Some outfitters chase trends. Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours has simply been doing it well since 1994 — long enough to become one of the names locals point visitors toward when they want a day on the Animas River or a trip into the high country of Southwest Colorado. Three decades in, they run the kind of dialed, all-levels operation that works for a stroller-age family and a hardened paddler alike.
On the Water
The Animas River is really two rivers, and Mild to Wild guides both. The Lower Animas, running right through Durango, is the friendly, family-friendly float — gentle to moderate whitewater, close to town, and the perfect first taste of a mountain river for kids and first-timers. Upstream toward Silverton, the Upper Animas turns into a serious, expert-only Class IV-V run through a remote gorge, one of the more committing commercial whitewater trips in Colorado. They round out the river menu with guided canoe, kayak, and water-sports trips, so there's a version of the day for nearly every group.
Off the Road
When the paddles come down, the adventure keeps going. Mild to Wild runs backcountry Jeep and adventure tours across the San Juan Mountains — the kind of high-country routes, ghost-town history, and alpine scenery that are hard to reach any other way. Pairing a morning raft with an afternoon tour makes for an easy two-sport day.
Why Visitors Book Them
With a 4.9-star average across more than 2,900 reviews, Mild to Wild is one of Durango's most established and highly rated outfitters. Families are genuinely welcome, the guides are professional, and the range of trips means you can match the day to your comfort level. You'll find them at 50 Animas View Dr, Durango, CO 81301, and you can book a Durango white-water trip directly on their site.
See their full operator profile, compare the area's raft trip outfitters and broader tours & outfitters, and read our complete Durango rafting guide to plan the trip.
