Home / River Trips / Merced River Rafting Yosemite River Rafting Merced River Rafting California-Yosemite Length 1 day Meeting Point Midpines, CA Difficulty Class III & IV Minimum Age 12+ years Starting at $190 per person. Book Now Merced River Rafting California-Yosemite Trip Details Packing Guide Schedule & Pricing Starting at $190 per person. Book Now Overview Whitewater Rafting on Yosemite's Merced River: Whitewater Adventure just outside Yosemite National Park Experience a fantastic whitewater rafting adventure on the Merced River, just outside Yosemite National Park. Known for its clear water, roller-coaster waves, and thrilling Class III–IV rapids, the Merced River offers one of California’s most exciting spring and early summer rafting trips. As the Sierra Nevada snow melts in April and May, the Merced transforms into a wild, free-flowing river perfect for adventurous first-time rafters and seasoned adventurers. Our whitewater rafting trips combine heart-pounding excitement with the stunning natural beauty of the foothill region right outside Yosemite Valley. Expect big waves, technical drops, and breathtaking views of wildflower covered hillsides. If you’ve got plans to visit Yosemite National Park in the spring, you should spice up your vacation with a day of whitewater rafting on the Merced; if your trip to Yosemite National Park is in late June through early September, consider the nearby Tuolumne River, as reliable dam-controlled water provides great whitewater rafting opportunities nearby. Known For Exciting class III & IV whitewater Group Size 10 - 20 guests In a Word Whitewater! Included Transportation to the launch site and return, riverside lunch, wetsuits and splash tops if needed What to Bring See equipment list Scroll to View Map Download Map "Had a fantastic trip with the team this past week. It was one of the most fun-filled, memorable stretch of days we’ve ever had! ARTA is a heart and soul organization with wonderful generous caring people and a worthy mission. Do not miss the opportunity to go on a trip with this crew." Daniel Montesanto Merced River Rafting "I was nervous going into my first white water rafting trip, but the experience ended up being amazing — all thanks to our incredible ARTA trip leaders! They were knowledgeable and so encouraging every step of the way. And they're great cooks, too! I highly recommend this team (Nolan, Dawn, Olivia, Tate, Ayla, and August) if you're looking for an unforgettable adventure!" Rachel Dennis Merced River Rafting "This group is AWESOME. Hands down best guided outdoor experience I’ve ever had. Dealt with the logistics of a large group, made it super fun, and let us not worry about a thing while eating well, enjoying whitewater, swimming and diving spots, and overall just having a great time. Couldn’t recommend enough!" Joe Hicks Merced River Rafting "Best guide I’ve ever had and I’ve rafted rivers all across the country. Thanks for your work to preserve the rivers of the west." Rob Nixon Merced River Rafting Trip Details A downloadable pdf of these trip details (along with more information about what to expect on your trip) can be found below. If you still have questions, please feel free to call us (209-962-7873) or email us (arta@arta.org). We love to talk about our trips! Getting There Itinerary What's Provided On The River Getting There This Trip Will Begin and end at: Midpines County Park 6364 CA-140, Midpines, CA 95345 The Midpines Park and Ride is located along Highway 140, 5.1 miles east of the Highway 140- Highway 49 junction in Mariposa and 27.1 miles west of the Arch Rock entrance station to Yosemite. Driving time from Yosemite Valley is about 45 minutes. From San Francisco it is about 3 ½ hours via 120 through the Park or via 140 through Merced. From Los Angeles it is about 5 ½ hours via Highways 99 and 140. If you wish to fly, Fresno is the closest airport, which is about 1 1/2 hours away. Get Directions Where to Stay: Yosemite View Lodge Yousemite Bug Yosemite National Park Itinerary Subject to change due to flows Morning We’ll meet you at the Midpines Park and Ride Lot at 9:00 am on the morning of the trip. 6364 CA-140, Midpines, CA 95345. If you will be late, please call 209/962-7873. Once we have all gathered we will hop in a van and continue to the launch site. A quick safety orientation, we will get our wetsuits and final layers on before heading downstream. When we meet you in Midpines, you should be in your river shoes, shorts and lightweight layer. You can wear warmer, cotton clothes over these if you want and then take them off and leave them in the van when you put on your wetsuit at the launch site. An effective way to dress for the river