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New Mexico | Aztec / Farmington

Animas RiverCedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Aztec Riverside Park

A documented 12.5-mile Animas day run from the new public Cedar Hill ramp to Aztec Riverside Park, with Class I–II water and two diversion structures to scout or portage.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 12.5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 5–8 hours in daylight
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Animas River at Aztec, New Mexico, near the Cedar Hill to Riverside Park route takeout.
Route photoAnimas River at Aztec near this route’s downstream end; river context, not current conditionsPhoto by Tyson Hatch / U.S. Geological Survey New Mexico Water Science Center

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 12.5 river milesCedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Aztec Riverside Park
DifficultymoderateAmerican Whitewater describes the broader Cedar Hill to Farmington run as Class I–II. The longer trips still require a full daylight plan, diversion scouting and readiness to portage.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Aztec Riverside Park, then shuttle to the signed Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp. Confirm current ramp and park hours and use the marked water-entry edges.
PermitsCheck posted rulesThe county ramp and Aztec Riverside Park are public access facilities. Follow posted site rules, New Mexico boating law and any current county or city notices; no private-bank entry is included.
CampingOptions nearbyAztec’s river guide labels Animas 8 on BLM land at guide mile 33.7 as a camping location within this reach. Confirm current BLM camping and fire rules before using it; no other riverbank camping is claimed.
SeasonApr-JulSpring runoff is the best documented window. Check the selected direct USGS station and trend, rainfall, weather, sediment and access notices before launch.

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 full daylight day trip between a county boat ramp and a city park, with a named BLM camping location available along the reach.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use the new Cedar Hill County Boat Ramp by the 550 Bridge, not informal bank pullouts or adjacent private parcels.

Finish

Take-out

Aztec Riverside Park public landing (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Use the water-entry edge at Aztec Riverside Park and confirm the posted gate or park hours before staging.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use the new Cedar Hill County Boat Ramp by the 550 Bridge, not informal bank pullouts or adjacent private parcels.
  • Use the water-entry edge at Aztec Riverside Park and confirm the posted gate or park hours before staging.
  • The access guide lists two diversion structures and a BLM camping site inside the reach; verify conditions and rules locally.

Watch for

  • Animas Ditch diversion and exposed rebar near mile 28.6
  • Farmers Ditch diversion near mile 34.6; scrapey below 1,000 cfs
  • Cold water, fast rises, changing debris, private banks and reduced daylight

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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Route gallery

Photos

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The Animas River at Aztec, New Mexico, near the Cedar Hill to Riverside Park route takeout.
Animas River at Aztec near this route’s downstream end; river context, not current conditionsPhoto by Tyson Hatch / U.S. Geological Survey New Mexico Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey: Public Domain

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 below Aztec, NM
DischargeChecking
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24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
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Rain last 24hChecking
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Air tempChecking
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor700 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
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Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreAmerican Whitewater Cedar Hill to Farmington trip report
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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.

  • Public on-water endpoints and mileageCedar Hill 550 Bridge ramp to Aztec Riverside Park; about 12.5 river miles

    San Juan County confirms the completed public boat ramp; Aztec’s river guide marks the Cedar Hill access and Riverside Park water-entry coordinates.

    Source

  • Gauge check recorded during route review700 cfs minimum planning cue; 900 cfs observed on the trip

    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.

    Source

  • Access hazards and campingTwo diversion structures and BLM Animas 8 campsite

    Aztec’s access guide identifies the Animas Ditch rebar hazard, the Farmers Ditch low-water scrape and an Animas 8 campsite on BLM land.

    Source

  • Safety and telemetryPFD, current flow, portage, cold-water and private-bank controls

    Review current USGS flow, county access notices and state paddlesports safety guidance before departure.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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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 milesAztec Riverside Park to Penny Lane landingAztec / FarmingtonModerate · About 7.3 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

San Juan RiverBlanco public access to Vereda del Rio public launch · about 15 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 11.9 river milesSan Juan RiverBlanco public access to Among the Waters Park public access · about 15 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 28.8 river milesSan Juan RiverNavajo Dam public launch to Blanco public access · about 17 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 17.5 river milesSan Juan RiverNavajo Dam public launch to Vereda del Rio public launch · about 17 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 29.4 river miles

Quick answers

Animas River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Aztec Riverside Park route on the Animas River?

Paddle Today watches Animas River below Aztec, 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 Aztec Riverside Park 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 Aztec Riverside Park public landing (water-entry edge), about 12.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Aztec Riverside Park 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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