Cherry Creek-Upper Tuolumne Information

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WELCOME

Welcome to Class V, the ultimate challenge in white water rafting! Having pioneered commercial Class V river trips on Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne, we at Sierra Mac are excited to share these thrilling adventures with you. It is important to realize that these trips are intense and demanding passenger participation experiences, particularly on the paddle boats, and that a successful Class V run depends on you and your boat team. Have a look at our Cherry Creek Video to get an idea of what to expect.

GETTING THERE

We meet in the parking lot of Sierra Mac Headquarters at 27890 Highway 120, 13 miles east of the town of Groveland. If coming from the west, after you pass Buck Meadows look for the Vista Point/Rim of the World overlook on your left, followed by Packard Canyon Road on your right. We are just beyond on the north (left) side of the road. If you are coming from the Yosemite area, we are about ½ mile beyond the Cherry Lake Road. Pay attention--our place comes up quickly!

Driving time from the Bay Area is about 3 ½ hours; from Manteca, about 1 ½ hours; from Los Angeles, about 7 hours; and from Yosemite’s northwest entrance gate (Big Oak Flat), about 25 minutes. We can also arrange local pickups at the Pine Mountain Lake Airport for travelers arriving by private plane.

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Meeting Place and Time

• Sierra Mac River Trips Headquarters - 27890 Highway 120, Buck Meadows, CA 95321
• We meet at 6 am unless otherwise specified.
• If you will NOT be available by phone before your trip, contact our office at 209-591-8027 within 48 hours of meeting time to reconfirm logistics.
• Be on time or you may forfeit your trip! If you are late, call us ASAP at the above number. Cell phone coverage is spotty and unreliable along Highway 120. If you need to contact us you may have to stop and use a land line.
• Internet mapping systems (Google, MapQuest, GPS) incorrectly locate our meeting place and often direct travelers to take much longer and circuitous routes. Reconfirm driving directions with a standard map from AAA or other source.

Please be on time! If you are delayed, notify us by phoning our office at (209) 591-8027.

GETTING READY

Each trip begins with an energy breakfast, followed by wet suit, helmet and floatation vest fitting and an extensive two-hour white water seminar which includes training in swiftwater swimming, navigation and safety techniques. If, in our opinion, you are not ready for this rigorous experience following the training seminar, you will be asked to return to the shuttle van. (In this case you will receive a 50% refund.)

Sierra Mac provides helmets in addition to white water flotation vests for Class V passengers. Wet suits will be provided by Sierra Mac. High energy snacks and drinks are provided during the trip with a delicious dinner at trip's end.

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WHAT TO WEAR

• Wet suit (mandatory)
• Shorts and/or swimsuit under wet suit
• T-shirt
• Tennis shoes (sandals do not protect your feet)
• Ball cap
• Sunglasses (with tie-on)

Cool Weather River Attire

• Wool, silk or synthetic layer under wet suit
• Rubber splash jacket (provided by SMRT)
• Wool or neoprene socks
• Wool hat or ball cap

WHAT TO BRING

For overnight trips, pack light and compactly. Each person will receive a 3.8 cubic foot dry bag for storing his or her belongings-about the size of a 30-gallon plastic trash bag.

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Camping Gear (rentals available)

• Sleeping bag Air or foam mattress
• Tarp
• Tent or tube tent (optional)
• Personal Gear
• Comfortable clothing
• Nylon shell jacket
• Underwear
• Extra tennis shoes or sandals
• Socks
• Sweater and/or jacket
• Towel
• Toiletries, Kleenex, etc.
• Flashlight (one for each person)
• Flashlight batteries (packed separately)
• Extra plastic bags Day Bag (Ziploc plastic)
• Camera & film
• Sun block
• Lip ointment
• Plastic water bottle or canteen

Optional

• Rain jacket and pants
• Fishing license and gear (hard shell case)
• Snorkel & face mask
• Reading material
• Journal & pen
• Cards or games
• Extra beer, wine, soft drinks or favorite evening libations (no glass except wine; we'll pack these for you. SMRT provides some beer, wine and juice.)

 

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LODGING

We recommend the following locations for lodging and camping on our Tuolumne River trips:

Century 21 Pleasant View Properties condo and home rentals	866-350-7372
Evergreen Lodge rustic lodge, restaurant, bar	800-935-6343
Groveland Hotel historic inn, restaurant, bar	800-273-3314
Hotel Charlotte small, historic, restaurant	800-961-7799
Remax Loreen Borup condo and home rentals	877-962-7180
Yosemite Ridge Resort cabins for 4 to 8 people, restaurant	800-706-3009
Yosemite Rose bed and breakfast	866-962-6548
Yosemite Westgate Lodge new motel, restaurant, pool	800-253-9673
Lillaskog Bed & Breakfast Most spectacular view of the Sierras	209-962-1818
Blackberry Inn Bed & Breakfast Bed & Breakfast	888-867-5001
Alpenglo Inn Bed & Breakfast	209-962-4541

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CAMPING

Yosemite Pines RV Park: Facilities available at RV Park include RV rental, camping, pool, phone and showers. Reservations are available by phoning 209-962-5042

Pine Mountain Lake Campground: RV park & camping, showers. 209-962-8615

US Forest Service campgrounds: East of Groveland, on Highway 120 in the Buck Meadows area near the meeting place, are US Forest Service campgrounds Pines, Lost Claim and Sweetwater. They do not take reservations. Information is available from the US Forest Service office in Groveland at 209-962-7825.

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RESTAURANTS

Groveland Hotel Fresh seasonal California cuisine	209-962-4000
Hotel Charlotte, Groveland	209-962-6455
Iron Door Bar & Grill, Groveland	209-962-6244
Buck Meadows Restaurant, Buck Meadows Closest place to east near La Casa Loma, heading east towards Yosemite	209-962-5181
Cocina Michoacana, Groveland Mexican Dining in downtown Groveland	209-962-6651

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SANITATION/HYGIENE

Primitive rest rooms are available at the meeting place as well as at the embarkation point. At camp, we provide portable toilets and request that everyone use them. Our guides will describe appropriate hygiene procedures that minimize our impact on the river environment.

CAMPFIRES

You are welcome to sit around and enjoy the fires built in the commissary area. Fires elsewhere are prohibited, and extreme caution with matches is imperative.

WEATHER

During the summer you can expect hot days and warm nights. Spring and fall weather is generally mild. Rain showers can occur at any time: bring suitable rain gear (see What to Bring). Feel free to phone us for last-minute local weather projection information or check here for current weather.

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OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

• Columbia State Historic Park
• Railtown State Historic Park, Jamestown
• Sonora Pass on Highway 108
• Tioga Pass on Highway 120

Yosemite National Park Yosemite Reservations: 209-252-4848
Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau: 209-533-4420
Yosemite Chamber of Commerce:

209-962-0429
(800) 4 HWY 120
(800) 449-9120
info@groveland.com

An up-to-date calendar of events and news from Tuolumne County is available online from the Sonora Union Democrat newspaper.

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