RAFT the UPPER ANIMAS RIVER, RIDE the RAILROAD, and EXPLORE the RUINS TRIP

JUNE 25-28, 2009 & JULY 9-12, 2009

$750 per person

This spectacular 4 day trip gives you the opportunity to experience the excitement of white water rafting, enjoy the scenic beauty of Colorado while riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and explore the infamous Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings

Ride the rapids!
Enjoy the fresh mountain air!
Ride the railroad!
Explore the ruins!
Have a BLAST!

For only
$750
you get all of this:

Transportation to and from
Durango, CO *

3 nights accommodations at a comfortable hotel in beautiful Durango.
(double occupancy)

Transportation to the
Upper Animas River via the Durango & Silverton Railroad.

The ride of your life through the spectacular Upper Animas River Gorge.

Train ride back from the river through the heart of Colorado’s largest wilderness area.

Full day exploring the spectacular Mesa Verde ruins

Visit to magnificient Canyon de Chelly


* Program originates from Casa Grande, AZ,
Other pick up / drop off  points can be arranged

Exploring the intriquing Pueblo cliff dwellings is only part of the pleasure!

Enjoying the revitalizing beauty of the 14,000 ft. peaks is also part of the delight!

We pick you up* and transport you to beautiful Durango, CO through the splendid Navajo reservation.  After a brief gathering to discuss what to expect on the river, you spend the night in a comfortable, modern hotel room.
 
The next morning, after breakfast, we shuttle out of Durango to the Rockwood train station where we enjoy the tantalizing views of the gorgeous wilderness aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.  After approximately an hour onboard the train we disembark at Needleton and head to the river.
Then the experience escalates!  We raft 13 miles of the most spectacular and entertaining whitewater in Colorado in oar-style river rafts conquering non-stop class II and III rapids with intermittent class IV and one class V rapid.  Thirteen thousand to fourteen thousand-foot peaks rise from the banks of the river and cascades and waterfalls pour into the river as we tackle the exciting rapids. The life-changing voyage is topped by another train ride back.

On day three we will explore the amazing Mesa Verde ruins where large cliff dwellings still cling to the walls of the canyons. Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. We will view ruins such as Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House, and provide you with the opportunity to hike into and experience these Ancestral Puebloan sites.

After returning to the comfort of the hotel we'll retire for the night refreshed but tired and ready for the return trip after breakfast in the morning, stopping at Canyon de Chelly on our way home.

* All trips originate from Casa Grande, AZ.  Other embarkment places can be arranged during registration process.

Desert Wildlife Presentations is an educational company which specializes in teaching the importance of flora and fauna by helping people to understand the wonders of nature through hands-on experiences.

Desert Wildlife Presentations HOME page.

Desert Wildlife Presentations

340 W. Calle Rosa

Casa Grande, AZ 85222

520-510-9500

 Click here for HAVE A BLAST TOURS home PAGE

and more exciting trips!
Desert Wildlife Presentations takes care of every aspect of this memorable trip with an experienced naturalist leading the dazzling journey.