Animas River Fishing
4.2 Gold Medal miles in La Plata County.
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Arriving on the Animas River: what it is like
The Animas River, a river, drains part of La Plata County. Under a mile separates the mapped point from Durango. Gold Medal designation covers roughly 4.2 miles.
Special regulations cover 3 reaches, roughly 39.8 miles. Walk in from Santa Rita Park. USGS runs 3 active gauges on it.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The Gold Medal section of the Animas River
| Gold Medal reach | Miles |
|---|---|
| Lightner Creek to Rivera Crossing bridge | 4.2 |
Not every mile of the Animas River is Gold Medal; the table names the reaches that are.
CPW Gold Medal Streams layer (reach miles computed from the line geometry) and the Gold Medal list in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 3, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Regulated sections of the Animas River
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Rivera Crossing Bridge / Confluence with Lightner Creek | 4.19 | rule in the CPW brochure |
| New Mexico state line / Rivera Crossing Bridge | 19.65 | see CPW brochure |
| Confluence with Hermosa Creek / Confluence with Lightner Creek | 15.96 | see the brochure entry |
The atlas maps where each regulated reach of the Animas River starts and ends; the rule itself is the brochure entry for the water.
What the brochure says about the Animas River
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| From the confluence with Lightner Creek to the Rivera Crossing Bridge: Artificial flies and lures only. | Bag, possession and min. size for trout is 2, 16 inches long. | p. 11 |
| From the confluence with Hermosa Creek downstream to the state line: | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. | p. 11 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
CPW special fishing regulation and Quality Waters layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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- Santa Rita Parkpublic property
Public parcels on the Animas River come from the CPW atlas property names.
CPW Fishing Atlas fishing location property names and Quality Waters access notes, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Species in the Animas River
This list for the Animas River joins CPW Quality Waters species, records and stocking; it is not a full survey.
CPW Quality Waters species, state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
How hard the Animas River is running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Animas River At Durango, Co | 1,290 cfs, 3.68 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:30 pm |
| Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango, Co | 1,500 cfs, 4.85 ft gage height | Nov 12 12:00 am |
| Animas River Near Cedar Hill, Nm | 1,700 cfs, 6.17 ft gage height | Nov 12 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Watch the Animas River gauge after storms and during runoff, when wading gets risky.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; Animas River At Durango, CO, Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango, CO and Animas River Near Cedar Hill, Nm.
Where the Animas River runs
Expect to hike to the Animas River; no access point is on file.
Backup boat ramps near the Animas River
- Pastorius Reservoir SWAPastorius Reservoir, 6 miles
- Haviland Lake SWAHaviland Lake, 19 miles
- Vallecito Reservoir boat rampVallecito Reservoir, 20 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Harvest rules for the Animas River
| Species | Bag and possession | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Smallmouth bass | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts the Animas River west of the Continental Divide. Statewide numbers apply on the Animas River wherever no reach rule is posted.
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado limits.
When CPW stocked the Animas River
The Animas River has 4 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (2 in 2026, 1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest August 7, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 7, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 26, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| November 7, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| September 10, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Around the Animas River on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near the Animas River
- Pastorius Reservoir6 miles
- Lemon Reservoir15 miles
- Henderson Lake19 miles
- Haviland Lake19 miles
Stores that stock up the Animas River trips
- San Juan Anglerfly shop, Durango, under a mile
- San Juan Anglersfly shop, Durango, under a mile
- Duranglersfly shop, La Plata, under a mile
- Anasazi Angler Incfly shop, Hesperus, 14 miles
Hiring a guide for the Animas River
- Duranglers, Inc.fishing guide, Durango
- Fish and Fungi LLCfishing guide, Ignacio
- Fisher Guide Servicefishing guide, Bayfield
- Cole Glenn Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Durango
- Durango Fly Fishing LLC.fly fishing guide, Durango, (970) 799-5246
- Heads Up Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Ignacio, (970) 984-8433
Nearest towns to the Animas River
- Durangounder a mile
- Bayfield16 miles
- Mancos24 miles
Rivers within reach of the Animas River
- Deep Creek, La Plata County9 miles
- Castle Creek10 miles
- Hermosa Creek12 miles
- Clear Creek, La Plata County15 miles
the Animas River on the county pages
Piscifun gear to pack for the Animas River
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A camera tour of the water by Animas River
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
The Animas River, question by question
Where in the state is the Animas River?
It runs through La Plata County.
Does the Animas River have special trout rules?
Yes: about 4.2 miles are Gold Medal water.
Is the Animas River wadeable right now?
The band above carries 3 USGS gauges.
How do Colorado anglers get down to the Animas River?
Try Santa Rita Park.
What is the trout limit on the Animas River?
3 reaches follow their own rules, listed above. CPW prints: Bag, possession and min. size for trout is 2, 16 inches long.
Is a CPW license required to fish the Animas River?
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
How far is the nearest shop from the Animas River?
San Juan Angler (under a mile).
Which sport fish does CPW tie to the Animas River?
CPW sources name trout.
Which town works as a base for the Animas River?
Under a mile away is Durango.
Are catchable trout put in the Animas River?
4 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (2 in 2026, 1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest August 7, 2026.
Plan a float or wade on the Animas River
Check the gauge and reach rules before you go.