FAQ's

When and Where do we meet for shuttles or rafting? Confirmation?
What does Durango River Trips provide for rafting?
What do we wear rafting?
What about food and alcohol, cameras?
River guide training and certification?
What class is the stretch of river rated that we will be on?
How many people in a raft? How is it guided?
Who can do it and how cold is the water?
Do you guide other rivers?

How are shuttles for hire done?
Can you guide us on a hike, ride or river trip?
What are the abc's of Durango?
Do you do fly fishing trips?

When and Where do we meet? Confirmation?

Confirmation is speaking with James on the phone at 970-903-9428. We will meet at one of the river access points for rafting. Shuttles will generally meet at your end point. See our Map page for more details and directions to print.

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What does Durango Rivers & Trails provide for rafting?

All our river trips include self-bailing rafts, PFD's (life jackets), first aid supplies and dry bags for your personal gear. Street clothes can be worn but it is best to wear clothing that keeps you warm when it gets wet such as synthetics. Shoes that can get wet are a must. Transportation is included. Feel free to bring snacks and beverages including a cooler.

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What do we wear rafting?

Temperatures can vary quite a bit until about mid-June so one should be prepared by bringing warm clothes such as fleece or wool which keep you warm even when wet. Come July we often have what is called a monsoon season which basically means we often get a good 5-20 minute shower sometime most afternoons somewhere in the area. Yes, it is called weather, no one can predict it. Feet do get wet getting in and out of the boat, and there is often water on the floor of the boat. So wear shoes that can get wet. Since this is a Class II scenic float rather than a whitewater adventure, there are only light splashes from the river and falling out is very unusual.

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What about food and alcohol, cameras?

Bring food, beer and soda, a cooler, whatever you like, this is your trip. "Float and bloat" is the professional industry insiders term. Cameras of any sort should be fine on this scenic stretch, just remember you are on a boat, in a river.

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River guide training and certification?

As the owner, guide and driver I can tell you that I held my EMT basic license for 4 years, obtained my OEC cert from the National Ski Patrol Association, held my Wilderness First Responder cert for 4 years and am curent with my CPR and First Aid. Any guides hired by me will meet or exceed the minimum requirements set forth by the State of Colorado in their regulations for River Outfitter Licensing. We reserve the right to deny a trip to any person for safety reasons and to modify any trip due to unsafe river conditions.

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What class is the stretch or river rated that we will be on?

Most rivers in the world are rated on the International Scale of Whitewater, I-VI. Class I is flat water with some current, something you would be comfortable having your kids float in an inner tube. Class VI is impossible, for instance Niagara Falls.
Durango Rivers & Trails has access to Class I and II stretches. The shorter (6 miles) Class II stretch has almost continous current through braided river channels with the occasional rock or tree limb which are easily avoided if you know what you are doing. The longer (12 miles) stretch is Class I, a very lazy river.

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How Many People in a Raft? How is it Guided?

Durango Rivers & Trails owns a 16 foot Aire Raft. You can see it here. This is a new, beautiful $5,500 state of the art self-bailing raft designed to carry 8 adults. Lots of room, comfortable, relaxing. That is what this trip is all about.

The boat will be guided by me or one of my guides with a set of 10ft oars locked into a frame on the stern of the boat, we do everything, you relax and enjoy the trip. You don't even have a paddle. Maybe a water gun, but not anything to control the raft.

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Who Can do it and how cold is the water?

This is a Class II (6 miles) or Class I (12 miles) stretch of the Animas River. Read about the classication system on this page. I can not really think of anyone who couldn't do this. I would suggest age 3 and up based on how much my 3 year old neice has enjoyed our river trips.

This water was snow about 24 hours ago, it doesn't really warm up that much on its journey to Durango. Probably in the 50's in June, great to swim in come July. Splashes are minimal.

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Do you guide other rivers?

I am only licensed to guide on the stretch that I advertise. If you want someone along on your trip who knows the Upper Animas, Piedra or just about anything else in the southwest give me a call and we can talk. For example, I have put together charter trips on the Grand Canyon.

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How are shuttles for hire done?

You want your vehicle waiting for you at the end of your trip. We use magic and fairy dust to make this happen. Generally, we ride with you to your starting point, see you off and then use the fairy dust and magic to get your car to the end point. Simple, really.

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Can you guide us on a hike, ride or river trip?

I can only guide you on the river trip which I offer on this website. That is the scenic float on the Animas River starting 12 miles north of town. I have guided the upper Animas and Piedra rivers since 1998 and am happy to help you plan your trip. I do not hold permits to commercially guide on these stretches. But if it is a slow day for me and you are people I might enjoy boating with, well, give me a call. Same goes for the mountain biking and hiking.

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What are the abc's of Durango?

Here is a little gift from me to you. We all know the obvious ways to spend time around Durango: the train, Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Purgatory, the Community Recreation Center. The ABC's are how the locals spend their day off. It is a very active day of swimming, a little bit of hiking, and water fall and/or bridge jumping.
A is for Adrenaline Falls on Lime Creek just past Durango Mountain Resort. Some people fish here, some swim here. It is hard to find, but really beautiful. The other attraction is that you can jump up to 60 feet high (or much less) off the cliff wall next to the falls
B is for Bakers Bridge. A beautiful swimming and sunning/picnic spot on the Animas River with an optional bridge jump about 40 feet high. River side rocks provide jumps of any hight for the fear impaired.
C is for Cascade Creek. It is about 400 yards long in a beautiful slot canyon which is travelled by walking through the creek and jumping a series of falls that ends with the tallest at about 12 feet high. Laps can easily be done. Water is always cold.

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Do you do fly fishing trips?

Sure! Why not? Here's the deal: I have friends who are fly fisher people, I have read some great books about fly fishing (very philosophical musings in general), I can put a raft just about anywhere. But I don't fish (yet). I don't tie flys. But if you want to go down the river fishing and don't need an expensive guide, I am your man.

Check out conditions on Duranglers website here.

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Year round scenic Animas River Rafting Trips.
Year round hiking, biking, boating and skiing shuttles.
Call James @ 970 903 9428