Animas River Days returns to the Durango Whitewater Park on Saturday with a high flow of river fun, including riversports competitions, advocacy for environmental responsibility and celebration of all things whitewater.
Animas River Days started in 1983 when Durango-based kayaker Nancy Wiles put on a whitewater rodeo, according to Visit Durango. The event has since grown to balance community and competitive events over the late-May weekend, event organizer Ashleigh Tucker said.
“It’s an awesome event for everyone,” Tucker said. “There are vendors, there are nonprofits there, there is lots of activities to do – there’s something for everybody.”
Tucker said many of the festival’s classic events will return, such as the whitewater kayak and canoe slalom races or the freestyle kayaking, fly casting accuracy and river surfing competitions. The events draw competitive boaters from across the country who display their skills over the course of the weekend.
“Generally, we get about 100 athletes,” Tucker said.
But this year will also include new events, largely aimed at making the best of a low-water year.
Saturday will feature the Smelter Slam Ball, wherein paddlers run the Smelter rapid holding a basketball and try to send it through a hoop below the rapid.
On Sunday, intrepid boaters will be able to take part in the Big Ball Race, where teams of two try to get two yoga balls down the Santa Rita whitewater park. Later, the teams of two will compete in the mass-start Hot Dog relay, where the first team to successfully make if through the park and reach the announcer’s box will eat a hot dog and tag their teammate at the top of the course win.
“All events have a men’s, a women’s and junior category, which is 14 and under,” Tucker said. “They’ll have different levels that you can participate in, trying to get everyone out there paddling. There’s (also) money on the line for every event.”
Animas River Days is also a stop on the Jackson Kayaks Fun Tour, Tucker said. On Friday, professional kayakers will offer free youth and women’s-specific paddling clinics as well as free all-inclusive freestyle kayaking classes.
Additionally, Tucker said, all proceeds raised through a weekend-longonline auction will go to a scholarship program that enables kids to learn how to kayak at the Four Corners River Sports Paddle School. In 2026, seven children were able to utilize the scholarship, which Tucker hopes will inspire a lifelong love of the sport and rivers.
According to Animas River Days’ website, the online auction is open now.
“One of my favorite things with the paddle school is teaching kids how to correctly and appropriately be on the water and to know the safety aspects of a river,” Tucker said. “It’s really beneficial for kids to learn at a young age, and hopefully they can bring that home, and tell their parents about it too.”
The community-focused events cut to the core of what the festival was started for, Tucker said. The goal is to bring as many people as possible out to the river to celebrate one another and the Animas River itself, a Class III river running freely through the heart of Durango.
“I think our community loves the Animas so much in all different ways,” Tucker said. “It brings everybody together to help celebrate the river. Just come down and have fun.”
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit animasriverdays.com.
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