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CALIFORNIA WHITEWATER
RAFTING
ADVENTURES
Since 1982, over
100,000 Happy Guests & Growing!
Perfect for Adventuresome First-time &
Experienced Rafters
"The Merced
was awesome--great rapids, beautiful scenery, wonderful guides! I can't wait
'til next year!" D. H.,
San Francisco, CA
Merced
River Raft Trip Details
River
Description
Two-Day Trips
One-Day
Trips
Trip Dates and Prices
View our Merced Video Listen To What Our Customers Have To
Say
Central California, One hour east
of Merced, near Yosemite
Difficulty: Class III-IV, Intermediate:
Medium Intensity Whitewater
Available Many Days, Late April through
July (or August, depending on snowpack).
Trips: 2 DAYS: 29 miles; 1
night of camping, 4 meals
1 DAY: 18 miles, lunch included
Minimum Age: 14
years old
This enchanting whitewater river flows out from the
western entrance of Yosemite National Park. Centuries of glacial and volcanic
action and erosion have created a fascinating deep river canyon for our raft
trips. The Merced River descends from the waterfalls of Yosemite Valley in
successive leaps, producing stretches of exhilarating whitewater wave trains,
technical challenges and steep gradient drops. Yet this river also offers many
opportunities for just laying back in the boat, relaxing and enjoying the
forest scenery while the current takes us down the river.
The Merced River is one of the last
free-flowing rivers in California, with water flow based on the melting snow
pack. As a result the exciting Merced is rafted in the spring and early summer
when the snow, melting in the warm sun, fills the deep river canyon with
exhilarating whitewater. The hills are green, the wildflowers abundant, and new
plant life is springing up from the winter's snows.
Adventuresome Intermediate River
We consider this river a solid
intermediate run. Previous experience is recommended, though an adventurous
first-timer in good condition will surely have a great time! The season is
determined by the depth and melt of the High Sierra snow pack; MARIAH
WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS provides wetsuits for our early season runs. The river
offers beautiful scenery and lots of fun and thrills for a wonderful outdoor
experience into the warmer early to mid-summer months. Plan to visit Yosemite
following your exciting river adventure!
Two-Day Trips
We meet the morning of your trip in the
El Portal area on Highway 140 just West of Yosemite and drive a short distance
to our put-in.
The Merced is intense and challenging from the start, with many Class III and IV rapids in the first nine miles. At mile seven we reach Ned's Gulch, a pure-fun Class IV rapid which begins with a series of standing waves, each coming toward you at an angle and building in size, andculminating in one big wave and a deep drop. We'll have a picnic lunch on the riverbank and continue the day's run in the early afternoon.
The next nine miles offer enjoyable Class II-III rapids until we reach Split Rock and Corner Pocket, both exciting solid Class IV rapids. When we reach our overnight campsite in the late afternoon we will ferry your overnight gear across the river to our wilderness camp. While your guides prepare a hearty, nutritious meal you can enjoy the remote river canyon, followed by a glowing campfire and a good night's sleep under the stars.
On the second day if the water is excessively high we will shuttle back upstream to repeat our previous day's exciting run. With moderate water levels we continue rafting down river, enjoying good rapids leading up to Quarter Mile--a stretch of tough and exciting Class IV rapids that call for precise manoeuvering. We then have a short and fairly easy portage around North Fork Falls, a 25 foot waterfall, rewarding ourselves with lunch and an easy float to our take-out at Lake McClure. We then drive back to our meeting spot and your car. You'll have an opportunity to purchase souvenir T-shirts and photographs before heading out for your next adventure.
One-Day Trips
Join us for an exciting day on the river. We meet you
at 8:30 a.m. after breakfast (on your own) and drive to the put-in. We raft the
upper 18 miles of the Merced, running many exciting Class III and Class IV
rapids. We stop for a hearty lunch on the riverbank and finish the day's
adventure, taking out just below Corner Pocket rapid for the
return to our meeting place and your car.
Prices |
Mariah Home |
MARIAH WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS
P.O. Box
70248
Point Richmond, CA 94807
Voice (510) 233-2303 Fax (510)
233-0956
Reservations (800) 462-7424
rafting@mariahwe.com