2025 Season: April-June
Trip Options: 1-Day
Who Should Go:
Adventure-SeekersDifficulty: Class III-IV |
Exciting Lively Whitewater Meet Place:
Midpines, CA
(45 min from Yosemite Valley)
Per-Person Rate: $209 - $229
Usual Min Age:
12 years old (90 lbs)Ready for fast-paced whitewater and front-row views of spring in the Sierra?
Continuous Class III-IV rapids fueled by Yosemite snowmelt
Big-wave fun and splashy excitement from start to finish
Scenic canyon views and wildflower blooms along the way
Easy add-on to your Yosemite National Park visit to catch the world-famous waterfalls
Great for adventurous first-timers and seasoned paddlers alike
Fueled by a steep gradient and few obstacles to hinder a raft’s momentum, the Merced River packs nonstop fun into one thrilling day on the water.
Indian Flat put-in to Railroad Flat take-out described below*
Your trip starts with a quick Class IV treat--Cranberry Hole Rapid. From there, a fast long succession of rapids gives you the chance to hone your whitewater paddling skills on their gigantic Class III wave trains. Once we reach our most challenging rapid--Class IV Ned's Gulch--we'll break for a quick snack and scout the rapid from shore.
After you've successfully navigated the intimidating obstacles in Ned's Gulch, we'll stop for lunch and dry out on a warm nearby hillside. Once you've boarded your raft again you will enjoy an easier section of Class II-III whitewater that leads to the grand finale, three miles of exciting Class III-IV rapids.
*The itinerary above may be altered due to a range of variables, including river flow levels, time of year, and other factors. Our standard trips run from Indian Flat put-in to Railroad Flat take-out. Occasionally river conditions on the day of the trip dictate running trips from Red Bud put-in to Railroad Flat take-out, or from Briceburg put-in to Bagby Reservoir take-out. Contact us if you have any questions.
Midpines Store (Also known as Midpines Food & Gas)
6428 Highway 140
Midpines, CA 95345
Note: If you plan to use a GPS navigation system or online mapping service, please use in conjunction with the driving directions we provide.
9:00 am for most trips
This time may change. Please refer to the information sent to you in your Trip Confirmation email, check with your group’s organizer, or contact our office. Plan to be on time; guests that arrive late may miss their trip.
Traveling EAST on Hwy 140:
The Meet Place is 7 miles east of the Mariposa Hwy 49/140 junction.
Traveling WEST on Hwy 140:
The Meet Place is 35 Miles west of the Hwy 140 Yosemite Park Entrance.
NOTE: The most direct route from the San Francisco Bay Area is east on Hwy 580 to 205 to 99 to 140. The most direct route from Southern California is Hwy 5 to 99 to 140.
We encourage you to print and use our driving directions and not rely strictly on GPS navigation. GPS / cellular service is limited to nonexistent in outlying areas.
Knowing what to wear, what to bring, and what's provided makes trip planning smooth and easy. Find all the essential details for a comfortable and well-prepared experience on the river.
What to Wear & BringAll-Outdoors usually runs paddle-rafts on the Merced River. In a paddle-raft, each guest and a professional guide have a paddle and navigate the river, working as a coordinated team. Merced trips are highly participatory so guests need to be ready and willing to paddle. In times of extreme high water, we may elect to use oar-paddle combination rafts (a professional guide steers the boat with oars while simultaneously calling commands to paddlers in the boat). All guests should be able to swim.
The Merced is the closest a river can come to being like an amusement park ride. Rolling waves and speedy currents characterize its rapids. There are very few rocks to avoid, just large hydraulics. Normally on 1-Day trips, we raft a 16-mile section of the upper Merced. This lively section starts off fast for the first six miles, slows down in the middle section, and speeds up again in the final miles. You'll find your time is spent laughing as you sail over waves that are almost cartoon-like in their height. This is definitely a favorite run of many whitewater enthusiasts.
Clear waters flow through an open and grassy canyon
Protected by the federal government as a National Wild and Scenic River, the Merced has its headwaters in the heart of Yosemite. With such magical beginnings, it's no wonder the Merced is such a beauty. The river's broad, sweeping canyon is home to oak and pine trees and majestic grassy hills. In the spring, golden poppies, purple lupine and fragrant wild irises explode in color on the green hillsides. Near the river, a roadway follows the canyon line. At times during your trip, you'll hear the cheers of onlookers who have stopped to watch our raft navigate the clear blue waters.
The Merced is a free-flowing river. This means there are no upstream dams controlling its flow. So when the snow in the mountains begins to melt, the Merced begins to flow. Flows usually peak between mid-May and early June, and should become too low for rafting by early July.
* Season length, river flows, and days of water releases may vary. For this year's flow predictions and real-time water levels go to the River Flows page.
We provide a gourmet "build-your-own" sandwich lunch that includes all the fixings you’ll need to assemble the perfect sandwich along with kettle style potato chips, dried fruit, and chocolate. Enjoy your relaxing, riverside meal before heading back out on the water for more adventure.
If you have special dietary requirements, we encourage you to tell us at the time of your reservation so we can discuss options.
Make it a group adventure to remember. Whether you’re organizing a weekend with friends or planning a company-wide retreat, we specialize in hosting exciting, well-organized rafting trips for groups of all sizes. On the Merced River we can accommodate groups as large as 50 people.
Choose the option that best fits your group:
Looking for a deal? We offer several ways to save on your rafting trip - whether you’re rafting with kids, planning a group rafting trip, or just hunting for the best value. We also have exclusive offers for returning rafters!
Start here to find the best deal for your next California whitewater adventure. Please note that only one discount can be applied per person and must be mentioned at the time of reservation.
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