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Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing

Riverside holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing

Animas River House
Animas River only a few feet from the font door
Welcome Home!
Entry way, with enormous wood burning stove.
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 11278.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Dalton Ranch Golf Club
  • Place, Fort Lewis College
  • Place, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
  • Airport, Durango, CO (DRO-La Plata County)

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Downstairs suite

1 King Bed

Upstairs bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs family room/ bedroom 5

3 Single Beds

Upstairs suite

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Guest

Toilet

Main suite

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs Suite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing

Rustic river comfort with endless outdoor possibilities.

Located only a few miles north of downtown Durango, and 20 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort, this home sits on 22 beautiful riverside acres in the Animas River Valley. Snowplow on-site and driveway will be plowed first thing in the morning so you can be first in line to ski powder. This is a fantastic place for families or groups of friends to enjoy a few days in nature surrounded by the nearby rusty red foothills, snow capped peaks, and the landscape dotted with cottonwoods. If you’re relaxing indoors, the many windows offer amazing views from all sides of the house. We love our home as a comfortable yet adventurous getaway, and we hope you will too!

There are 5 bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms, and the house sleeps 11 comfortably. Sleeping arrangements include 2 king beds, 2 queen beds, and 3 singles. The kitchen is fully equipped with a large comfy dining table, breakfast bar, and everything you will need to prepare gourmet meals to enjoy at our dining table or on the riverside porch. There is a full size washer and dryer as well as a full size refrigerator with ice maker. The spacious wrap around porch includes a porch swing, day bed, outside dining setup and gas grill that overlooks the river and large trees, one with a rope swing.

Additional features include a semi-circular 10 person couch, gas fireplace, 65 inch screen TV in the living room, a kids/entertainment room upstairs with a 55 inch screen TV, a wood burning stove in the entry way, and high speed WiFi and internet. The basement includes a game room complete with a ping pong table.

About the property: The Animas river flows along the East side of the property, and the grassy slope behind the house is a good place to put in your rafts, kayaks or canoes. There is a small oxbow pond where deer, elk, and birds congregate at dusk and dawn. Feel free to wander the path cut in the grass—it leads to a small beach at the southern end of the property. The popular Durango to Silverton steam engine runs parallel to the nearby road during daylight hours, a fun sighting for kids and adults alike.

About the area: Durango is an adventurer’s haven at every time of year! Summer is full of river sports, fishing opportunities, hiking and biking, all accessible right out of the front door. Historic downtown Durango is a 10 minute drive, where you can shop, dine out, or hop on the 1880’s Durango to Silverton Railroad. For those visiting in the winter, Purgatory ski resort is only 20 minutes away. James Ranch (grass fed burgers and live music) is just up the road, as is Durango Hot Springs.

Bedrooms:
#1: King Bed
#2: King Bed
#3 Queen Bed
#4 Queen Bed
#5 Three Single Beds (can be used as a bedroom or entertainment area)

Property caretakers live onsite for most of the year. Cooking and/or grocery shopping services may be available upon request. If interested, please inquire for price and availability.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 26
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Durango

Located in Durango, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Perins Peak State Wildlife Area and Animas River reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and James Ranch. Travelling with kids? Consider Durango Discovery Museum and Historic Tram Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Durango, CO

What's nearby

  • Durango Hot Springs Spa - 2 min drive - 3.0 km
  • Dalton Ranch Golf Club - 4 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Fort Lewis College - 10 min drive - 11.4 km
  • Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - 12 min drive - 13.6 km
  • Animas River Trail - 12 min drive - 13.6 km

Getting around

  • Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad Station - 10 min drive
  • Durango, CO (AMK-Animas Air Park) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tom’s Deli - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Pop Sushi Durango - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Circle K - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Animas River House - 22 acres of Riverfront with Amazing Views-20 mins to skiing located?

This family-friendly Durango holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 2 mi (3 km) of Animas River and Durango Hot Springs Spa. Dalton Ranch Golf Club is 2.1 mi (3.3 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 89 out of 94 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 94 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 94 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 94 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 94 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cathy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good home base

Our extended family (eight adults) stayed for five nights. The house was just north of Durango with a large pasture and access to the Animas River. We loved sitting on the wraparound porch and watching the trains roll by several times a day. The location is excellent for hiking and day trips to Mesa Verde National Park and steam train rides. The sheep and very friendly llamas were a hit with our group and added to the pastoral feeling of the property.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Gathering

An amazingly comfortable property with amazing views.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daisy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Location and beautiful home

Perfect get away for the family!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nicole M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place to stay!

