White Water Rafting on Merced River

The Merced River is one of the defining characteristics of Yosemite National Park. Originating in the high Sierra, this free-flowing river cascades into Yosemite Valley, tumbling over the spectacular Nevada and Vernal falls along the way. Reaching the valley floor, the Merced's crystal-clear waters meander through the park, past a backdrop of aspens, cottonwood and evergreens, grassy meadows and dramatic, glacier-carved mountain peaks.

Why the Merced?

Leaving Yosemite, the Merced explodes into a flurry of whitewater, leaving its gentle nature behind at the park boundary. Here we find an excellent & if not widely known & stretch of Class III-IV rapids that deliver a premier river rafting experience. A hidden whitewater jewel, the Merced may not be as popular a run as its closest neighbour the Tuolumne, or the American River to the north, but this is indeed one of its attributes. This recently designated Wild & Scenic River offers a quietly beautiful yet wildly exciting river trip.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Sample Itinerary

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and always flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like.

You'll meet your trip leader and fellow adventurers at 9:30 AM & please be prompt. Once everyone's arrived, we'll board our shuttle to the river. Reaching the put-in point, you'll meet the rest of your O.A.R.S. crew and feel your anticipation build as you see the rafts waiting for you. After the guides deliver an orientation and safety talk, your adventure begins.

The Indian Flat put-in will give the crews some time to get organized and paddle ready to hit the first big rapid of the river, Cranberry! Exciting and wet, the Cranberry rapid is a favourite among guides and a great way to start your day on the river. Depending upon water flows Our Merced trip can start at two different locations. The upper Redbud section needs medium flow and will start with a bang, at least one mile of constant Class III-IV whitewater immediately puts our paddling skills and teamwork to the test. Exhilarating wave trains, sweeping or sudden river bends and quick drops keep our hearts pounding and our paddles digging as we continue through Nightmare Island and Chipped Tooth. This section is rarely run due to the necessary water levels.

Each mile brings more white-knuckling thrills, more laughs, adrenaline and high fives. Still excitingly consistent, the river does begin to give us short breaks between big rapids like Stark Reality, Cranberry Hole and Percolator.

Beyond the alternating clear pools and frothy whitewater, the surrounding scenery is magnificent and the calm stretches give us a chance to enjoy it. Just outside of Yosemite, we're rafting through a picturesque canyon adorned with pine forests, colorful wildflowers, rocky ledges and sandy beaches.

Lunchtime comes and we pull off the water for a delicious picnic. Knowing that a morning of hard paddling inspires a very hearty appetite, we make sure that our lunches are always abundant and satisfying. Lounge in the shade with a deli sandwich piled high with fresh cold cuts, cheese and veggies or perhaps tasty taco salad, plus fresh fruit, cookies, icy lemonade, and water. After feasting and relaxing on the beach, we resume our journey.

Back on the river, Class III and IV challenges like Ned's Gulch and Gauge Hole provide our afternoon thrills as we continue down the Merced. On warm days, the slower stretches of cool water may invite us to jump in for an invigorating swim.

As we reach Railroad Flat, our river trip draws to a close. At the take-out point, an O.A.R.S. shuttle will be waiting to give you a ride back to Sand Pit. You'll be returned to your car by approximately 5:00 PM.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

MEETING PLACE: “Sand Pit,” 24.5 miles northeast of Mariposa on Highway 140 (1.4 miles east of Cedar Lodge toward Yosemite)
MEETING TIME: 9:30 AM
RETURN TIME: Approximately 5:00 PM
RIVER RATING: Class III/IV (Suitable for aggressive beginners and intermediates)
RIVER PUT-IN: Indian Flat
RIVER TAKE-OUT: Railroad Flat
MILES COVERED: 18 river miles with 6 recognized rapids
AGE LIMITS: Minimum age is 9 (16 in high water conditions)
TRIP LENGTH: 1 Day

A Few Important Details

Reservations and Deposits
A $30/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds
If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, notify us as soon as possible. All payments are nonrefundable and we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason, we strongly urge our participants to investigate trip cancellation insurance (see Insurance).

If you transfer from one trip to another, there is a $15/person charge up until 30 days before the trip. Transfers made after this time will be treated as cancellations.

Medical
Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying an O.A.R.S. trip. People with medical conditions, including pregnancy, should have a physician´s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.

Insurance
Although every effort is made to insure a safe trip for all, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler´s policy. A trip cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury. Trip participants should realize that in the event of illness or injury on an adventure travel trip, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Personal belongings and cameras are carried entirely at the owner´s risk, and O.A.R.S. accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen property.

Liability Waiver
Everyone is required to sign a standard release before the trip, acknowledging awareness that some risks are associated with the trip. Safety is of the utmost concern on our trips. However, due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with O.A.R.S. cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Selected Dates April – July

$144 Weekdays!

$170 Weekends

Deposit: $30

Additional Costs:
$8 per person per day federal, state and local access fees

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