Learn to Packraft!

Turn the blue lines on maps into trails! And acquire the packrafting skills you need to embark on your own adventure. From 9:30a.m.-4:30p.m. over two days, you’ll learn to packraft, including how to read rivers, paddle techniques and so much more. You’ll paddle up to Class II rapids. As well, we’ll teach you what you need to know to enhance your existing backcountry skill set. Courses run late April through July, river flows dependent.

This no-frills beginner packrafting course takes place entirely in Durango, Colorado, on the Animas River. You don’t need any experience to take this course. Email us to sign up!

What’s Included in this Learn to Packraft Course

An open Alpacka Classic, helmet, PFD and paddle. Instruction, permits, shuttle.

What’s Not Included

This course does not include lodging, food or a drysuit. And you must have a drysuit for this course, as the water is snow melt and quite cold and you’ll be practicing self-rescue (aka wet re-entry skills). Rentals are available at 4CornersRiversports.com or with a 15% discount through BackcountryPackrafts.com. You’ll get the discount code once you pay your deposit. Visit our Calendar of Scheduled Tours.

Price: $650

A 25% deposit is required to secure your space. Another 25% deposit is required within 90 days of the course. And we will need the remaining balance 30 days prior to your course. If you are registering inside of the 30 day window, the remaining balance is due immediately.

Minimum age: 18

Instructor: Thad Ferrell is a Level 3 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructor. An early adopter of packrafting and life-long cyclist and bikepacker, Thad has accomplished some ground-breaking, multi-week climb-bike-packraft adventures in the desert Southwest. He is also an expert fly fishing guide.

Course Details: What You Need to Know:

We base our learn basic packrafting skills instructional courses on confidence and skill progression. You’ll start slowly. And then we’ll push you a little harder as we go, tailoring the experience to your own personal abilities.

For Beginner to Intermediate courses, you’ll learn a wide variety of skills, from the basics to more advanced river reading techniques:

✓Equipment use & care
✓Swimming and general water confidence
✓Self-rescue & buddy assistance
✓Dealing with currents
✓Aggressive & defensive swimming position
✓Decision making
✓Hazards & river dynamics
✓Basic paddle strokes
✓Using eddies
✓River Commans
✓Spacing on the River

About The Animas River

We spend a lot of time spent on the Animas City Kayak Play Park. And we’ll do various sections of the Animas to and from the play park.
Length of Play Park: 1.25 miles
Length of Daily Adventures: 5 to 8 miles
Gradient: 30ft/mile
Difficulty: Class II III at 500-2000 CFS, Class III to IV 2,000 CFS and up.
High Water Flows: May-July
Flow: below 500cfs is low; 1,000-2,000cfs ideal for this course. Water Flow please see water levels
Length of Play Park: 1.25 miles
Length of Daily Adventures: 5 to 8 miles
Gradient: 30ft/mile
Difficulty: Class II+ III at 500-2000 CFS, Class III to IV 2,000 CFS and up.
High Water Flows: May-July
Flow: below 500cfs is low; 1,000-2,000cfs ideal for this course. Water Flow please see water levels

Full 2023 Packraft Course Schedule:

✓April 15-16—2-Day Learn Basic Packrafting Skills – Course is Full
✓April 21-23—3-Day Learn Basic Packrafting Skills – No Frills
✓April 28-30—From Paddle Strokes to Multi-Day Adventures: 3-Day Learn to Packraft – No Frills
✓May 5-7—2-Day Intermediate Packrafting (includes night of the 5th at the Ranch)
✓May 13-14—2-Day Learn Basic Packrafting Skills – No Frills
✓May 25-29—5-Day Beginner/Intermediate Whitewater Packrafting Course
✓June 2-4—3-Day Learn Basic Whitewater Packrafting Skills
✓June 3-4—2-Day Learn Basic Packrafting Skills – No Frills
✓June 6-11—5-Day Packraft Expedition Training & Advanced Paddling Skills Course
✓June 14-18—5-Day Beginning/Intermediate Whitewater Packrafting
✓June 24-25—2-Day Intermediate Packrafting Course

Click here for a schedule of Utah Packraft courses to Dark Canyon and the Colorado River.

Email us for details.Visit our Instructional Course – Packrafting page for more details on the curriculum for all our courses.

Cancellation Policy

Please review our cancellation policy, which you will find on our Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy Page.