See all 10 routes on Animas River
New Mexico | Aztec / Farmington
Animas RiverCedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp to Penny Lane landing
A long Class I–II Animas day trip from the Cedar Hill county ramp to the Penny Lane boat ramp, with Aztec Riverside Park as a documented intermediate bailout.
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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
A long day trip with a named mid-route public bailout and a listed BLM primitive campsite.
Access map
Put-in
Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp (water-entry edge)Use only the signed Cedar Hill County Boat Ramp, Aztec Riverside Park and Penny Lane public water-entry edges.
Take-out
Penny Lane public boat ramp (water-entry edge)Riverside Park is about 12.5 river miles below Cedar Hill and is the named bailout; confirm its 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 Penny Lane public boat ramp (water-entry edge) is about 19.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use only the signed Cedar Hill County Boat Ramp, Aztec Riverside Park and Penny Lane public water-entry edges.
- Riverside Park is about 12.5 river miles below Cedar Hill and is the named bailout; confirm its current access and parking before launch.
- Scout the Animas Ditch and Farmers Ditch structures; respect private banks and posted access boundaries.
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, rising flow and limited exits
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 Penny Lane near Flora Vista, 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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Short-route forecast
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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 Penny Lane near Flora Vista, 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 |
| 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 Penny Lane (mile 46.7): about 19.8 miles
Aztec provides coordinates and cumulative river-mile markers for both water-entry access points; Riverside Park is a mapped intermediate landing at mile 39.4.
- 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 bailout
This route contains the Cedar Hill–Riverside segment and continues to the independently mapped Penny Lane landing; it is presented as a longer trip choice, not separate new 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 Penny Lane landing route on the Animas River?
Paddle Today watches Animas River at Penny Lane near Flora Vista, 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 Penny Lane 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 Penny Lane public boat ramp (water-entry edge), about 19.8 river miles by Aztec guide mile markers on the water.
Is the Cedar Hill 550 Bridge County Boat Ramp 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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