Animas River in Durango

Animas River Days

Held in Santa Rita Park on the southern end of town, Animas River Days is an annual event that water sports enthusiasts from the Four Corners area and beyond look forward to. The multi-day event takes place in the summer. Local amateurs and seasoned professional athletes alike come to show off their skills, inspiring others to live healthier, active lifestyles.

The Animas River Days usually includes events such as:

Stand-up paddling

River surfing

Freestyle kayaking

Boatercross

Raft and kayak slalom

Costumed River Parade

If you plan on joining the festivities, note that Santa Rita Park has no public parking during the event, as the parking is reserved for volunteers and athletes. However, there is a shuttle in town that runs every twenty minutes that is available.

Animas River Fishing

The Animas is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado and is known as the location of some of the best fly fishing in the state. The river has been classified by the Colorado Wildlife Commission as Gold Medal Waters, which means that the Animas River is known to be able to produce 60 pounds of trout per acre and at least twelve 14” or larger trout per acre.

Some of the best fly fishing can be found in Durango itself. Much of the water that flows along the Animas River Trail is wide and shallow, which is a great opportunity for wade fishing. Since said trail is parallel to the river, much of the water that flows through town can be fished in a single day.

Here are some of the fish that you can expect to find while fishing in the Animas River:

Rainbow Trout

Brown Trout

Cutthroat Trout


The part of the Animas that flows south goes through Southern Ute land, meaning that you have to get a special permit from the reservation to fish there. This said, this portion of the river provides some excellent fly fishing opportunities, so the permit is well worth it.