Home / Specialty Trips / Music & Rafting - Ryan Montbleau Idyllic vibes Music & Rafting – Ryan Montbleau Length 3 days Meeting Point Groveland CA Difficulty IV Minimum Age 11+ years Starting at $1,599 per person. Book Now Music & Rafting – Ryan Montbleau Trip Details Packing Guide Schedule & Pricing Starting at $1,599 per person. Book Now Overview Live Music on a wild river. Sand between our toes, stars over our heads, and sweet music in our ears. Journey with Ryan on this once in a lifetime adventure as you raft down the beautiful Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River just outside of Yosemite. Fill your days with rafting, wildlife, swimming, food, and fun. Fill your evenings with songs and lyrics that only Ryan Montbleau can provide. The beauty of Ryan’s lyrics pairs perfectly with the majesty of the Yosemite Wilderness. Wild days, unforgettable evenings, one amazing adventure. This all-inclusive event has limited spots. Known For Sweet Sweet Melodies Group Size 20 In a Word Magical Included All meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the final day, camping gear including thick comfortable sleeping pads, and tents, wetsuits and splash tops if needed; and ALL TAXES AND HIDDEN FEES What to Bring See packing guide Scroll to View Map Download Map Meet Ryan Montbleau A relentless road warrior and masterful wordsmith, Ryan Montbleau has spent the better part of thirty years cultivating a devoted audience on the strength of his ecstatic live shows and exhilarating sonic versatility. He’s collaborated with artists as diverse as Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Steel Pulse, Tall Heights, Martin Sexton, Anders Osborne, and George Porter, Jr; shared bills with the likes of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ani DiFranco, Todd Snider, The Wood Brothers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Mavis Staples; and racked up more than 150 million streams on Spotify alone. NPR’s Mountain Stage compared his “eloquent, soulful songwriting” to Bill Withers and James Taylor, while Relix celebrated his “poetic Americana,” and The Boston Herald raved that “he’s made a career of confident, danceable positivity.” Montbleau’s freewheeling new album finds him exploring the full spectrum of his influences like never before, touching on folk, rock, funk, soul, hip-hop, and reggae, all with a preternatural ease that belies the intensely focused craftsmanship behind it. The songs are sprawling and unpredictable, grappling with a modern world perpetually teetering on the edge of chaos, but the performances are relentlessly optimistic, insisting on hope and joy in the face of it all. The result is Montbleau’s most vulnerable and cathartic work yet, an album that acknowledges the inevitability of doubt and pain while at the same time celebrating our limitless capacity for growth and love. ryanmontbleau.com Trip Details Ryan will join the adventure as we raft together as a group down the river. Then, each night, he will play an extremely intimate set for those able to join us. A pdf of Tuolumne trip details can be found and downloaded here. 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! Download PDF Getting There Itinerary What's Provided On The River Getting There This Trip Will Begin and end at: The Lucky Buck Restaurant 7647 CA-120 Groveland CA 95321 Meeting Time: 8:00 am the morning of your trip. Return Time: 5:00 pm the final day of the trip Where to Stay: Rush Creek Lodge Yosemite Westgate Lodge Evergreen Lodge Firefall Ranch The Groveland Hotel Before Your Arrival The Lucky Buck Restaurant is on the north side of Highway 120, approximately 11 miles east of Groveland. Driving-time from the San Francisco Bay Area is about 3½ hours, from Los Angeles about 7½ hours . Itinerary Subject to change due to flows Day 1 We’ll meet you at 8:00 am on the morning of the trip starting date at The Lucky Buck Restaurant. If you will be late, please call 209/962-7873. We will begin our adventure with a 3 mile down-hill walk on a gravel Forest Service Road. The walk has been taking roughly 60 to 90 minutes to complete and is very scenic with sweeping views of the river canyon. Please be prepared with comfortable walking shoes (Teva/Chaco/Keen water shoes or athletic shoes have been fine) and a full water bottle. You will be able to switch shoes once you reach the river as well. Once we put on we will raft between 6 to 9 miles where we will set up camp for night one. In the evening we will take our seats for a very special concert. Day 2 & 3 We start with a “Coffeeeee” call in the morning to invite you to roll out up bed and join us for a hot cup of coffee or tea to be enjoyed riverside. Your morning coffee will be accompanied soon after by a hot breakfast. Once everyone has had their fill, we will pack up our camp and either go for a short hike or swim and then continue downstream. The camp on night 2 is close to the end of the trip but the activity on Day 3 is not to be missed. On the morning of day 3 we will hike about 50 minutes up the North Fork to a world class swimming hole. We will spend the morning swimming and relaxing in one of the best locations California has to offer. Heading back to camp for lunch, before finishing the last few miles of river. riverside lunch and time to swim or simply be, afternoon float and possible side hike, sunset yoga, campfire dinner, evening meditation. On the second night we are again lucky to have a magical night of musical bliss, riverside. End of the trip Our trip ends at the confluence of the Tuolumne River and Don Pedro Reservoir. There we will meet up with a boat that will tow us across the lake. The tow ranges from 30 to 75 minuets. When we touch land again, we will be shuttled back to the Lucky Buck. Arrival time back to the Lucky Buck should be between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. What's Provided We Will Provide Transportation back to the Lucky Buck after your wonderful trip Friendly, professional guide service All meals from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day Lifejackets, helmets and other specialized river touring equipment for the trip Sleeping pads (2" paco style) & tents for everyone All taxes and government access fees What you are responsible for Transportation to and from The Lucky Buck 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) Personal clothing and toiletries (see Equipment page). A sleeping bag (although they can be rented from ARTA) Soda, wine, alcoholic beverages On The River Types of Boats Meals & Drinks Camping Wildlife Trip Insurance Fishing Local Attractions Gratuities Types of Boats Because of the challenging and technical nature of the Tuolumne, we use high quality custom designed rafts manufactured by Wing Inflatables, the same company used by the US Navy Seals. We are proud to be the only outfitter on the river with a full fleet of these incredible crafts. 