Seven companies run guided rafting trips on the Animas River in Durango, and their posted prices are not the same. For ages 12 and up, the cheapest short trip we found is $65 at Southwest Raft & Jeep. The dearest is $85.10 at Durango Rivertrippers. For a family of four on a short Lower Animas float, that is $240 against $317.40. This guide puts all seven side by side: trips, prices, minimum ages, season, meeting spot and Google rating. Every figure comes from the company's own website in October 2026 or from the Google data in our listings.
Which Durango rafting company should you pick?
None of them is the best for everyone, and none paid to be here. Pick by what you need.
- Lowest posted price: Southwest Raft & Jeep. Its 2-hour trip is $65, and its 4-hour trip includes lunch for $89.
- Most reviews and the top rating: Durango Rivertrippers holds 5.0 across 4,847 Google reviews. Mountain Waters Rafting holds 5.0 across 1,567.
- The widest menu of rivers: Mild to Wild runs the Lower Animas, the Piedra River and the Upper Animas. Our Mild to Wild profile covers it in depth.
- Posted Upper Animas prices: Mild to Wild and Mountain Waters both publish theirs.
- A raft and jeep day from one shop: Colorado Outback Adventures sells both. See our spotlight on the company.
How did we compare them?
We looked for five things a visitor can check.
- A working website with trips for sale. A Google listing alone did not count.
- Prices posted on the company's own site. If a page showed no price, the table says "Not listed."
- Minimum ages and weights as posted.
- Where the trip starts. The meeting spot decides your morning.
- The Google rating and review count stored in our directory.
One name is missing. Flexible Flyers Raft & Jeep has a Google listing but no website of its own that we could confirm, so we could not check its trips or prices. We did not guess.
We did not verify any company's river license. That is a two-minute lookup on the state's list, and the licensing section below says where to find it.
Who runs rafting trips in Durango?
| Company | Trips offered | Meets at | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durango Rivertrippers | Lower Animas Splash 'N' Dash, half day and three-quarter day with lunch; inflatable kayaks; Upper Animas | 360 S Camino del Rio, Suite 200 | 5.0 (4,847 reviews) |
| Mild to Wild | Lower Animas quarter, half and three-quarter day; inflatable kayaks; Piedra River; Upper Animas for 1 or 2 days | 50 Animas View Dr | 4.9 (3,028) |
| Colorado Outback Adventures | Lower Animas quarter, half and three-quarter day; inflatable kayaks | 1212 CO-3 | 5.0 (2,199) |
| Mountain Waters Rafting | Lower Animas quarter day, half day and a full Adventure Day; inflatable kayaks; Piedra River; Upper Animas for 1 to 3 days | 303 W College Dr | 5.0 (1,567) |
| Southwest Raft & Jeep | Lower Animas 2-hour and 4-hour trips; inflatable kayak upgrade; raft, paddle board and tube rentals | 305 S Camino del Rio, Suite V | 4.8 (274) |
| 4 Corners Whitewater | Lower Animas 2.5-hour and 4.5-hour trips; inflatable kayaks; Upper Animas; raft and jeep combos | 360 S Camino del Rio, behind 4Corners River Sports | 4.9 (155) |
| Outlaw Tours | Lower Animas 2.5-hour and 4.5-hour trips; inflatable kayaks; combos | 521 Main Ave (Google address) | 4.8 (66) |
Ratings are as synced to our listings in October 2026 and will drift.
Read the addresses twice. Rivertrippers and 4 Corners share a building on South Camino del Rio, and the 4 Corners trip pages name Durango Rivertrippers in their text. Outlaw's jeep page loads the Colorado Outback Adventures booking system. Before you pay, ask which company will put you in the raft. Browse every raft trip outfitter in the directory, or the wider list of tours and outfitters.
How much does a Durango rafting trip cost?
