Quick Tips
- Fly fish Animas River
- Use quality optics
- Be bear aware around campsite
On The Ground
Terrain
Vegetation
Access
Camping and Lodging
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December 2024
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The Animas River flows south from its headwaters near Silverton to the Durango drainage is one of the most pristine areas of the Weminuche Wilderness. The alpine basins and drainages support a growing herd of mountain goats.
Male and female mountain goats have horns over 9” with a 10” Billy harvest by a bow hunter in 2012. Rifle hunters have specific portions to hunt within this area, while archery tag holders have the whole unit to hunt.
The steep mountain peaks found in this unit are Eolus, Sunlight and Windom Peaks which all rise above 14,000 feet, with many other peaks reaching above 13,000 feet. The Animas River cascades rapidly from Silverton to Durango with Needle, Ten Mile, Ruby, No Name and Pigeon Creeks all adding snow melt to its flow. Chicago, New York, Vallecito, Spencer and Royal Tiger Basins all sit from 10,000 to over 12,000 feet. Noted ranges consist of Needle, Grenadier and Mountain View Crest.
Pristine alpine basins offer a wide variety of wildflowers, perennial grasses, mosses, lichens and barren ground willows. Below timberline forests of spruce, fir, pine and grassy parks surrounded by dark timber are found. Aspen, cottonwoods, oak brush, ponderosa pine, mountain mahogany and willows can be found at lower elevations.
San Juan National Forest provides many improved campsites. Durango offers a variety of motels, hotels, cafes, restaurants, medical facilities, regional airport and fuel options. Silverton has a limited number of motels, restaurants and gas or diesel.
Roughly 803 square miles
78% public land
Elevations from 6,507-14,087 feet
County Road 501 off U.S. Highway 160 leads to Vallecito Lake. Old Lime Creek Road follows the Animas River from Cascade Creek along U.S. Highway 550 and just south of Andrews Lake. County Roads 2 (Animas Forks Road), 4, 110 and 52 east of Silverton lead to mining shelf roads on private and BLM lands. The San Juan National Forest contains Weminuche Wilderness Area. Entry into the wilderness is by foot or horseback.
Weminuche Wilderness information and restrictions
Needle Creek Trail - Chicago Basin