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New Mexico | Aztec / Farmington
Animas RiverCedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Boyd Park landing
The full American Whitewater Class I–II Cedar Hill–Farmington run to Boyd Park, about 28 miles with three named public bailouts along the access chain.
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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
A documented long corridor trip with three public bailouts and one listed BLM primitive campsite.
Access map
Put-in
Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp (water-entry edge)Use only signed public water-entry edges at Cedar Hill, Aztec Riverside Park, Penny Lane, Animas Park and Boyd Park.
Take-out
Boyd Park public landing (water-entry edge)The three intermediate landings are route shortening options; verify their current access and parking before launch.
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 Boyd Park public landing (water-entry edge) is about 28.1 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only signed public water-entry edges at Cedar Hill, Aztec Riverside Park, Penny Lane, Animas Park and Boyd Park.
- The three intermediate landings are route shortening options; verify their current access and parking before launch.
- This 28-mile route can exceed daylight for some craft and parties. Split the trip or take out early if pace, weather, flow or fatigue changes.
Watch for
- Exposed rebar at Animas Ditch near mile 28.6
- Farmers Ditch near mile 34.6; scrapey below 1,000 cfs
- Long distance, cold water, fast rises, strainers and private-bank boundaries
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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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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Route gallery
Photos
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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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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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| 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 Boyd Park (mile 55.0): about 28.1 miles; American Whitewater reports 28.4 miles
Aztec publishes the public endpoint coordinates and river-mile markers; Riverside Park, Penny Lane and Animas Park are named intermediate landings. American Whitewater independently describes this as the Cedar Hill–Farmington City Park Class I–II run.
- 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; Animas Ditch and Farmers Ditch hazards
Aztec lists the BLM site and the exposed-rebar and low-water diversion hazards. Follow current BLM rules and scout/portage.
- Route overlap reviewFull Cedar Hill–Farmington public access-chain option
The longer route includes the Cedar Hill–Riverside trip and all the public access pairs to Boyd Park. It matches American Whitewater’s documented 28.4-mile corridor and preserves three intermediate bailouts as a distinct full-trip choice.
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 Boyd 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 Boyd 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 Boyd Park public landing (water-entry edge), about 28.1 river miles by Aztec guide markers; American Whitewater lists 28.4 miles on the water.
Is the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Boyd 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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