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Merced River Rafting >
1-Day Trips
A Paddle Adventure on the Merced River
SPECIAL NOTE: Alas, because the snow that feeds the Merced River has melted, our 2010 rafting season on the river has come to a close. We will be up and running again mid-March, 2011
Trip Overview
- 16 miles of river
- Class III - IV+ whitewater
- Lunch on the river included
- 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley
Our most popular Merced Whitewater River Rafting Trip, our 1-day rafting trip covers 16 river miles and includes a great deli lunch. During high and normal water levels, we raft from Indian Flat to Railroad Flat, stopping for lunch along the way. During low water, the last 2 weeks of the season (normally late June into early July), we launch our 1-day trips at Briceburg and continue through Quarter mile rapid to Bagby, also using the power boat to tow us the last 1 mile across Lake McClure to our take-out point.
We consider this river a solid intermediate run. Previous experience is recommended, though an adventurous first-timer in good condition will surely have a great time! The season is determined by the depth and melt of the High Sierra snow pack; MARIAH WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS provides wetsuits for our early season runs. The river offers beautiful scenery and lots of fun and thrills for a wonderful outdoor experience into the warmer early to mid-summer months. Plan to visit Yosemite following your exciting river adventure!
Call our office for the Merced River 1-Day Rafting Trip DIRECTIONS and PACKING LIST.
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Click the image above to view the gallery
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Departures: Daily
Trip Difficulty: This rafting trip is for adventurous beginner to intermediate.
Type of Raft
Paddle Boat, 6 paddlers plus a professional guide; high water oar with paddle-assist rigging is used
Age Range
7-96 years
Price Range
Saturday or Sunday: Adult $170 Youth $145
Monday - Friday: Adult $150 Youth $125
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Camping the night prior to your trip is not included.
For all of our Merced River trips we meet you at our Indian Flat Campground office just outside Yosemite Park on highway 140 and only 3 miles downriver from the small hamlet of El Portal. Indian Flat Campground offers camping, and motels are nearby. There are nice restaurants nearby where you may enjoy a lovely dinner.
See " Area Information" under "Resources" above.
I wanted to say thank you for all of your help with planning the whitewater trip. We had such a great time and can’t wait to do it again. The guides were wonderful, they were knowledgeable and very well trained. We were all pleased with Zephyr (Mariah's sister-company on the Merced) and the experience we had. We are ready for the next round but this time on the Tuolumne River!
Lori, Merced River, June 2010
Thanks to the crew for a great Merced rafting experience. My sisters and I had an awesome time and hop we can visit again. If I could, I’d move there and go every week! …The best whitewater trip any of us have been on (and we’ve collectively been on more than 15 different trips across the country).
Jo, Merced River, May 2010
I rate Mariah in the top 5% of all the companies I have dealt with in my life, not just rafting but all companies, and I am a customer expert who teaches customer service to companies who need it. Your staff are professional in every way; they make you feel like you are rafting with friends instead of a company. The food is very good, and the portions are.....well....if you leave the table hungry, it is your fault. The campground is well-maintained and functional, while keeping the rustic setting. Please feel free to use this in all of your promotional materials.
D.H., South Fork American River, 2-Days, 5/23-24/09
I wanted to send you a thank you note. My weekend at Mariah was phenomenal! I cannot tell you how much fun we had! Everything turned out perfect! All the food was good (banana pancakes, lobster, fresh fruit!), our guides were awesome! I would say that this was an experience I will never forget; I just fell in love with everything and everyone.
D.M., South Fork American River, 2-Days, 5/10
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 10:00 A.M.
The day begins at 10 A.M. (meet at Indian Flat Campground) when you meet your river guides. We gather for the Trip Orientation, a thorough, 30-minute presentation given by your Head Guide. He/she will go over the safety features of the trip, and demonstrate paddle techniques. You will be introduced to your guides, launch your boats and begin rafting. The entire morning until lunch, we have the opportunity to raft through lots of rapids. The Merced is intense and challenging from the start, with many Class III and IV rapids in the first nine miles. At mile seven we reach Ned's Gulch, a pure-fun Class IV rapid which begins with a series of standing waves, each coming toward you at an angle and building in size, and culminating in one big wave and a deep drop.
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NOON
About noon we stop for a hearty and nutritious picnic lunch at our private lunch site. Lunch includes a variety of deli meats, cheeses, breads, condiments, vegetables, fruit, chips, cookies, lemonade, ice tea, and water. We always have peanut butter and jelly.
AFTER LUNCH
About noon we stop for a hearty and nutritious picnic lunch. Lunch includes a variety of deli meats, cheeses, breads, condiments, vegetables, fruit, chips, cookies, lemonade, ice tea, and water. The next nine miles offer enjoyable Class II-III rapids until we reach Split Rock and Corner Pocket, both exciting solid Class IV rapids.
4:00 P.M.
