Colorado whitewater - Animas River, La Plata County La Plata county, Purple Cliffs to State line section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS II-III     12 miles   The starting point is not too far from Durango, as you can see on the road map further down. If you've been whitewater rafting and kayaking outside this state you might find the rivers here a bit more challenging, so don't forget that the rivers in this state are less manageable. The wonderful Colorado scenery and the playfulness of the water beats anything. This is not the only paddling stretch in this river system, there are others too. You might have to settle for a hotel a bit away from the river if you want to stay the night, but do book a room before     you come because it is a very popular destination. This stretch is long enough for an overnight trip if you take your time, so why not pack your camp stove too. Getting a good workout and a chance to spend some time outdoors will have you coming back for more. The Purple Cliffs to State line section of Animas River in La Plata County is 12 miles long and has been rated as a class II-III section by American Whitewater. Some people prefer whitewater rafting and some kayaking, either way in this general area you won't find many other paddling places. You can pitch a tent or park your RV at a nearby campground. Briefly about the general area: A brilliant location to pop by right next door to Animas River is Sanchez Draw. At Animas River you don’t see much precipitation; August is the month that gets the most rain; the   driest month is June. At Animas River through the warm days of summer highs are in the 80's, and through summer nights temperatures are in the 40's. For the duration of the winter highs are in the 30's while Animas River overnight low temperatures during the winter are in the 0's. Animas River, Purple Cliffs to State line road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: II-III Length: 12 miles    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 37.23646 Longitude: -107.86735 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 36.99982 Longitude: -107.86503 Paddler input for Animas River, Colorado: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Animas River, Colorado Local climate location: FORT LEWIS 11 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river. Durango/Purgatory Super 8 Motel, Durango 7 miles away * Welcome to Durango, the heart of Colorado & number 39; old and new west! * Durango has been a bustling railroad town since the 1880s and today you can still ride the historic steam train from d... Comfort Inn & Suites, Durango 7 miles away Durango's newest hotel with 123 comfortably appointed guest rooms and suites. Comfort Inn and Suites has become the activity center for adventure seekers, business professionals, and nature lovers. C... Wyndham Durango, Durango 8 miles away Downtown Durango at Your Doorstep. Wyndham Durango, located at the heart of Durango's most popular attractions, is your best resort choice to relive Old West Americana culture and enjoy plenty of mode...   All Colorado Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Colorado. Books about whitewater paddling on Animas River, Colorado List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Animas River, Colorado. Find a whitewater outfitter in Colorado Whitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info. Outdoors Recreation Near Durango, Colorado Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Durango, Colorado, the metro area neareast to Animas River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.       These outdoors activities are available near Animas River.   Whitewater Near Animas River: Animas River, La Plata County , 8 miles away, Class III - 6.5 miles long (32nd St. Park to Purple Cliffs) Animas River, San Juan County , 21 miles away, Class I-II - 25 miles long (Cedar Hill to Farmington City Park) Hermosa Creek, La Plata County , 22 miles away, Class IV-V - 24 miles long (Hermosa Park to US 550) Animas River, San Juan/ La Plata County , 23 miles away, Class IV-V - 2.6 miles long (Tacoma to Rockwood Rail Yard) Canyon Creek, La Plata County , 23 miles away, Class V+ - 3 miles long (to Animas River) Animas River, San Juan County , 30 miles away, Class II+ - 0.01 miles long (Farmington Whitewater Park)   Ski Areas Near Animas River: Hesperus Ski Center, Colorado , 16 miles away, 700 vertical feet Durango, Colorado , 28 miles away, 2029 vertical feet Silverton, Colorado , 40 miles away, 3000 vertical feet Kendall Mountain, Colorado , 44 miles away, 400 vertical feet Telluride, Colorado , 45 miles away, 3530 vertical feet Wolf Creek, Colorado , 77 miles away, 1604 vertical feet Powderhorn, Colorado , 109 miles away, 1650 vertical feet Irwin Lodge, Colorado , 115 miles away, 2100 vertical feet Crested Butte, Colorado , 116 miles away, 3062 vertical feet Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico , 122 miles away, 1410 vertical feet   Hotels Near Animas River: Durango/Purgatory Super 8 Motel, Durango , 7 miles away Comfort Inn & Suites, Durango , 7 miles away Wyndham Durango, Durango , 8 miles away Best Western Rio Grande Inn, Durango , 8 miles away Residence Inn By Marriott Durango, Durango , 8 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Animas River: Durango Yearround RV Park, Durango, 2 miles away Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, 6 miles away Durango East KOA, Durango, 8 miles away   National Parks Near Animas River: Aztec Ruins National Monument, Aztec - NM , 18 miles away Mesa Verde National Park, Mesa Verde National Park - CO , 40 miles away   Lakes Near Animas River