Merced River Rafting

The Merced begins on the highest point in Yosemite (like the Tuolumne) and flows over huge waterfalls before meandering through Yosemite Valley. After the Merced River leaves Yosemite, there is a long section of fun Class III and Class IV rapids. The Merced is nice because you can do any type of run that you want as there are a number of good put-ins and take-outs.

Where is it?

The Merced River follows Highway 140 between the town Mariposa and Yosemite Valley. It's just over three hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, and about and hour from it's big brother, the Tuolumne.

What are the rapids like?

You'll want to run the Merced when the snow is melting if you like big water rapids. When that happens, the rapids are fairly straightforward with big,fun waves and exciting holes. Many people think that high water Merced trips are more fun than high water Tuolumne trips because you can run down the middle of the rapids. When the river is low, the rapids aren't all that exciting and the flat water sections will annoy those of you that need entertainment. The best way to have fun at low water is to run the technical rapids of the lower section.

Why the Merced?

This may very well be the best day of rafting when it's high due to the big waves and more than pleasant scenery. Don't forget that the Merced is so close to Yosemite, so this is the perfect thing to do in conjunction with a weekend in Yosemite. The Merced also makes a good warm-up for those that want to try the Tuolumne at higher water.

Merced River Rafting News