We reach our take-out at Railroad Flat, take the boats out of the water, board our river shuttle vehicles, and head back to your cars. A river photographer has spent the day on the river taking photos of the rafters, and you may have the opportunity to purchase a photograph. Or, once you are home you can log in to "Picture This Photography" http://www.picturethisimaginethat.biz, and hopefully you can see, and order online, some photos of you rafting.
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ADVENTURESOME INTERMEDIATE RIVER
We consider this river a solid intermediate run. Previous experience is recommended, though an adventurous first-timer in good condition will surely have a great time! The season is determined by the depth and melt of the High Sierra snow pack. The river offers beautiful scenery and lots of fun and thrills for a wonderful outdoor experience into the warmer early to mid-summer months. Plan to visit Yosemite following your exciting river adventure!
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MAGICAL MERCED RIVER NEAR YOSEMITE
The Merced River starts on the South slopes of Mount Lyell in Yosemite National Park and flows through Yosemite Valley after rumbling over Vernal and Nevada Falls. After Yosemite, it enters a classic Sierra foothill canyon and meanders along Highway 140 on its way to McClure Reservoir. This canyon has many classic rapids and when the river flows above 4000 cfs, the whitewater is big, continuous, and intense.
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Merced River 1-Day Rafting Trips
A Paddle Adventure on the Merced River
 Special camping the night before your trip: For all of our Merced River trips we meet you at our Indian Flat Campground office just outside Yosemite Park on highway 140 and only 3 miles downriver from the small hamlet of El Portal. Indian Flat Campground offers camping, and motels are nearby. There are nice restaurants nearby where you may enjoy a lovely dinner.
Indian Flat RV Park offers a wide range of accommodation to meet the needs of the traveler to Yosemite National Park. They offer 25 RV sites with water, electric and some with sewer. For those traveling with tents, they have 25 tent sites. While Indian Flat RV Park does not have a pool, they have made special arrangements with the lodge next door to use their outdoor pool. Two cabins both equipped with kitchenettes, private bath and cable TV are also available. For reservations at Indian Flat Campground, call (209) 379-2339.
The easiest way to reach the Merced River is to get yourself on Highway 99 and head to the city of Merced. Towards the south end of town you can catch Highway 140 which you will take through Mariposa to the River. You will first reach Briceburg which may be your put-in, take-out, or lunch spot depending on what part of the river you run.
There are many river acess points along Highway 140, but the most popular are at a turn out on the left just below Ned's Gulch, Cranberry Gulch, and Red Bud Launch Site.
Camping in the Merced Area
Lodging in the Mariposa area
- Mariposa Lodge - (209) 966-3607 (800) 341-8000
- Mother Lode Lodge - (209) 966-2521 (800) 396-9770
- Miners Inn Motel - (209) 742-7777 (800) 237-7277
- Comfort Inn - (209) 966-4344 (800) 321-5261
- Best Western - (209) 966-7545 (800) 321-5261
- Sierra View - (209) 966-5793 (800) 627-8439
- Yosemite Motels -a series of 6 great motels in the Yosemite area.
- Yosemite Bug Hostel-a unique low cost hostel with camping, dorm type rooms, private rooms, and a great restaurant, and only 30 minutes from our meeting spot. Located in Midpines, only 8 miles from Mariposa on the way to Yosemite
- Miners Inn Motel-in the heart of Mariposa, this motel is very convenient and has a good restaurant as well.
Bed & Breakfast Inns
- Indian Peak Ranch Mountain Top Hideaway is an excellent choice just south of Mariposa on 122 beautiful acres.
- Little Valley Inn also in Mariposa is close to restaurants and services.
Lodging near Yosemite Valley and Our Indian Flat Campground Meeting Spot
- Cedar Lodge - (209) 379-2612...(800) 321-5261...1 minute from our meeting spot!
- Yosemite View Lodge - (209) 379-2581...(800) 321-5261...4 miles from our meeting spot!
- Yosemite Valley - (209) 252-4848 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (209) 252-4848 end_of_the_skype_highlighting...30 minutes from our meeting spot!
Lodging in the Oakhurst or Fishcamp areas
- Narrow Gauge Inn in Fishcamp, charming and great food. For reservations, call (888) 644-9050 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (888) 644-9050 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
- Tenaya Lodge, also in Fishcamp, is a wonderful resort hotel with great restaurants and both indoor and outdoor pools.
- Chateau du Sureau is a 5 star, 5 diamond inn near Oakhurst.
- Hounds Tooth Inn is an excellent Bed and Breakfast near Oakhurst and the Southern entrance to Yosemite.
- Homestead Cottages offers rest and relaxation near Oakhurst.
- Vultures View is also a great Oakhurst B&B option.
- Sierra Mountain Lodge B &B is located in Ahwahnee, just 10 minutes from Oakhurst
Lodging between Groveland and Yosemite
- Evergreen Lodge is located just north of Yosemite off Highway 120, and offers a rustic, historical stay in its recently remodeled cabins. The food is excellent and the ambiance relaxing. Very close to Hetch Hetch reservoir.
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