and caboodle through the astounding wilderness of the Animas River Canyon, you’ve chugged yourself over to the right place! It’s no secret that the Durango train is […]

Durango for Memorial Day Weekend – Your 2024 Guide for Things to Do Headed to Durango for Memorial Day Weekend? You’re not alone! With plenty of great events rolling around town, and good times to be had in the mountains, on the water, and the trails in between— it’s just too easy to have too […]

Durango to Telluride in a Day – For San Miguel Rafters  For Durango visitors who want to check out Telluride for the day (and partake in the righteous rafting supplied by the San Miguel River nearby) here’s a few how-to’s for enjoying the journey.  How far is Telluride from Durango?  Driving to Telluride from Durango […]

Mild to Wild’s Rafting Season Forecast for 2024 You better air out those Chacos and shake the dry bags out of that crusty hibernation hole, because it’s time for the Rafting Season Forecast of 2024!  In snowy sum, this year’s swell through the Colorado Plateau looks like it’s going to ripple and flow right down […]

Renaming the Rivers of Southwest Colorado — The Juan Rivera 1765 Expedition The majority of the information in this article about the naming (and renaming) of Southwest Colorado rivers on the Juan Rivera expedition, including Rivera’s journal excerpts, has been sourced from the incredible and comprehensive work of Steven G. Baker and Rick Hendrick’s Juan […]

The Animas River — A Tale of Untamed Resilience The appellation, “Río de Las Animas”—the River of Souls—was written in the journal of Spanish colonizer, Juan Maria Antonio Rivera while crossing the Animas River on horseback in 1765 (Durango Herald). One can only imagine what sights lended to this name.   Perhaps Rivera sensed the looming […]

River Guide, Sam Cook on 30 Years of Adventure I had scant knowledge of Sam Cook before our interview. As an Adventure Consultant, my world revolves around calls and keystrokes, tethered to the indoors. Sam, on the other hand, is a river guide, navigating the outdoors, guiding people down the river. Despite us both working […]