Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silverton Memorial Park Town of Silverton | Park / conservation area | 37.81723, -107.66075 | |
| 2 | Silverton Lakes Campground Private campground, Silverton | Campsite | 37.81659, -107.65509 | |
| 3 | Silverton Field Station Field station, Silverton | Agency / conservation office | 37.81486, -107.66178 | Public-lands and research office at the top of the river; conditions in the upper Animas start here. |
| 4 | Kendall Mountain Recreation Area Town of Silverton | Park / conservation area | 37.81165, -107.65551 | Riverside recreation ground on the Animas at Silverton. |
| 5 | USGS 09358000 - Animas River at Silverton USGS streamgage | USGS gauge | 37.81111, -107.65925 | Top-of-river flow reference; the Durango reach runs well above this reading. |
| 6 | Terminal Dam Diversion structure below Rockwood | Dam / hazard | 37.52353, -107.78274 | A river-wide structure in the upper canyon; scout before running, or portage. |
| 7 | Alpen Rose RV Park Private RV park north of Durango | Campsite | 37.35062, -107.85606 | |
| 8 | Oxbow Park City of Durango | Park / conservation area | 37.30908, -107.85584 | Preserve and river access at the north end of the Animas River Trail. |
| 9 | Pioneer Park City of Durango | Park / conservation area | 37.30540, -107.86477 | |
| 10 | Memorial Park City of Durango | Park / conservation area | 37.29528, -107.86944 | River park on the east bank, on the Animas River Trail. |
| 11 | Rotary Park City of Durango | Park / conservation area | 37.28055, -107.87715 | Common put-in for the Durango town float. |
| 12 | Schneider Park City of Durango | Park / conservation area | 37.27553, -107.88427 | River-right park at Ninth Street; a standard town put-in and take-out. |
| 13 | Duranglers Flies and Supplies Fly shop, downtown Durango | Bait, tackle & fly shop | 37.27385, -107.88076 | On East 8th Avenue, two blocks off the river. |
| 14 | San Juan Public Lands Center USFS / BLM, Durango | Agency / conservation office | 37.27314, -107.89323 | Joint Forest Service and BLM office for the San Juan country. |
| 15 | Gardenswartz Outdoors Sporting goods, downtown Durango | Bait, tackle & fly shop | 37.27215, -107.88097 | |
| 16 | Santa Rita Whitewater Park City of Durango | Park / conservation area | 37.26061, -107.87827 | Whitewater park and take-out below Smelter Rapid at the south end of town. |
| 17 | Carbon Junction Trailhead Animas River Trail, south Durango | Access / boat ramp | 37.23573, -107.86676 | Trailhead parking; the river is a short walk from the lot. |
| 18 | Sale Barn Trailhead Animas River Trail, south Durango | Access / boat ramp | 37.22387, -107.85652 | |
| 19 | Dallabetta Park La Plata County | Park / conservation area | 37.22074, -107.86087 | Riverside county park below Durango. |
| 20 | Animas #2 Bald Eagle ACEC BLM area of critical environmental concern | Park / conservation area | 36.99337, -107.86078 | Protected river corridor on the lower Animas near the New Mexico line. |
Gauge: USGS 09358000 — Animas River at Silverton, CO. Live flow on the web page.
Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout
Regulations: cpw.state.co.us/rules-and-regulations
Emergency: call 911 and give the number of the nearest point on this map plus its coordinates.
Silverton town access near the gauge - upper basin high alpine water with roadside parking.
Baker's Bridge north of Durango - upper access above the town reach and a well-known landmark.
Durango Whitewater Park at Santa Rita - developed in-town access with parking and ramps.
Twenty Ninth Street and Rotary Park in Durango - the heart of the town wading water.
High Bridge access south of Durango - the standard put-in for lower river floats.
Bondad Bridge on US 550 - lower river access above the New Mexico line.
Animas River Trail through Durango - continuous public bank access the length of town.
Spring: high, cold and rising with San Juan snowmelt, difficult fishing and peak whitewater from May.
Summer: the river clears in July and the Durango water fishes well on caddis and terrestrials into September.
Fall: the strongest season, low clear water, brown trout coloring up and steady dry fly and streamer fishing.
Winter: cold and low with a limited but productive midge fishery on the town r