Overview

Cherry Creek 1-Day Rafting Trips

A Paddle Adventure on the Tuolumne River

Trip Overview

9 miles of river
Class IV-V+ whitewater
One day rafting
Breakfast and lunch included

Cherry Creek is the ultimate in California rivers. A creek on the upper Tuolumne, Cherry Creek is the ride of your life. With a gradient averaging a steep 110 feet per mile, this is the most challenging run in the U.S. and the standard by which all Class V rivers are measured. The “Creek” offers chutes, holes, ledges and falls, all amidst gigantic boulders. Test your skills at Jawbone, Mushroom, or "The Miracle Mile" where the average gradient is closer to 200 feet per mile. Then it's on to more exitement with famous rapids like Lewis’s Leap and Flat Rock Falls.

These trips are intense and demanding passenger participation experiences, and a successful run depends on you and your boat team.
Consider adding on a day on the main fork of the Tuolumne River

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Call our office for the Tuolumne River 3-Day Rafting Trip DIRECTIONS and PACKING LIST.

Click the image above to view the gallery

Departures: Daily
Early to mid July through late Summer

Trip Difficulty: This is an advanced rafting trip.

Type of Raft
Paddle assisted oar boat, 4 paddlers plus professional guide

Age Range
Over 14 years

Price Range
Daily: Adult $310 Youth $310

The Evening Before Your Trip

Camping the night prior to your trip is not included.

Our meeting place for all Tuolumne river rafting trips is La Casa Loma Store, seven miles East of Groveland.

From Groveland, drive East to Ferretti Rd. (Careful! Ferretti Rd. also joins Highway 120 just outside the town of Groveland. Drive the full seven miles from the Groveland city limit to the correct Ferretti Rd. exit). Turn left on Ferretti Rd. and then left again to get to the store. La Casa Loma store can be seen from Highway 120 but is located about 100 yards off the highway.

Your car will be parked at the store for the duration of the trip and the river shuttle service will transport you to the river and back to your car at the end of the trip. There are nice restaurants nearby where you may enjoy a lovely dinner.

Click here to see "Area Information"

View Mariah Customer Reviews

Our adrenaline fun on the Cherry Creek trip with you last weekend exceeded all of our other rafting trips combined, thanks for the memory!..

A.Macpherson, Boulder, CO, 6/10

Whitewater rafting will never be the same for us. The cascades of the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne run spoiled us! Guides Adam and Aaron are truly gifted river navigators; we will request them next time.

B.Westgate, San Francisco, 5/10

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! The first day we were on Mike's raft; he was knowledgeable about the area and told us a bit about the history of the area we were rafting through. The next day we were with Julie. She was fun, and explained how the water works and how to read it. Both guides were grade "A"! I still can't stop thinking about it, I didn't want to come home. 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, 5/09

View River Rapids Map

Tuolumne River Rapids Map

Full Itinerary

6:00 A.M.
Depending on water releases, the shuttle bus will meet you at La Casa Loma Store, 7 miles east of Groveland off Highway 120. We start the day with a high energy breakfast. Next on the agenda is equiptment fitting, then an extensive two-hour white water seminar which includes training in swiftwater swimming, navigation and safety techniques. You will need to sprint a short distance, swim across the river, swim under the boat, and a few other things we have you do so we know that you are fit enough for the Cherry.

Then its into the boats at the put-in at Holm Powerhouse. It is pretty much non-stop whitewater and challenging rapids. The boats are 14', and the guide rows, while the six guests paddle assist. All this power is necessary!

Whitewater rafting on portions of Cherry Creek is classed in the very difficult Class V/V+ category and has been called by one commentator "without a doubt the most difficult commercially run river in the country."

High energy snacks and drinks will be provided and a delicious meal will be available at trips end.

BACK AT CASA LOMA STORE

At the end of the day we will take you back to the Casa Loma Store where you can change your clothes, and say your fond farewells to your guides and other rafters. It is only seven miles to the Gold Rush town of Groveland where you can enjoy a nice dinner, sip of wine, and an overnight stay in one of the quaint hotels.

