
Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 620 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River worth booking?
Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River is a 2.5-hour experience in Durango, United States, from $86 per person. It scores 86 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 620 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 86 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (620)
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- From
- $86 per person
Splash through Durango with an awesome river guide on the Lower Animas River! This adventure is an absolute must for visitors and locals alike. Everyone loves this trip for its accessibility, picturesque scenery and ro
What you get
About this experience
Splash through Durango with an awesome river guide on the Lower Animas River! This adventure is an absolute must for visitors and locals alike. Everyone loves this trip for its accessibility, picturesque scenery and rollicking rapids. It’s an adventure that offers a perfect mix of excitement and time to enjoy the sites along the way. We take rafters ages 4+! Along the way you'll bound through plenty of Class II rapids and an exciting Class III at Smelter Whitewater Park. Class II rapids are "fun and friendly," rolling over the bow and dousing those at the front of the boat. Class III rapids are "wet and wild," usually soaking everyone in the raft head to toe. Our experienced and entertaining river guides will get you downstream while sharing plenty of stories and fascinating history about the area. You're welcome to paddle with them or just sit back and relax All trips come with a safety orientation and paddling instructions from the best river guides in Durango.
What's included
Included
- Pre-trip safety orientation
- River and land access fees included
- Round trip shuttle from main office
- Free Parking
- Free splash jackets and helmets (if desired)
- Highly maintained equipment
- Trip Leaders average 2,000 river miles
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
Meet at our Durango Office and suit up for the river! Your fun, knowledgeable and experienced river guides will get you fitted for a life jacket, helmet, and other river getup if needed (wetsuits when the weather/water is chilly). We'll then shuttle over to the river and have a quick safety orientation before heading out on the beautiful Animas River for an hour. We'll splash through plenty of refreshing Class II rapids, and one exciting Class III as we paddle downstream. Class II rapids are "fun and friendly" splashing those at the front of the boat, while Class III are "wet and fun" soaking everyone head to toe. Spring trips usually have higher flows with bigger splashes, while summer tends to have lower flows with more mild splashes. If you're rafting later in the season, we'll have some additional entertainment as we navigate between the rocks in the river! After an hour of fun, we'll take out, load up the boats and shuttle you back to our Durango Office.
30 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Durango
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
1/4 Day Afternoon Rafting Trip
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes 2:15pm - 4:45pm
1/4 Day Morning Rafting Trip
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes 10:30am - 1:00pm
1/4 Day Fall Rafting Trip
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes 1:30PM-4:00PM
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 4 years
- Wet-suit and wet-suit boot rentals are highly recommended through June
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 620 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Good for families
3 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
620 verified traveler reviews for Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Fantastic rafting trip adventure.
Sammy was our guide for the rafting trip. She was so nice courteous, professional and a lot of fun. It was a pleasure to have her as our guide on the lower animas river.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had a wonderful time on the Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip with Sammy. She truly is a gem, and we're glad she made your adventure enjoyable!
via Tripadvisor
Creol the legend
Great time, I do wish we went when the water was higher for some more rapids but there were still rapids. Creol the guide made the trip though. It was a great time
Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you still enjoyed the rapids and had a great time on the river. Water levels can vary, but it’s wonderful to hear that Creel made the trip especially memorable. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure—perhaps with higher water next time!
via Tripadvisor
A perfect time on the river
An utterly fabulous experience for the whole family. From the greeting, to the transportation, to the expertise and experience of Dylan our guide, to the safety briefing, to the excellent rapids experience and the shop and photos afterwards - the whole experience was faultless! A perfect way to spend part of our day in Durango. Loved it!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your family had a fabulous time on the Lower Animas River with Dylan as your guide. Your feedback about the entire experience means a lot to us!
via Tripadvisor
Rafting
The rafting was great and our guide (Jack) was great and made the experience better and was super chill
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time on the Durango rafting trip and that Jack made your experience even better.
via Tripadvisor
great guide great time
Jack from mild to wild in durango colorado was awesome and should totally get a raise
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Jack made your Durango rafting trip memorable. We'll definitely pass along your kind words to him!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 217
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 86
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Durango.
How much does Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River cost?
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Prices start at $86 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Durango usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River take?
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Plan for about 2.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Durango is not rushed.
Is Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 86 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 620 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Durango, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River?
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Around 217 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Durango can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Durango and add a light layer if any part of the 2.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Durango 1/4 Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Durango within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Durango?
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Durango runs the Durango and Silverton narrow gauge steam railroad, Mesa Verde cliff dwelling tours, Animas River rafting, jeep trails and winter skiing at Purgatory. On Outty we rank every Durango experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Durango Colorado - Rafting 1/4 Day, Durango Half Day Rafting Trip - Lower Animas River, Durango Half Day Jeep Tour - La Plata Canyon. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Durango?
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May to October, with the railroad running year-round in shorter form. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Durango?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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