Glacier Bay National Park Photo Gallery

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Difficulty: Class V

Season: May through August

Trip Length: One to three days

The Animas is a long river, flowing from high in the San Juan Mountains to its confluence with the San Juan River in New Mexico. In its upper reaches, the Animas rampages at walloping Class V for miles through the Animas Gorge. This is a river that tests both technique and endurance. Another gorge farther on stops action: Its unrunnability requires the boater to either walk away or take the train that runs along the river. The Animas eventually calms down to a bouncy Class I above Durango.