California whitewater - Big Creek, Central Sierra Nevada, Mariposa County Mariposa county, Chowchilla Mountain Road to South Fork Merced River section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS IV-V+     1 miles   This stretch of Big Creek is 1 miles long and is according to American Whitewater a class IV-V+ section of whitewater. The nature scenery of Mariposa County and the water flowing gracefully down Big Creek make the trip here worthwhile. There are no other sections to paddle along Big Creek than the Chowchilla Mountain Road to South Fork Merced River section. Lodging is available near the river, but you'd better reserve in advance because these hotels fill up quick. When you're paddling down a Central Sierra Nevada river like this one you always get great     scenery along the way too. You can pitch a tent or park your RV at a nearby campground. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking there are lots of good rivers for that around here. This is a very short section so better bring some good walking shoes. Getting your paddling muscles activated and just hanging out with mother nature have a lot of people coming here. The rivers for whitewater rafting and kayaking in this state are often tougher than in other states, so if you're not from around here don't forget that rivers here are not as easy as elsewhere. The starting location is a short drive from Madera, there's a road map further down the page with more info on that. Briefly about the general area: A spree to Yosemite National Park is worthwhile, and the Chilnualna Fall Trail offers hiking at its best. Big Creek sees   pretty high levels of precipitation; the wettest month of the year is usually January, that's the one that rains the most, and the driest of the months is July. For the duration of the summertime, highs usually are in the 80's at Big Creek. Summer nighttime lows plunge down to the 50's. Daytime highs throughout the wintertime are in the 40's; overnight lows in the 20's for Big Creek. Yep, outdoors entertaining things truly is abundant here in the Central Sierra Nevada. Big Creek, Chowchilla Mountain Road to South Fork Merced River road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: IV-V+ Length: 1 miles    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 37.51559 Longitude: -119.66481 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 37.5396 Longitude: -119.66561 Paddler input for Big Creek, California: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Big Creek, Central Sierra Nevada, California Local climate location: CHERRY VALLEY DAM 8 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river. Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp 3 miles away Experience the breathtaking splendor of Yosemite National Park from the award-winning Tenaya Lodge. Awarded with the prestigious AAA Four Diamond award every year since opening, Tenaya Lodge proudly f... Apple Tree Inn, Fish Camp 3 miles away Nestled at the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the forest of California's Western Sierra, the Apple Tree Inn is an exceptional hideaway for visitors to Yosemite National Park or those just seek... Wawona Hotel, Yosemite National Park 8 miles away Wawona is one of the oldest mountain resort hotels in California and a National Historic Landmark. Its verdant meadows, rushing streams, and tranquility make this a favorite of those who prefer a rela...   Central Sierra Nevada Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater kayaking and rafting spots in the Central Sierra Nevada. Central Sierra Nevada Outdoors Info Complete outdoors info for the Central Sierra Nevada. All California Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in California. Books about whitewater paddling on Big Creek, California List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Big Creek, California. Find a whitewater outfitter in California Whitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info. Outdoors Recreation Near Madera, California Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Madera, California, the metro area neareast to Big Creek. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.       These outdoors activities are available near Big Creek.   Whitewater Near Big Creek: Merced River - South Fork, Mariposa County , 9 miles away, Class V+ - 16 miles long (Upper) Merced River, Mariposa County , 10 miles away, Class V - 4.8 miles long (Routes 120-140 Junction to Arch Rock Entrance Station) Fresno River, Madera County , 11 miles away, Class III-V - 3 miles long (Goldside Drive off road 600 to Road 600) Willow Creek, Madera County , 12 miles away, Class V - 3 miles long (Greys Mt. Campground to Chilkoot Campground) Willow Creek, Madera County , 12 miles away, Class V - 3 miles long (Chilkoot Campground to Bass Lake) Merced River - South Fork, Mariposa County , 14 miles away, Class III-IV - 7.4 miles long (Snyder Gulch to Route 140 Bridge) Fresno River, Madera County , 15 miles away, Class IV-V(V+) - 11 miles long (Road 600 to Road 415) Yosemite Creek, Mariposa County , 16 miles away, Class IV-V - 8 miles long (Tioga Pass Road to Yosemite Falls) Coarse Gold Creek, Madera County , 16 miles away, Class IV-V - 5 miles long (Coarsegold to Spinelli Road) Chowchilla River, Madera County , 17 miles away, Class III-IV - 7 miles long (Road 810 to Road 800)   Ski Areas Near Big Creek: Badger Pass, California , 7 miles away, 800 vertical feet Sierra Summit, California , 39 miles away, 1600 vertical feet Dodge Ridge, California , 41 miles away, 1600 vertical feet June Mountain, California , 42 miles away, 2590 vertical feet Mammoth Mountain, California , 46 miles away, 3100 vertical feet Bear Valley, California , 59 miles away, 1900 vertical feet Kirkwood, California , 69 miles away, 2000 vertical feet Sierra at Tahoe, California , 75 miles away, 2212 vertical feet Heavenly, California , 79 miles away, 3500 vertical feet Homewood, California , 92 miles away, 1650 vertical feet   Hotels Near Big Creek: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp , 3 miles away Apple Tree Inn, Fish Camp , 3 miles away Wawona Hotel, Yosemite National Park , 8 miles away Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, Yosemite National Park , 8 miles away Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite National Park , 8 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Big Creek: Wawona Campground, Mariposa County, 1 miles away Summit Campground, Mariposa County, 2 miles away Summerdale Campground, Mariposa County, 3 miles away   Trails Near Big Creek: Chilnualna Fall Trail, Mariposa County , 3 miles away,  7 hiking miles, 2879 feet elevation difference Pohono Trail, Mariposa County , 10 miles away, 11.4 hiking miles, 3527 feet elevation difference Mono Meadow Trail, Mariposa County , 12 miles away,  5.2 hiking miles, 1019 feet elevation difference El Capitan Trail, Mariposa County , 12 miles away, 14.7 hiking miles, 4758 feet elevation difference Buena Vista Trail, Madera County , 12 miles away,  22.4 hiking miles, 2797 feet elevation difference Panorama Trail, Mariposa County , 13 miles away, 7.1 hiking miles, 3896 feet elevation difference Four Mile Trail, Mariposa County , 13 miles away, 3.7 hiking miles, 3869 feet elevation difference   National Parks Near Big Creek: Yosemite National Park, Yosemite National Park - CA , 3 miles away Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes - CA , 64 miles away