Animas

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.

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.

The first rapid in Rockwood Box

Flow based off of USGS Animas at Tall Timbers

View from the railroad tracks down
into the Rockwood Box.

Tacoma Station

One of the last rapids.

One of the last rapids.

Put in near train bridge.

Looking upstream from the take out.

Just above Red Wall

Birdseye of Red Wall / Ski Jump. Start center, work left.

Looking down into the gorge.

One of the last rapids. Not sure if it's named or not. At around 500cfs or so, there is a nice boof river center.

Walk In