| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 118 fpm |
| Permit | SikBirds |
| Gauge | Animas River at Tall Timber Resort Above Tacoma,co |
| Flow Rate as of 34 minutes | 295 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 23, 2026 |
Colorado River Access American Whitewater’s Colorado River Access Program works to improve river access and public safety throughout the state by working with landowners and managers, paddlers, law enforcement, and lawmakers to understand Colorado’s river access laws and the ongoing threats to public safety. Our primary goals of this [...]Read More
Rockwood box is the most commonly run canyon in Durango, it is a great slicey lap at lower water and joyous boxed in big water feel at high water. It is also the end of the Upper Animas if not taking out at Tacoma by train (as most rafters do). Unless paddling in on the Upper Animas, hiking is the only access the Putin. Check the train schedule here: https://durangotrain.com/ride-us/ to see when trains are running and do not hike when there will be a train passing through the canyon. The tracks are narrow and there have been issues with train staff and kayakers as you are trespassing. Please be mindful as we cannot lose access to this gem. Legal access exists by hiking down from Haviland Lake and adds a fun mile of paddling. Take the exit to Haviland Lake. Drive around the lake and then go right and look for a dirt parking lot. The trail starts at the hiking parking lot and is a pleasant albeit steep trail down to the river. The trail line is available on cal topo, see screenshot in gallery.
about 1/4 miles below a train bridge, walls build and the canyon tightens. Mandatory thrashing is the first main rapid, it is difficult to scout from the tracks so boat scouting is best at lower flows, and at high water it can be scouted by getting out on river left at the end of a long straightaway below the bridge. By climbing up the cliff. At low water right is the traditional line although you can run left as well. There is a sieve crack in the middle that should be avoided. At medium water 1k-2k, there is an excellent boof river right that provides the best line. Above 2k center left begins to open up. Excellent quality read and run rapids continue for another miles or so before a beautiful short section of flatwater with polished walls. Just below there is redwall, run down the center left and avoid the obvious sieve far left. Below is some great boogie then a steeper rapid named either the guardian or your mom. At
...After a quick warm-up you're in the gorge. This rapid is not easy to scout but from the top of the wall, you can see most of the rapid except for the crux move. At low-med levels, go right of the big rock that sits right-of-center, with left angle. At upper medium flows, 1600cfs, you can boof straight over this rock. Carry speed.
Look for the Red Wall and then stay off it
Aug 7, 2023
I did this run at around 250-300 cfs. I was in a packraft and my friend was in a playboat. He mentioned that running it around 500 cfs seemed a bit easier. Don't be intimidated the the class 4-5 rating, at lower flows this is class 3+. Mandatory Thrashing can easily flip you but there is nice recovery just below it. I reccomend scouting rapids so you don't take the wrong line, but overall it's pretty chill and fun for an intermediate boater. If you are tired of the whitewater park and want something a bit more adventurous, it makes a great late season after work run.
Jun 3, 2021
Don't let these IV rapid ratings fool you... at higher flows, above 2,500, Mandatory Thrashing gets more challenging... and at 5,000 CFS it can easily turn into a very long ride (or swim). You don't want to swim here, period. Especially not at high flows. People have died... more than once doing that.
It is most definitely an overall V at medium flows, and a V+ at 5,000 or above.