We really enjoyed our time at Animas river house! We stayed there while visiting our daughter at Fort Lewis for the weekend. The proximity to town and campus was perfect! The house was large enough for the whole family to enjoy themselves! Everything was clean and well kept. We will definitely stay here again while visiting. Thank you for the great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Denise L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best VRBO, outstanding host

The home was meticulous. It had everything we expected. It was clean, well stocked, comfortable and the perfect place to end our 2 week vacation in Colorado. The host was exceptional. We definitely would stay here again. We can’t recommend it enough.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amelia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

love

This is a beautiful property conveniently located close to downtown Durango and Purgatory Ski Resort. We really enjoyed our stay
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Escape to the Mountains

We loved staying here! The house was the perfect size for 12 of us. We had plenty of sleeping room and room to spread out. The porch is amazing and we spent almost all down time on the porch, looking at the river. Our highlight was getting to interact with the sweet llamas!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very Convenient to Fun

Very nice place to stay - close to town but still away from the business of town. Well stocked kitchen, deck all around to enjoy the scenery and relax. We all loved our stay. The hostess was very responsive to our needs. Only improvement I can suggest, is to have some method of marking entrance from road, so night approach can be easier. would stay there again for our next family get together.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

GAZI M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

We enjoyed very much our stay in this beautiful house. We surely come back we were seven adults and two children and everybody was very happy with the house.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sariah L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

5/5 Stars!

We had an amazing stay at the Animas River House! The location is unbeatable – right on the river with beautiful views and peaceful surroundings, plus it’s conveniently close to hiking trails and shopping. The house was spotless, well-equipped, and felt like a home away from home. We loved the reverse osmosis water system throughout the whole house! We especially enjoyed the ping pong table, the large outdoor patio, and relaxing by the fire pit in the evenings. Our hosts were incredibly responsive and helpful. We can’t wait to come back! Highly recommend this gem for a perfect getaway.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

RubY F., Port Lavaca Texas 77979

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best of everything

We absolutely loved our stay! We were able to sit on the porch and watch the train go by daily, it’s just a short drive to town, and we even got to see elk sitting on the porch! Jim and Rita were wonderful hosts! Make sure to walk down to the beach area! We would 100% stay here again! There was something for everyone!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

scott u.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful house with amazing views

My hockey team stayed in this house over the weekend and everyone was blown away. Comfy couches nice porches great views and very clean. Host was very friendly and accommodating! 10/10 would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan S., San Antonio

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Don’t miss this one!

Great house. We were so close to Durango and all the ski areas. Wildlife watching was great along with bird watching if that’s your thing. Great restaurants were really close and part of our group went to the hot springs and spa. This is a fantastic house with all the amenities. Perfect for families and large groups. We had a great time and will return.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Gretchen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Thanksgiving Family Trip

The house was great, clean and well equipped. Hosts were accommodating and responsive. I did not give 5 stars as I do think the listing needs to be updated to clarify that the caretakers live directly next door (within ~75yards of the house) and have multiple buildings/trailers/barns on the property so its not as private as it appears in the pictures. There was a construction project and crew onsite for the length of our visit (excluding the Holiday itself) which was less than ideal and should have been communicated to us in advance in my opinion. In addition, the wood burning stove is highlighted in the description and photos as a big draw, but guests are prohibited from using it, which was disappointing to learn upon arrival.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Kent H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Early August in Durango

Nice place, totally met our needs. Didn't realize property was so close to the road, and road noise was "a thing." River was nice, paths could have been more manicured to allow for walking the property. Also was notified after we booked that owners are on property and construction is taking place as well, no interference, just should be stated up front. Fishing here was fun for casting, but not so much for catching as river was very murky on account of all the rain. No complaints really, close to downtown, and very nice overall.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family vacation!

