Looking for a good campsite on your Merced River rafting trip? There are several excellent options for camping along the Merced as it flows downstream outside Yosemite National Park. Guests on spring and summer rafting trips often choose to overnight at nearby campgrounds before or after their rafting expedition. This article focuses on campgrounds located outside…
Springtime is waterfall season in Yosemite National Park. The snow pack and warming temperatures create a spectacular display of flowing water. Yosemite’s waterfalls usually reach their fullest capacity in May of each year as snow in the high country is melting, this can vary depending on each year’s accumulated snow pack and spring weather conditions….
Beer and rafting go way back. In the 1970’s, Schlitz Beer commissioned some local talent for a commercial highlighting the exciting world of whitewater rafting. It features Sierra Mac founder Marty McDonnell, as well as Joe Daly and Dick Linford of Echo River Trips. Still looks like a lot of fun. So go ahead, Make…
All New Yosemite Resort Looking for deluxe lodging or an outstanding restaurant before or after your rafting trip? The new Rush Creek Lodge has it all. This brand new contemporary resort is located on Hwy 120 just minutes from both Yosemite National Park and Sierra Mac River Trips’ meeting spots for our Cherry Creek /Upper…
Sierra Mac River Trips was the first commercial outfitter to lead rafting trips on both the Main Tuolumne (1969) and Merced rivers. In 1973 owner Marty McDonnell pioneered rafting on the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne section, upping the bar for class V rafting in California. Rivers have always attracted adventurers, and the urge to paddle down…
The storm systems that have been impacting the Sierra continue to bring record-breaking precipitation, with some areas seeing as much as 14 feet of snow in the last 2 weeks. Yosemite issued a mandatory evacuation on the 7th, the Merced River in Yosemite Valley reached flood stage, above ten feet on the gauge at Pohono…
Fishbio is a fisheries and environmental consulting company dedicated to advancing the research, monitoring, and conservation of fishes around the world. One of their recent projects included an extensive study of the Tuolumne River which provides drinking water for nearly 2.5 million people in the Bay Area. Fishbio chose Sierra Mac River Trips as their…
This rafting season offered its share of rafting excitement. Our guests experienced excellent flows on the Merced, Tuolumne and Cherry Creek. High water hit around Memorial Day when the Main Tuolumne peaked at around 8000 cfs. As summer progressed, upstream reservoirs provided ample flows for trips through Labor Day weekend. The 100th Anniversary of the…
Most of the rafting photos that you see on our website were shot by the photographers of Picture This/Rapid Shooters. Owner Mark Leder-Adams has been shooting California rivers since the 1980’s, first on the American River and its forks, then later focusing his lens on the Kern, Merced, Tuolumne, Kings and Cherry Creek. Mark, along…
We reflect with gratitude on a truly great spring and summer of rafting. Thank you to everyone who joined us on the Merced, Tuolumne, and Cherry Creek this season. There were so many golden days we lost count. Days full of sunshine, laughter, excitement and sparkling whitewater. We appreciate the opportunity to share these great…
Welcome to Sierra Mac River Trips at Colfax Spring, a peaceful ridge-top retreat just 15 minutes from the Highway 120…
🎣 New Fishing Adventure on the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River! 🎣 We’re thrilled to introduce an unforgettable new way…
Tuolumne River Boating Access Is In Jeopardy! Please HELP! Lumsden Road as of April 5th 2023 Effective Lobbying Efforts ~>Join…
Rafting the Rivers of Yosemite
Marty & Tom McDonnell – Outfitter