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. Gear Boats Gear boats or Gear Rafts are 17 feet long, and carry all of the overnight gear. They are rowed by a guide using oars attached to a metal frame. Meals & Drinks ARTA meals are AMAZING! Guests are often shocked at how wonderful our meals are in a back-country setting. We bring the highest quality ice chests to keep meats, fruits and veggies fresh for the duration of the trip. Meals are designed for foodies (adults) and the occasional picky eater (kids!) alike. Guests can expect to start each day with fresh coffee and well-balanced breakfast, snacks are available throughout the day in the rafts, lunch is prepared riverside with many options, and appetizers are served to kick off the dinner hour early-evening with our main courses and desert to wrap up each day. We are happy to accommodate special dietary request/requirements. Please let us know in your pre-trip registration. We provide water, sports drink powder during the day, and hot coffee, tea, and cocoa in the morning. If you would like soda, beer, wine, or liquor at camp, please bring your own and we will have coolers & ice for you! Please bring beer/soda in cans, we can accommodate wine and liquor in glass bottles. Please bring what you plan to consume. Camping Overnight camping will be done at riverside beaches with spectacular views of the river and canyon. Guides will set up a full kitchen, dining area, drink and appetizer zone, and our ‘living room’ with chairs set up for each guest, a library of books and camp games. Guests will have the freedom to explore and pick out their own unique spot to set up their tents away from the central area, and guides are available to help. Our toilet facilities, and a hand-wash station will be set up in an isolated (and usually beautiful) location; going to the bathroom in the wilderness is surprisingly pleasant, keep in mind we set up the toilet facilities away from camp, a short walk to the toilet, often on uneven ground is part of the deal. Each night typically sometime between dinner and dessert, Ryan will take the sage for an intimate concert experience. Wildlife Large game can be hard to find deep in the Tuolumne canyon. However, bird life is plentiful: Heron, Hawks, Bald Eagles, & Ospreys are often seen as well as a wide assortment of smaller birds. 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). Fishing The Fishing on the Tuolumne can be tricky but is very rewarding. Typically angling for trout is best done in the morning and evenings when the water is a little lower. Don’t forget your California fishing license. Local Attractions Yosemite National Park: A no-brainer. Taking a Tuolumne trip and not visiting Yosemite would be like going to Hawaii and not swimming in the ocean. The popular Valley attractions are the Mist Trail (anytime, but particularly in the spring), Yosemite Falls and strolling along the Merced River. A quick drive out to Glacier Point is stunning. A visit to Tuolumne Meadows will give you a new perspective on the Park (meadows vs. cliffs). 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 Because of the challenging and technical nature of the Tuolumne, we use high quality custom designed rafts manufactured by Wing Inflatables, the same company used by the US Navy Seals. We are proud to be the only outfitter on the river with a full fleet of these incredible crafts. 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. Gear Boats Gear boats or Gear Rafts are 17 feet long, and carry all of the overnight gear. They are rowed by a guide using oars attached to a metal frame. Meals & Drinks Meals & Drinks ARTA meals are AMAZING! Guests are often shocked at how wonderful our meals are in a back-country setting. We bring the highest quality ice chests to keep meats, fruits and veggies fresh for the duration of the trip. Meals are designed for foodies (adults) and the occasional picky eater (kids!) alike. Guests can expect to start each day with fresh coffee and well-balanced breakfast, snacks are available throughout the day in the rafts, lunch is prepared riverside with many options, and appetizers are served to kick off the dinner hour early-evening with our main courses and desert to wrap up each day. We are happy to accommodate special dietary request/requirements. Please let us know in your pre-trip registration. We provide water, sports drink powder during the day, and hot coffee, tea, and cocoa in the morning. If you would like soda, beer, wine, or liquor at camp, please bring your own and we will have coolers & ice for you! Please bring beer/soda in cans, we can accommodate wine and liquor in glass bottles. Please bring what you plan to consume. Camping Camping Overnight camping will be done at riverside beaches with spectacular views of the river and canyon. Guides will set up a full kitchen, dining area, drink and appetizer zone, and our ‘living room’ with chairs set up for each guest, a library of books and camp games. Guests will have the freedom to explore and pick out their own unique spot to set up their tents away from the central area, and guides are available to help. Our toilet facilities, and a hand-wash station will be set up in an isolated (and usually beautiful) location; going to the bathroom in the wilderness is surprisingly pleasant, keep in mind we set up the toilet facilities away from camp, a short walk to the toilet, often on uneven ground is part of the deal. Each night typically sometime between dinner and dessert, Ryan will take the sage for an intimate concert experience. Wildlife Wildlife Large game can be hard to find deep in the Tuolumne canyon. However, bird life is plentiful: Heron, Hawks, Bald Eagles, & Ospreys are often seen as well as a wide assortment of smaller birds. 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). Fishing Fishing The Fishing on the Tuolumne can be tricky but is very rewarding. Typically angling for trout is best done in the morning and evenings when the water is a little lower. Don’t forget your California fishing license. Local Attractions Local Attractions Yosemite National Park: A no-brainer. Taking a Tuolumne trip and not visiting Yosemite would be like going to Hawaii and not swimming in the ocean. The popular Valley attractions are the Mist Trail (anytime, but particularly in the spring), Yosemite Falls and strolling along the Merced River. A quick drive out to Glacier Point is stunning. A visit to Tuolumne Meadows will give you a new perspective on the Park (meadows vs. cliffs). 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.)