PHOTOS OF YOUR TRIPS

Picture This Photography often hikes into the canyon to take pictures of the rafters. Once you get home, log on to http://www.picturethisimaginethat.biz, and hopefully you can see, and order online, some photos of you rafting.

WILD AND SCENIC CANYON

The isolated Tuolumne River is home to abundant wildlife; the river itself offers great fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Eagles and hawks circle overhead; if we're lucky, we might spot a visiting bobcat or raccoon along its banks. We feel the serenity of the wilderness canyon as well as the excitement of great rapids for a complete whitewater wilderness adventure!

lumsden-falls-250

Accommodations

Cherry Creek 1 -Day Rafting Trips

A Paddle Adventure on the Tuolumne River

merced-indian-flat Our meeting place for all Tuolumne (including Cherry Creek) river rafting trips is La Casa Loma Store, seven miles East of Groveland. From Groveland, drive East to Ferretti Rd. (Careful! Ferretti Rd. also joins Highway 120 just outside the town of Groveland. Drive the full seven miles from the Groveland city limit to the correct Ferretti Rd. exit). Turn left on Ferretti Rd. and then left again to get to the store. La Casa Loma store can be seen from Highway 120 but is located about 100 yards off the highway. Your car will be parked at the store for the duration of the trip and the river shuttle service will transport you to the river and back to your car at the end of the trip.

Overnight Accommodations

Since camping the night prior to your trip is not included, we recommend arriving in the area the night before your trip.

Hotel Charlotte - Downtown Groveland, with cozy rooms, good food & spirits. Located across the street from the famous Iron Door Saloon and just 7 miles from the Casa Loma meeting location. Rental houses available sleeping up to 16 people. (209) 962-6455

Berkshire Bed & Breakfast - 19959 Hwy 120, Groveland
(209) 962-6744

Groveland Hotel - Downtown Groveland, with an excellent restaurant.
(209) 962-4000

Yosemite Westgate Motel - Buck Meadows, 5 minutes from our meeting spot.

Yosemite Rose B&B - A wonderful country bed and breakfast only minutes from La Casa Loma Store.

Blackberry Inn B&B - A nice bed and breakfast in Buck Meadows

The Evergreen Lodge - a wonderfully historic lodge with cabins and restaurant approx. 45 minutes from our meeting spot. Historic and scenic, located midway between our Tuolumne and Merced river meeting spots.

Yosemite Ridge Resort is a 43 acre facility featuring cabin rentals, full hookup RV spaces, restaurant, general store, gasoline, propane and laundromat all on site. Located in Buckmeadows, about 4 miles east of Casa Loma on Hwy. 120, and very convenient to our Tuolumne meeting spot at La Casa Loma.

Yosemite Springs B&B and Campground offers fantastic private tent camping or if you prefer, all the conveniences of a B&B. They are located just outside Coulterville, and an easy 30 minute drive to La Casa Loma store, our meeting spot. If you are rafting with us, call Yosemite Springs for special lodging discounts.

There are three US Forest Service campgrounds, some with group sites available, near La Casa Loma Store. The closest campground is The Pines, and 2004 camping fees are $12.00 per person. Call the Groveland Ranger District at (209) 962-7825 for information or (209) 379-2402 for group reservations. Another option is Moccasin Point Camp on Hwy 120, about 45 minutes from our meeting spot. Call (209) 852-2396 for information.

Additional lodging is available in Sonora, approximately one hour from our meeting spot. If you are having trouble finding lodging, please call our office, we will be happy to assist you.

Camping

There are three US Forest Service campgrounds, some with group sites available, near La Casa Loma Store. The closest campground is The Pines, and 2004 camping fees are $12.00 per person. Call the Groveland Ranger District at (209) 962-7825 for information or (209) 379-2402 for group reservations. Another option is Moccasin Point Camp on Hwy 120, about 45 minutes from our meeting spot. Call (209) 852-2396 for information.