A short Lower Animas trip runs $65 to $85.10 per person for ages 12 and up. Half-day trips run $89 to $108.10. Prices below are as posted on each company's own site in October 2026, shown as "ages 12 and up / youth."
| Company | Short trip | Half day | Longer trip | Inflatable kayak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Raft & Jeep | $65 / $55 (2-hour) | $89 / $79 (4-hour, lunch included) | Not listed | Upgrade of $8 to $16 |
| Outlaw Tours | $74 / $64 (2.5-hour) | $94 / $79 (4.5-hour) | Not listed | $85 to $102 single, $145 to $162 double |
| Mountain Waters Rafting | $79 / $69 (quarter day) | $95 / $85 | $185 / $165 (Adventure Day, lunch) | $95 quarter day, $120 half day |
| Mild to Wild | $79 / $69 (about 1 hour on the water) | $99 / $79 (about 2 hours 15 minutes on the water) | $149 / $139 (about 4 hours 15 minutes on the water) | $99 to $189 |
| Colorado Outback Adventures | $79 / $69 (quarter day) | $98 / $85 | $167 / $155 (three-quarter day, lunch) | $105.93 |
| 4 Corners Whitewater | $79.18 / $68.48 (2.5-hour) | Not listed on the pages we read | Not listed | $95.23 single |
| Durango Rivertrippers | $85.10 / $73.60 (Splash 'N' Dash) | $108.10 / $96.60 | $136.85 per person (three-quarter day, lunch) | $95.23 to $113.85 (two pages differ) |
Compare the fine print before you compare the totals. Mild to Wild adds 9 percent on top of its posted price for river and land access fees. Rivertrippers' rafting page lists no add-on, but every price on its rafting page is a whole-dollar number times 1.15. Its $85.10 is $74 plus 15 percent. Outlaw posts $74 for the same length of trip. Ask each company whether the checkout total includes taxes and fees.
Trip length is slippery too. Southwest does not say how long its 2-hour trip spends on the water. Colorado Outback counts 1.5 hours on the water for its quarter day and 3.5 for its half day. Rivertrippers counts about 1 hour 15 minutes for the Splash 'N' Dash.
What does a family of four pay on the Lower Animas?
Two people aged 12 and up plus two youths cost between $240 and $317.40 for a short trip. We multiplied the posted prices above, with no fees added. Mild to Wild's 9 percent fee is shown separately.
| Company | Short trip, family of four | Half day, family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Raft & Jeep | $240 | $336 |
| Outlaw Tours | $276 | $346 |
| 4 Corners Whitewater | $295.32 | Not listed |
| Mountain Waters Rafting | $296 | $360 |
| Colorado Outback Adventures | $296 | $366 |
| Mild to Wild | $296 ($322.64 with the 9 percent fee) | $356 ($388.04 with the fee) |
| Durango Rivertrippers | $317.40 | $409.40 |
The gap between cheapest and dearest is $77.40 on a short trip, or 32 percent. On a half day it is $73.40, or 22 percent. Southwest's rafts are smaller and it says it uses paddle rigs, so the guide does less and your family does more. Whether that suits you is a judgment call, not a price tag.
What is the difference between the Lower and Upper Animas?
The Lower Animas is the family river. It runs right through town, past the whitewater park near Santa Rita Park, and every company above offers it. Rivertrippers rates it Class I to III and names the rapids Smelter, Clock Tower, Santa Rita and Sawmill. Mild to Wild calls it mostly Class I and II with one Class III in the whitewater park. That one rapid is Smelter. At high water in June, guides may walk young children around it.
The Upper Animas is a different animal. Mild to Wild rates it Class IV and V, calls it continuous with no pools, and runs a swim test before anyone boards. You reach the put-in at Needleton by riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, because no road goes there. Mountain Waters rates the Needleton stretch Class III and IV over 12 miles, with the Class IV Broken Bridge Rapid first. Ratings shift with the flow, so ask which rapids and what water level on your day. Our train guide covers the rail side.
How much does Upper Animas rafting cost?
Upper Animas rafting costs $480 to $749 where the price is clear. Two companies post it plainly.
| Company | Trip | Posted price | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Waters Rafting | 1-day Needleton, Class III-IV; train tickets, lunch and gear included | $480 | 12 to 14, depending on flows |
| Mild to Wild | 1-day Needleton, Class IV-V | $499 | 14 (16 at high and medium flows) |
| Mild to Wild | Needleton with a night at its camp | $749 | 14 (16 at high and medium flows) |
Rivertrippers and 4 Corners both post $1,029.25 for an Upper Animas trip. The pages do not say how long the trip runs, and they disagree on age: Rivertrippers says 12 and up, while the 4 Corners home page says 18 and up. The figure is more than double the others. Call before you assume it buys the same day.