Our family gathered for a 7 day holiday in Durango. We ranged in age from 12 months to 75 years - 6 adults & 4 children. The house accommodated all of the various age related needs beautifully. It was clean and well equipped. We had all our meals at home. The surrounding property was beautiful and allowed plenty of “play” space for the children. Because of the proximity of the river and the ages of the children (12months, 2 1/2yrs, 4yrs, and 7yrs) constant adult supervision was necessary. The lovely, spacious, and covered porch was a fabulous oasis for all ages. The owners are immediately proximate to the house which was helpful when we had a minor mechanical issue but are otherwise totally nonintrusive. Durango offers activities for all ages and ability levels, though the altitude was an issue for some as we were coming from homes at sea level. The weather was fabulous - a cool welcome respite from the hot Texas & Louisiana weather we were escaping. One note - CO charges 10 cents a bag for a grocery bag (plastic or paper) so bring your own reusable bags or remember to save the bags you have already paid for.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Bryan M.

Good and Bad

Upon arrival we noticed we never received check in instructions. We had to contact the host to receive these. Thankfully she picked up and emailed the instructions right away. The good. Nice and spacious house with everything needed for our stay. Location a little far from town but beautiful property surrounded by the mountains and on river. The property has the potential to be amazing. The bad. The house is infested with kissing bugs or box elder Beatles. There were about a hundred in the house, all over and especially in the master. This is a problem and made the stay uncomfortable. This needs to be addressed and not mentioning this ahead of time is not right. There was black mold in the upstairs bathroom on the ceiling above the shower. The toilets clogged several times. The washing machine had a sulfur smell when I went to wash clothes on the last day. We reached out to the host the day before checkout with concerns and didn’t receive a response until after checkout. VRBO did not offer compensation either after our complaint. Will not stay here again unless everything was resolved.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location, Beautiful House

We had a great time and really enjoyed Durango and the house. Gorgeous scenery all around, and the house was very comfortable for our two families of four. The beach area was very nice, make sure to go down there and check out the views.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Josh M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely Incredible Stay on the Animas River!Our time at the Animas River House was Fantastic.. 22 acres of prime riverfront, this property offers a great escape to enjoy the outdoors and the river. The house itself is beautifully maintained and well-equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The interior is spacious, clean, and thoughtfully decorated—perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. We especially loved waking up to the sound of the river and enjoying our morning coffee on the deck overlooking the water.The outdoor space is truly something special. With a private access beach the river, Whether we were fishing, swimming or just hanging on the beach every moment felt peaceful and rejuvenating.The location is also ideal—close enough to town for convenience, but far enough away to feel like a true retreat. The hosts were friendly, responsive, and made sure we had everything we needed for a perfect stay.The owner are onsite, but never intrusive or around. They are there if you need them but leave you alone if you don’t. I would recommend Animas River house if you are looking.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edwin R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Durango

Kitchen was well stocked with all necessary cooking items. Great counter space. Amazing porches for extra seating.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible Spot

Rita Jo's home is exceptional in all ways! It was a perfect accommodation for our multi-generational family of 11. The layout and room amenities worked very well. We appreciated having multiple king and queen beds for our couples. The children loved sleeping in the upstairs lounge. The beds are perhaps the most comfortable I've ever experienced in a vacation rental. The kitchen is well equiped - it has everything needed to prepare meals for a group. Parking is ample - there is garage space for 2 vehicles with extra space in the driveway. The location and view are incredible - steps from the Animas River with views up and down the valley.Rita Jo's hospitality helped make our stay so special. She is very kind and friendly, and responds quickly to texts and emails. Check-in and check-out were a breeze. On a side note, the llamas, sheep, and lambs were so much fun for the kids to visit. We definitely will rent The Animas River House again when our family returns to Durango.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chad J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spacious Stay in Durango

Great property with lots of room to spread out. We are 2 families with 5 teens. Two masters were great for the adults and the 2 additional bedrooms plus upstairs great room with additional lounging/bedding provides a lot of space. Ping Pong table in basement a plus. Well equipped kitchen and amazing porches. Helpful and Kind but not obtrusive owners on the 22 acre property were a positive, in our opinion.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

GAZI M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Súper agradable

Muy contentos y muy cómoda la casa. Solo nos faltó la nieve
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Toni Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Polar Express

Our family came to Durango for the weekend to ride the Polar Express. Finding a house that has enough bedrooms and space for our family is hard, but this house was perfect. The kids loved seeing the animals on the property. Everything was so comfortable!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linda E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pleasant stay on the Animas river property

Myself and our family had a very pleasant stay at the Animas River property. The younger ones enjoyed skiing and snow tubing, while us older folks enjoyed the scenery and a few trips into town.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

About the host

Hosted by Rita Jo Anthony

Host profile image

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests