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Merced River Rafting
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. When the river is at high flows (2000+ cfs) most rafters run from Red Bud Campground to Briceburg for a fun 15.6 mile run. At medium flows (1200-2000 cfs) it is common to put-in below Nightmare Island and Chipped Tooth at Cranberry Gulch and run down to Railroad Flat Campground below Briceburg. As the river drops at the end of the snowmelt most rafters will put in at Briceburg and paddle down to Bagby on McClure Reservoir. This run starts with Split Rock and Corner Pocket and adds Quarter Mile which is the best rapid on the entire river. This long memorable rapid is continuous action that is longer than the name suggests. Just below Quarter Mile is a mandatory portage at North Fork Falls. Higher water is exceptionally challenging here because it makes running Quarter Mile and portaging North Fork Falls much more dificult.
rafting, outfitters, boaters, river gear, rafting accessories, river recreation, whitewater rafting
December 31, 2004 10:00 PM
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Information can be obtained from the address listed below: 2006 C-W-R.com PO Box 160024 Sacramento, CA 95816 Attn: CWR 2006
Red Bud, Briceburg, Railroad Flat, Bagby,
Merced River, Vernal and Nevada Falls, McClure Reservoir
Merced
Red But, Briceburg, Bagby