Animas River
From Adventure Inn: under a mile
The Animas River runs right through the middle of Durango and is one of the main reasons people visit. In summer it fills with rafts, kayaks, tubes, and paddleboards, and the stretch through town is designated Gold Medal trout water.
Alongside the river, the paved Animas River Trail connects parks, river access points, and downtown, making it easy to walk, run, or bike through town without a car.
Adventure Inn sits on north Main Avenue, under a mile from the river trail and river access on the north side of town, so a morning on the water or an evening walk is a few minutes away.
Know Before You Go
- Distance from Adventure Inn
- Under a mile
- Travel time
- A few minutes by car or bike
- Best time to go
- Late May through August for rafting and tubing; fishing year round
- Best for
- Families, rafting groups, anglers, runners, and cyclists
Things to Do
- Take a guided half-day or full-day rafting trip with a local outfitter
- Float the in-town stretch in a tube or inflatable kayak on a hot summer afternoon
- Fly fish the Gold Medal water through town, or hire a guide to learn the river
- Walk, run, or ride the paved Animas River Trail between parks and downtown
- Watch kayakers play in the river features near Santa Rita Park
Getting There From Adventure Inn
The river runs just east of Main Avenue. From Adventure Inn, it is under a mile to the river and the Animas River Trail on the north side of town; downtown outfitters and Santa Rita Park are a short drive south. Most rafting companies include shuttles from their shops.
Practical Tips
- Spring runoff, usually late May into June, brings the biggest water; choose a guided trip if you're new to rafting
- The water is cold even in summer, so wear a life jacket and quick-dry layers
- Check river flows before tubing; high water is not tubing water
- Anglers need a Colorado fishing license, and Gold Medal water has special regulations
- Bring river sandals or water shoes; the riverbed is rocky
Make Adventure Inn Your Basecamp
27 rooms on Main Avenue in Durango with free parking, a fire pit, an outdoor cedar hot tub, and an in room bike and ski rack in every King room. Spend the day at Animas River and come back to a soak under the stars.