1 Day from $169
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Overview
Spring fever comes early on the Merced River, located near historic Yosemite National Park. In April and May, the river flows fast and cold as the snow melts in Yosemite National Park, all while passing poppy-covered hillsides and burly pine forests. The Class III-IV whitewater you’ll tackle on a Merced River rafting trip is the stuff of avid paddlers’ winter daydreams. For the rest of the California whitewater rafting season, the Merced churns with bold wave trains and exhilarating rapids which are ideal for rafters of all levels. Consider combining a Merced River rafting one-day trip with a day or two spent exploring adjacent Yosemite National Park for the perfect California adventure vacation.
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Itinerary & Map
9.4 miles northeast of Mariposa on Highway 140
(Look for our signs 1.3 miles north of Midpines Post Office on your left.
If you miss the turnout, you can turn around at the entrance to the Yosemite Bug Hostel, .4 miles down the road)
GPS Coordinates: 37.576327,-119.947695
9:00 AM
Information for this Merced River rafting trip Mile-by-Mile guide was gathered from the books “California Whitewater” and “A Guide to the Best Whitewater in the State of California,” as well as from a variety of sources on the Internet.
RIVER ACCESS. Put-in (start) of OARS Merced River Whitewater Rafting trips. The Cedar Lodge, one of three Yosemite lodging accommodations located just outside the national park’s Arch Rock Entrance on Hwy 140 in El Portal, can be seen from this point on the Merced River.
SOUTH FORK MERCED. The South Fork of the Merced enters the river here. This is a splendid hike to consider either prior to or after your OARS Merced River Rafting trip. There is often an incredible display of spring wildflowers, which is worthy of a visit.
NED’S GULCH (IV). There is a very small turn-out on Hwy 140 where onlookers can view boaters run this ‘staircase’ rapid. A large eddy at the end of the rapid provides a place to regroup and watch other boaters maneuver the rapids from river level. (An eddy is an area of usually calm water behind or downstream of an obstruction in the main current, such as a rock, where water flows counter to that of the main current.) There are easy, splashy Class II rapids for the next six miles.
Briceburg. Take out. Hot/cold drinks and a return shuttle to your vehicle await at the take-out of your OARS Merced River rafting trip.* Hwy 140 leaves the river here, heading toward Mariposa. There is a bridge that crosses the river and continues downstream for the next five miles. There is also a dirt road that climbs up and out of the canyon leading toward Coulterville and Groveland. Driving this road is not advisable – it is very steep, narrow, often severely rutted and extremely remote.
SPLIT ROCK (IV) There is a very large boulder in the middle of the river.
CORNER POCKET (IV) The river makes a very sharp right turn, and most of the current pours into a very large hole against a rock wall.
Railroad Flat Campground. Take out. Hot/cold drinks and a return shuttle to your vehicle await at the take-out of your OARS Merced River rafting trip.*
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O.A.R.S. West, Inc. operates on the Merced River under authorization from the Bureau of Land Management
We respect and recognize that many of the river canyons on state and federal lands where we operate are the ancestral homes of indigenous communities. Where we operate on the Merced River from Cedar Lodge to Railroad Flat, we acknowledge the territories of the Southern Sierra Me-wuk.
Reviews
“In over 10 years of Rafting, we had some of the best water I’ve seen. Also, your guides were among the best we’ve ever had.”
-Gerald E Melahn ~ West Dundee, IL.
“Excellent Guide, Ryan. Told great stories, kept it entertaining, great lunch meal, we got to experience surfing, the 360 degree turn, got some education on how to read the water & the current Excellent! He made our trip fantastic and a great time!”
-Jenny Yang ~ Lake Forest, CA
“Steve the guide was excellent. The ages of our group ranged from 9 to 72 years old and everyone had fun. The special attention to engage the children was especially nice.”
–Deena Smith ~ San Diego, CA
“I have been on about 8 different river rafting trips and this was one of the best.”
-William Krechowski ~ Merritt Island, FL
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