is to have a tight-fitting, quick-drying layer next to your skin (polypropylene long underwear) with a thick, warm fleece layer to put on over it. The wetsuit and splash jacket will go over all of that. Cotton does not work for insulation; make sure your thick top is a synthetic. On the water Prepare for amazingly fun day on the water. The Merced is packed full of large class III and IV wave trains. Dropping at nearly 30 feet per mile, it presents a fun array of exciting and challenging rapids. The Merced is famous for large, roller-coaster waves and big crashing swells. It’s perfect for veterans and adventurous newcomers. We will stop riverside for a large deli style picnic lunch. Once everyone has had their fill, we will hop back into our boats to finish the day. End of Day The trip ends a few miles downstream of Briceburg. There we will rendezvous with our van and head back to the Midpines Park and Ride. Typical arrival time at your car will be around 5:00 pm What's Provided We Will Provide Transportation to the river and back Friendly, professional guide service Fresh and hearty picnic lunch and snacks - Riverside All taxes and government access fees Wetsuits and splash jackets What you are responsible for Transportation to Midpines Meals and lodging before and after your trip Guide gratuities (Tips are optional. Customarily they range from 10 to 15 percent of the trip cost) Insulation layer (fleece jacket) to wear under splash jacket (see equipment list) On The River Types of Boats About the water levels Trip Insurance Gratuities Types of Boats Oar Paddle Combo Rafts Oar-paddle combination rafts are 14 to 16 feet long and are steered by a guide using two oars and assisted by a team of 2 to 6 paddlers riding in the front and actively paddling through the rapids. Paddle Rafts Paddle rafts are 14 to 16 feet long and are powered by 4 to 6 paddlers plus a guide. You will be sitting along the outside of the raft and actively paddling through the rapids. About the water levels This section of the Merced is completely free flowing. Meaning the season can be short but it is definitely sweet. We run all of our Merced Trips from April to early June. During this time the water is typically high and cold making the river exciting. It’s perfect for both season rafters and adventurous newcomers. Trip Insurance Because life is full of surprises, we suggest you consider purchasing supplemental travel insurance for your trip. Trip cancellation, evacuation, baggage loss and other coverages are available for between 8% and 15% of your trip cost. You can get more information through ASI Travel Insurance Services (please select American River Touring Association from the drop down menu). Gratuities If you truly enjoy your trip, tipping is a great way to show your appreciation. Tipping is optional and personal, but since a lot of people ask, a customary amount is between 10 and 15 percent of the trip cost. Tips can be given to the Lead Guide who will share them with the entire crew. And the entire crew will appreciate them and put them to good use. (And thank you.) On The River Types of Boats Types of Boats Oar Paddle Combo Rafts Oar-paddle combination rafts are 14 to 16 feet long and are steered by a guide using two oars and assisted by a team of 2 to 6 paddlers riding in the front and actively paddling through the rapids. Paddle Rafts Paddle rafts are 14 to 16 feet long and are powered by 4 to 6 paddlers plus a guide. You will be sitting along the outside of the raft and actively paddling through the rapids. About the water levels About the water levels This section of the Merced is completely free flowing. Meaning the season can be short but it is definitely sweet. We run all of our Merced Trips from April to early June. During this time the water is typically high and cold making the river exciting. It’s perfect for both season rafters and adventurous newcomers. Trip Insurance Trip Insurance Because life is full of surprises, we suggest you consider purchasing supplemental travel insurance for your trip. Trip cancellation, evacuation, baggage loss and other coverages are available for between 8% and 15% of your trip cost. You can get more information through ASI Travel Insurance Services (please select American River Touring Association from the drop down menu). Gratuities Gratuities If you truly enjoy your trip, tipping is a great way to show your appreciation. Tipping is optional and personal, but since a lot of people ask, a customary amount is between 10 and 15 percent of the trip cost. Tips can be given to the Lead Guide who will share them with the entire crew. And the entire crew will appreciate them and put them to good use. (And thank you.)