Mountain Waters' Needleton trip also has a mandatory orientation at 3 p.m. the day before, and Mild to Wild requires its swim test. Plan your arrival around both.
What are the minimum ages and weights?
Most companies take children from age 3 or 4. The posted rules are below.
| Company | Lower Animas | Inflatable kayak | Upper Animas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durango Rivertrippers | Youth rate for ages 3 to 11 | 14 and up | 12 and up (as posted) |
| Mild to Wild | 4 years or 35 pounds; may rise in peak runoff | Not stated | 14, or 16 at high and medium flows |
| Colorado Outback Adventures | Youth rate for ages 3 to 11 | Not stated | Not offered |
| Mountain Waters Rafting | Youth 11 and under, at least 30 pounds | 12 and up | 12 to 14, depending on flows |
| Southwest Raft & Jeep | Ages 4 to 11 youth rate | 14 and up, when flows are 1,000 cfs or lower | Not listed |
| 4 Corners Whitewater | 3 and up | 16 and up | See note above |
| Outlaw Tours | Youth rate for ages 11 and under | 12 and up | Not listed |
Families with a child under 6 should look at Rivertrippers, Colorado Outback or 4 Corners first. They are the three that post age 3. See our Durango with kids guide for the rest of the trip.
When is the best time to raft, and what about 2027?
Snowmelt drives the Animas, and last winter decides your water. Mild to Wild puts the Lower Animas peak in the first or second week of June, at 3,000 to 6,000 cfs. Early-season water is 38 to 45 degrees. Come August the river has dropped to 250 to 600 cfs and warmed into the 60s. The Upper Animas gets chancy then, since it leans on monsoon storms. Rivertrippers says that stretch starts running in May and usually holds up through July.
Here is the plan for the 2027 season.
- Check the snow in spring. The USGS gauge on the Animas River at Durango shows live flow. The NRCS Colorado Snow Survey reports snowpack by basin.
- Expect 2027 rates later. None of the seven sites we read labels its prices for 2027. The 4 Corners home page still says it is booking the Upper Animas for 2026. Rates posted today may change.
- Know the payment terms. Mild to Wild takes a 50 percent deposit and charges the rest 30 days before the trip. It refunds in full with 24 hours' notice.
- Match the month to the mood. Late May and June bring bigger, colder splashes. July and August are warmer, and Mild to Wild says swimming is most popular at a calm, deep spot on the Lower Animas it calls "The Lake."
Our summer guide lays out rafting beside the rest of the warm season.
How do you check that an outfitter is licensed?
Look the company up by name. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says every river outfitter must hold a state license and every guide must work for a licensed outfitter. The same page links a list of licensed outfitters, so you can confirm one before you book. Applications run November 1 through January 31, so look at the current list.
Trips that start on national forest land also need a Forest Service permit. Rivertrippers and Colorado Outback print their Forest Service permit numbers (COL937 and COL972) on their jeep tour pages. That shows a company willing to show its paperwork, but it is not a river license check.
What should you wear and rent?
Wear quick-dry layers and shoes that stay on. Skip flip-flops. Every company that mentions footwear bans them. Rafts have no storage, so leave phones in the free lockers that Rivertrippers and 4 Corners offer.
Rental gear is cheap but not uniform. Rivertrippers lists river shoes at $7 on its rafting page and $5 on its kayak page, and a wetsuit at $15. Mountain Waters charges $5 for a wetsuit and $12 for a full thermal one. Southwest charges $12 for booties and a wetsuit.
If you would rather go solo, Mild to Wild rents single inflatable kayaks and paddle boards at $50 a day. A single tube is $25. Our paddleboarding and kayaking guide covers where to put in.
Can you pair rafting with a jeep tour?
Yes, and most companies sell the pairing. Mild to Wild lists a La Plata Canyon jeep tour plus a raft trip at $239.20 for grown-ups and $204.70 for youths. 4 Corners lists a waterfall jeep tour plus a Splash & Dash at $157.78. Our jeep tours guide compares the jeep side, including rentals.
You can watch the river for free from the city's Whitewater Park. Standing there at runoff tells you more about the day's flow than any trip description.
