Home / Specialty Trips / River Joy: A Yoga & Rafting Adventure Wild and Scenic River Joy: A Yoga & Rafting Adventure Length 3 days Meeting Point Groveland, CA Difficulty Class IV Minimum Age 11+ years River Joy: A Yoga & Rafting Adventure Trip Details Packing Guide Schedule & Pricing Starting at $1,450 per person. Overview River Joy: A Yoga & Rafting Adventure Friday, August 28, 2026 to Sunday, August 30, 2026 Near the legendary Yosemite National Park, run the spectacularly scenic Tuolumne River. For three glorious days, this world-class river will be our meditation temple, as we raft its dozens of delightful rapids, deepening our practices of yoga & mindfulness, and finding awe in the natural world. You will be in the best hands with Hannah Muse, internationally-renowned mindfulness teacher and devoted yogini who’s been guiding retreats for over a dozen years. Hannah is known for making practices accessible, fun, heart-opening, down-to-earth, and full of wonder. Known For Nature Group Size 20 In a Word Awe-inspiring 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 Hannah Muse When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy ~ Rumi Hannah is an internationally-celebrated teacher of mindfulness, mythology, and yoga. A former river guide and environmental organizer, she has been leading beginners and experienced yogis alike on awe-inspiring yoga and mindfulness-based adventures around the world for 15 years. She is known for weaving complex teachings into accessible, heart-opening, often life-changing experiences. Hannah guides retreats at world wonders like the Esalen Institute, was voted “best yoga teacher” for 9 years in a row, and has trained hundreds of leaders the skills required to integrate yoga and mindfulness into their careers and lives with great impact. Hannah is the President and founding board member of the Yoga For All Movement, which has made it possible for thousands of folks in marginalized communities to have access to the supportive practices of yoga and mindfulness. Her trips are known for fostering a true sense of connection and inspire joy! When she’s not guiding incredible beings on retreat in beautiful wild places or with her beloved online meditation group, you can find her in the ocean with her daughter, dancing wildly, or meditating beside a flowing river. Hannah Muse.com Trip Details A playful, unplugged river journey blending whitewater rafting, accessible yoga, deep time in nature, and sweet mindfulness practices that open us up to the glorious beauty that surrounds us. This trip is less about pushing your edge and more about slowing down, tuning in, and letting the river reset your nervous system. Expect laughter, simple practices, stunning scenery, and the kind of ease that comes from being off your phone and fully in the wild. Join us for this remarkable opportunity to connect with yourself, the majestic natural world, and some really cool people who are also interested in living a life of presence. Our movement and mindfulness practices will be accessible for both new and experienced folks – all are welcome! ⚠️ WARNING: these practices may result in profound freedom of mind, grounded vitality in your body, awakening of your essence nature, and a renewed sense of belonging to this world. *In support of our practice, this trip will be alcohol/substance-free. But don’t worry, we’ll still have coffee! 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 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 have a shared dinner, accompanied by evening reflection under the stars. Day 2 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 by sunrise yoga followed by a full breakfast. Once everyone has had their fill, we will pack up our camp and either go for a short hike, swim or simply be. The evening will be filled again with, sunset yoga, a delicious campfire dinner, & evening meditation. Day 3 Your day 3 morning brings more of the amazing riverside, offee and breakfast. Followed by a morning movement and meditation. This will be accompanied by a side hike about 50 minutes long. This wet hike up the North Fork canyon brings us 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, & a closing circle before finishing the last few miles of river. 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 Local Attractions 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. 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). 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 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. 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). 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.)