Durango: Lower Animas River Family Rafting with Pickup

Summary

Lower Animas River rafting adventure in Durango for families

You’ll feel river-cold water splash up your sleeves as you paddle through Durango’s Lower Animas with a local guide—expect laughter, quick turns, and stories along the way. Includes pickup, gear, and round-trip transfer so you can just show up ready to get wet and make memories together.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wonder how cold river water actually feels when it splashes up your sleeve? I found out about ten minutes into our Lower Animas River rafting trip in Durango. We’d barely finished laughing at the way my nephew tried to zip his life jacket before our guide, Sam (he’s from just up the road), called out for us to paddle left. Sun was out, but the water was mountain-chilled — sharper than I expected. Sam told us stories about the old railroad bridge as we floated under it, and I realized I’d never really listened to river sounds before — not like this anyway.

We met at the back lot behind the shop (I almost missed it, so heads up), checked in fast, and they loaded us into a van for a quick ride to the put-in spot. Everyone seemed to know each other — or maybe that’s just Durango. The actual time on the river was about an hour, but it felt longer with all the splashing and random shouts from other rafts. My niece tried to high-five a passing group and nearly fell overboard (Sam caught her — cool under pressure). There’s something about that mix of sun on your arms and icy spray on your face that sticks with you.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much at my own paddling attempts — apparently “forward” isn’t as obvious as it sounds. But nobody cared if we messed up; even Sam admitted he still gets spun around sometimes when the current’s weird after rain. We ended up soaked but grinning, and yeah, you can buy photos at the end if you want proof of your soggy glory. Still think about that stretch where everything went quiet except for birds and water slapping rocks — kind of peaceful in between all the chaos.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Family rafting on Lower Animas River

• Park and check in early
• Transport to river
• Raft on river for one hour
• Return transport from river

Top questions

How long is the Lower Animas River rafting trip?

The total excursion is about 2 hours door-to-door, with roughly 1 hour spent on the river itself.

Is pickup included in this Durango family rafting tour?

Yes, round-trip shared transfer from designated meeting points is included.

What should I wear for rafting on the Lower Animas?

Wear fast-drying clothing and sturdy footwear; avoid flip flops or jeans.

Is this rafting trip suitable for young children?

The minimum age is 3 years old; adult pricing applies from age 12 up.

Do I need prior rafting experience?

No experience needed; guides provide instructions and support throughout.

Are photos available from this Durango rafting tour?

You have the option to purchase photos after your trip if you’d like.

What’s included

Your day includes all necessary equipment like paddles and life jackets, round-trip transfers from meeting points in Durango, about an hour of guided rafting on the Lower Animas River with a local guide at your side, plus an option to buy photos of your adventure before heading off to whatever comes next.