See all 10 routes on Animas River
New Mexico | Aztec / Farmington
Animas RiverCedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Animas Park landing
An approximately 24.7-mile Class I–II Animas trip from Cedar Hill to the Animas Park landing, with Riverside Park and Penny Lane as documented intermediate bailouts.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
An exceptionally long access-pair option with two mapped public bailouts and a listed BLM primitive campsite.
Access map
Put-in
Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp (water-entry edge)Riverside Park and Penny Lane are named intermediate bailouts, not guaranteed emergency exits; verify both remain open and usable.
Take-out
Animas Park public landing (water-entry edge)Use only signed public launch and takeout edges; respect private banks and posted park hours.
Road shuttle
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Access planner
Choose your launch and take-out
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) to Animas Park public landing (water-entry edge) is about 24.7 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Riverside Park and Penny Lane are named intermediate bailouts, not guaranteed emergency exits; verify both remain open and usable.
- Use only signed public launch and takeout edges; respect private banks and posted park hours.
- A 24.7-mile moving-water day can exceed available daylight; shorten at either named bailout when pace, flow or conditions warrant.
Watch for
- Animas Ditch exposed rebar and Farmers Ditch low-water scrape
- Cold water, fast rises, strainers and bridge approaches
- Long distance, limited roadside assistance and reduced daylight
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Animas River at Farmington, NM. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
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.
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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Animas River at Farmington, NM |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 700 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Cedar Hill to Farmington trip report |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- Public access and distanceCedar Hill (guide mile 26.9) to Animas Park (mile 51.6): about 24.7 miles
Aztec publishes the river-mile markers and landing coordinates; Riverside Park at mile 39.4 and Penny Lane at mile 46.7 are named intermediate access points.
- Gauge check recorded during route review700 cfs community planning floor; 900 cfs observed trip reference
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Camping and hazardsBLM Animas 8 campsite; two diversion hazards
Aztec lists Animas 8 on BLM land and identifies exposed rebar at Animas Ditch and low-water scraping at Farmers Ditch.
- Route overlap reviewLonger access-pair option with Riverside Park and Penny Lane bailouts
The route combines documented shorter access pairs and ends at the independently mapped Animas Park landing; it is offered as a long trip choice and adds no distinct corridor mileage.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler 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.
Quick answers
Animas River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Animas Park landing route on the Animas River?
Paddle Today watches Animas River at Farmington, NM and uses 700 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Animas Park landing route on the Animas River start and end?
This route starts at Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp (water-entry edge) and ends at Animas Park public landing (water-entry edge), about 24.7 river miles from Aztec guide river-mile markers on the water.
Is the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Animas Park 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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