Thanks to significant winter storms, excellent flows are expected for 2016 Yosemite rafting trips. When you’re choosing a trip it’s important to consider the overall needs of your group. Ask yourself a few questions; How many days can you spend on the river? Will there be young kids along? What time of year will you be traveling? What parts of the park will you be passing through and visiting? Consider your group’s previous paddling experience and abilities. Luckily, there are lots of Yosemite rafting trip options to choose from.
The Main Tuolumne – California’s Classic Multi-Day Rafting Adventure
Tuolumne rafting trips offer incredible scenic beauty, exciting rapids and a journey through a wilderness canyon that few get to experience. Suitable for age 10 and up, the Tuolumne is perfect for families and groups seeking a multi-day whitewater and wilderness experience. Rapids like Clavey Falls and Nemesis make this trip challenging and fun. Private sandy beach camps and side canyons with hidden swimming spots make overnight trips a real adventure. The Tuolumne’s location makes it a natural choice for travelers to Yosemite National Park. Our meeting area is just 15 miles from the Park’s Crane Flat Entrance station on California State Hwy 120. Upstream reservoirs provide water on the Tuolumne all summer long. Trips run daily April thru September.
Cherry Creek – Ultimate Excitement
Are you a thrill-seeker? Is your group ready to tackle one of the best whitewater challenges in the US? Then look no further. Sierra Mac pioneered this wild section of whitewater and opened it to commercial rafting. Now thousands of visitors have been able to share this extreme class V experience. Cherry Creek rafting will satisfy and amaze even the most experienced paddlers. Out guides know this river intimately and are privileged to share it with guests. Paddling this section of river demands an appropriate level of ability and fitness, including a mandatory white water training seminar to prepare you for the trip. Cherry Creek isn’t for everybody, but if you long for the ultimate, you won’t be disappointed. Minimum age for Cherry Creek is 15 years.
Combination Trips – Combine a Day on Cherry Creek with additional days on the Tuolumne
You can combine the Class V excitement of Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne with 1 or 2 days (& nights) on the Class IV Main Tuolumne for a total of 27 river miles. These combination trips allow you to experience all the adrenaline of Class V followed by a couple of days and nights on the Class IV Tuolumne. Overnight trips in the Tuolumne Canyon are magical. Camp on beautiful remote private beaches, and enjoy a swim or a glass of wine while our guides prepare delicious riverside cuisine. Find out why this is called California’s best river trip.
Merced River Rafting
Whitewater rafting trips on the Merced River begin a few miles outside of Yosemite’s Arch Rock Entrance near the town of El Portal where the river parallels the course of State Hwy 140. Here the river maintains a steady gradient punctuated by sparkling rapids and long wave trains. The Merced can be rafted as a half-day or full-day trip. It is a good choice for travelers with a limited time frame and those with younger children. Minimum age here is 10. Because there are no upstream dams on the Merced its season is limited to the period during spring runoff. Trips usually run April thru June.
Yosemite Valley Float
If whitewater and rapids are not your cup of tea, there is a much milder alternative. In late spring and early summer visitors to Yosemite can rent rafts to float down a short section of the Merced river as it flows through Yosemite Valley. Trips are self-guided and bring you within site of Yosemite Falls and the majestic El Capitan. Rentals are available through Park concessionaire. For more information, visit their web page.
