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See all 10 routes on Animas River

New Mexico | Aztec / Farmington

Animas RiverAztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landing

A public Aztec-to-Penny Lane Animas paddle trail with moving water, a named ramp and a documented 600 cfs rafting floor.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 7.3 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 3–5 hours with diversion scouting and shuttle margin
ShuttleCar shuttle
Paddlers rafting on the Animas River near Farmington, New Mexico.
River contextFamily rafting on the Animas River near Farmington; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Visit Farmington

Need to know

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 7.3 river milesAztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landing
DifficultymoderateFarmington describes these as recreational paddle trails, but the Animas includes moving water, a modified Penny Lane diversion, additional diversion structures, cold water and changing debris. Scout every feature.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named public landing, then drive to the upstream landing. Allow extra time for scouting and diversion portages.
PermitsNone notedNo special private-boater permit is listed for these city and county landings, but New Mexico boating law, park rules and land-boundary restrictions apply. Confirm current notices.
CampingDay tripNo overnight river camping is included. Use established campgrounds or lodging near Aztec or Farmington; do not camp on private or tribal banks.
SeasonMar-OctSpring runoff and managed releases are the best windows. Check the Penny Lane gauge, release trend, weather, sediment and current park notices before launching.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A public Aztec-to-Penny Lane Animas paddle trail with moving water, a named ramp and a documented 600 cfs rafting floor.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Aztec Riverside Park public landing (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only the named public landings and keep vehicles in designated parking.

Finish

Take-out

Penny Lane public boat ramp (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Penny Lane and other diversion structures require a current visual scout and may require a portage.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the named public landings and keep vehicles in designated parking.
  • Penny Lane and other diversion structures require a current visual scout and may require a portage.
  • Respect private property, bridges, fishing areas and city park hours.

Watch for

  • Cold water and changing release levels
  • Penny Lane diversion and downstream features
  • Strainers, fences and bridge clearance

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Route gallery

Photos

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Paddlers rafting on the Animas River near Farmington, New Mexico.
Family rafting on the Animas River near Farmington; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Visit Farmington
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Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteAnimas River at Penny Lane near Flora Vista, NM
DischargeChecking
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24h trendChecking
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor600 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Main source behind this scoreFarmington Animas and San Juan paddle trails
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NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named landing and distanceAztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landing; 7.3 miles

    Farmington publishes the landing-to-landing distance; the Aztec guide supplies the public water-entry coordinates and feature sequence.

    Source

  • Scoring floor600 cfs minimum planning cue; 900 cfs target

    Farmington says the Animas is too low for rafting below 600 cfs. Verify current gauge, craft suitability and local conditions.

    Source

  • Direct telemetryUSGS 09364200 Animas River at Penny Lane

    Direct gauge near the selected corridor; recheck discharge and trend before departure.

    Source

  • Safety and campingPFD, diversion/fence portage, public landings and nearby basecamp

    New Mexico State Parks warns of low-head dams and strainers; this catalog does not assume riverbank camping.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in New Mexico

All 38 routes
New Mexico route guideBrowse every tracked New Mexico route.Aztec / FarmingtonJump to routes in this region.

More on Animas River

All 10
Animas Park landing to Boyd Park landingAztec / FarmingtonModerate · About 5.5 river milesAztec Riverside Park to Animas Park landingAztec / FarmingtonModerate · About 12.8 river milesAztec Riverside Park to Boyd Park landingAztec / FarmingtonModerate · About 18.3 river milesCedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Animas Park landingAztec / FarmingtonModerate · About 24.7 river miles from Aztec guide river-mile markers

Nearby routes within 75 miles

San Juan RiverVereda del Rio public launch to Among the Waters Park public access · about 9 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 16.9 river milesSan Juan RiverVereda del Rio public launch to Westland Park public river access · about 9 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 19.14 river miles via Among the Waters (16.9 + 2.24 mi from published access guides)San Juan RiverVereda del Rio public launch to Kirtland Lions Park public river access · about 9 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 24.64 river miles via Among the Waters and Westland Park (16.9 + 2.24 + 5.5 mi)San Juan RiverBlanco public access to Vereda del Rio public launch · about 13 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 11.9 river miles

Quick answers

Animas River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Aztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landing route on the Animas River?

Paddle Today watches Animas River at Penny Lane near Flora Vista, NM and uses 600 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does the Aztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landing route on the Animas River start and end?

This route starts at Aztec Riverside Park public landing (water-entry edge) and ends at Penny Lane public boat ramp (water-entry edge), about 7.3 river miles on the water.

Is the Aztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landing route on the Animas River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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