Raft Trips

Lower Animas River Class II-III

To see dates for any of these trips, choose a trip from the option box and press the submit button above. Once you are registered, you will get a confirmation email from Mild to Wild Rafting for your trip.

You can search all the trips that we offer:



You can also search by geographic area:

Trip Highlights

* A great "sampler" trip with 3 "sampler" rapids
* See a different, even more beautiful, view of Durango
* Learn the history of Durango
* Convenient; accommodates tight itineraries
* Packages available including jeep trail tours for the complete Colorado experience!
* Perfect trip for family reunions with all ages
* Great trip for youth groups – special bonding/team building trips available

Sample 1/2-Day Itinerary (times for morning trip)
Check-in to Mild to Wild office 6-8pm eve prior to trip if possible
Or, check in Mild to Wild office 30-45 minutes prior to trip departure
Receive gear, life jackets, rentals, splash jacket and helmet (optional)
8:30 Load bus
8:40 Arrive at put-in
8:50 Receive Safety orientation and instruction
9:00 Launch boats and begin rafting
9:05 Hit first small class II rapid "Rock Garden" and slide around rocks
9:20 Optional swim in the lakes – Cool off!
9:35 Maneuver through "Train Bridge Rapid"
9:45 Hit "Baby Smelter Rapid", a fun class II rapid
9:50 Get wet on the Lower Animas’s biggest class III "Smelter Rapid"
9:55 Punch through "Santa Rita" hole (missed at high water and with kids)
10:00 Rock and roll through the fun "Sawmill Rapids"
10:10 Here comes "Jed's Hole"
10:15 Go through "Split Rocks"
10:30 Watch out for "Elephant Rocks"
10:35 Bounce through "Pinball Rapid"
10:45 Enjoy scenery and snack at "Conglomerate Rock"
10:50 Marvel at the "Purple Cliffs"
11:00 Back on the river for more rafting fun
11:15 Ride through "Lunch Stop Rapids"
11:30 Take a shot at the oars…(we’ll teach you if you like)…what a life!
12:05 Arrive at take-out
12:15 Load quality shuttle for ride back to office
12:30 Return to office and check out pictures of your ride through "Smelter"

Trip times and rapid class vary with amount of snowmelt and rain

Trip Provisions
* Professional, Highly Trained and Educated Guides
* State-of-the-Art Self-Bailing Rafts with Footcups
* All Boating Equipment
* Safety Orientation and Boating Instruction
* Coast Guard Approved Life Jackets – Type V
* Helmet
* Splash Jacket
* Delicious, Fresh Meals on Full Day Trips
* Unlimited Water and Lemonade
* Healthy Snacks on 1/2-Day Trips
* Comfortable Camp Chairs
* Camp Tables
* Quality Shuttle

Additional Provisions Needed (Bring Your Own or Rent Ours)
* Wetsuit boots recommended all season
* Wetsuits/Wetsuit Boots (Recommended for April, May and June raft trips)

Meeting Place:
From the south and west, head North on Hwy. 550 past Albertson’s Grocery on left, through the intersection of 9th Street. Go another block then get into the middle turn lane (on the left is a long brown building). Turn immediately after the brown building and the large sign that says "Animas City Rock" and the smaller "Mild to Wild Rafting" sign. It is an alley way, and as you turn down, (before the large "Wine Merchant and Nature's Oasis" sign) you will see rafting buses. Our reservation/check-in office and retail store is located in the back of the long brown building. Our boat barn is located on the river.

When coming from the north, follow Hwy 550 through town and at 14th street and Burger King, veer to the right (do not go straight down to the historic district and Main Avenue). Follow Hwy 550 (also known as Camino del Rio) a few blocks past the fire station (set back from road a bit), "Back Country Experience" and "Nature’s Oasis" (a natural food grocery store in the King Center. Immediately after the "Wine Merchant and Nature's Oasis" sign and parking lot, turn right down the alley way. As you turn down (before the large "King Center" sign) you will see our rafting buses. Our reservation/check-in office and retail store is located in the back of the long brown building. Our boat barn is located on the river.

What to Wear and Bring
Class II and III Rivers
Wear quick drying clothes like nylon shorts and a swimsuit with shoes that can get wet. Old tennis shoes, Tevas or sandals with a strap around the heel (no thongs). In spring and on high water trips, wool, fleece or any synthetic garment is recommended. These materials stay warm when wet, unlike cotton which stays the temperature of the water. We have wetsuits, fleece and wetsuit boots available for rental in all sizes from small children through large adults (up to 300+ pounds).

Wetsuits & wetsuit boots are recommended on Spring trips through June on rafts (being that the water is only 6 hours old, previously being snow!). Wetsuit boots are recommended all season long.

Our Rental Guarantee applies - if you feel that the wetsuit was not needed, we refund your rental money in full!

We also recommend you bring a waterproof camera, eye glass straps, water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm and a sun hat, along with your sense of adventure!

Rentals (Reserve in Advance)
Wetsuit & Wetsuit Boots $15/day
Wetsuit Boots $5/day
Fleece Jacket $7/day
Wetsuit, Wetsuit Boots and Fleece Value Package $20/day
Tent $10 /night
Sleeping Bag & Pad or Cot (Your Choice) $10/night

Refund Policy
Day Trips:
Written notice received more than 14 days prior to launch receives a 90% refund.
Written notice received 24 hours to 14 days prior to launch receives a 50% refund.
Less than 24 hours written notice prior to launch & no notice receive no refund.