Animas River

The Animas River is a river in the western United States, a tributary of the San Juan River, part of the Colorado River System.

The Animas River rises high in San Juan Mountains of Colorado at the confluence of the West and North forks at the ghost town of Animas Forks and flows south past the ghost towns of Eureka and Howardsville. At Silverton, the river flows into the Animas Canyon. The Durango and Silverton Narrow gauge railroad follows the river through the canyon to Durango. From Durango the river flows south into New Mexico through the town of Aztec to its confluence with the San Juan River at Farmington.

The only major tributary of the Animas River is the Florida River which confluences just north of the Colorado - New Mexico border.

The Animas is a freestone fishery well populated with rainbows and browns and a few cutthroat and brook trout. Fly fishing the Animas is available year-round due to moderate winter weather.

Farmington's River Corridor has over 5 miles of interconnecting walking paths along the Animas River.

At it's beginning, the Animas River is a swirling torrent. It comes hurtling out of the peaks above Silverton, Colorado, and plunges over 2,000 feet in the next 30 miles.

By the time it reaches Farmington, the Animas is tame. Dropping only about five feet per mile, the river welcomes open canoes and novice rafters.

Numerous rocks and boulders, bridges, holes, swift water, shoreline brush.

Steady insect hatches of midges and beatis occur In the winter and spring months. In late spring, summer and through fall the Animas is alive with caddis, PMDs, tricos and hoppers. Animas trout are strong and average between 12 to 16 inches. Larger trout in the 17 to 22 inch class are also available for the anglers willing to put in the time.

Sight nymphing, stripping streamers and casting dries to these wild and planted fish make it a fantastic wade or float fishing.