California whitewater - Merced River, Central Sierra Nevada, Mariposa County Mariposa county, Routes 120-140 Junction to Arch Rock Entrance Station section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS V     4.8 miles   The Routes 120-140 Junction to Arch Rock Entrance Station stretch of Merced River is 4.8 miles long and is a class V section of whitewater according to American Whitewater. The put-in location is a reasonable drive from Madera, there's a road map further down the page with more info on that. The average whitewater rafting or kayaking river tends to be a bit harder to master in this state than those in other states, so don't forget that lots of rivers here are not for beginners. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short     distance then no problem but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. This stretch is mid length, good for a one day paddling trip. If you're a camper you can camp at one of the great campgrounds nearby. The nature scenery of California and the sparkling of the sunlight on the water are reasons enough to come here and paddle. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking in this general area you'll find lots of paddling spots. The beautiful Central Sierra Nevada scenery is an added bonus. A good workout and spending some quality time in nature will have you coming back for more. There are so many sections to paddle in this river system, the Routes 120-140 Junction to Arch Rock Entrance Station section is just one of many. Briefly about the general area: Since you're here at Merced River why   not check out The Gateway, and a cool spot to have a look at is The Rostrum. The snow is splendid at Badger Pass, and The Cascades is a charming site to stop by while you're at Merced River. The surroundings of this river have so much to offer. Merced River is right by the El Capitan Trail, and you need to check out Pulpit Rock while you're here. And if that's not enough there's loads more cool stuff to do in the Central Sierra Nevada. Why not take a refreshing hike along the Pohono Trail; a short tour to Wildcat Falls is always worthwhile. So many exciting things to do at Merced River, so little time. High temperatures at Merced River through the summer months are in the 80's. During the moonlight hours it's frequently in the 50's. Daytime highs all through the winter are in the 40's; overnight lows at Merced River through the wintertime generally plunge into the 20's. The high level of precipitation makes Merced River a reasonably wet place; most of the rain falls through January; the driest of the months is July. Merced River, Routes 120-140 Junction to Arch Rock Entrance Station road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: V Length: 4.8 miles    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 37.7168 Longitude: -119.6652 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 37.6864 Longitude: -119.73001 Paddler input for Merced River, California: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Merced River, Central Sierra Nevada, California Local climate location: CHERRY VALLEY DAM 12 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river. dnc -- Wawona Hotel, Yosemite National Park 5 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... Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, Yosemite National Park 5 miles away As the closest property to Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Lodge is an idyllic spot for families, group retreats and visitors seeking to blend the comforts of a hotel while exploring the wilderness. In 1998,... dnc -- Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite National Park 5 miles away Housekeeping Camp is located along a section of the Merced River in the center of Yosemite Valley. This is the ideal location for those who like to camp outdoors without the bother of setting up a ten...   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 Merced River, California List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Merced River, 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 Merced River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.       These outdoors activities are available near Merced River.   Whitewater Near Merced River: Yosemite Creek, Mariposa County , 10 miles away, Class IV-V - 8 miles long (Tioga Pass Road to Yosemite Falls) Big Creek, Mariposa County , 10 miles away, Class IV-V+ - 1 miles long (Chowchilla Mountain Road to South Fork Merced River) Merced River - South Fork, Mariposa County , 11 miles away, Class III-IV - 7.4 miles long (Snyder Gulch to Route 140 Bridge) Merced River - South Fork, Mariposa County , 14 miles away, Class V+ - 16 miles long (Upper) Tuolumne River, Tuolumne County , 15 miles away, Class IV-V+ - 32 miles long (Tioga Road Bridge to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir) Tenaya Creek, Mariposa County , 16 miles away, Class V - 1 miles long (Super Slide) Merced River, Mariposa County , 18 miles away, Class II-V - 29 miles long (El Portal to Route 49 at Lake McClure) Merced River, Mariposa County , 20 miles away, Class IV - 17 miles long (Red Bud to Bagby Reservoir) Tuolumne River - South Fork, Tuolumne County , 20 miles away, Class IV-V - 7 miles long (Highway 120 to Rainbow Pool Picnic Area) Fresno River, Madera County , 20 miles away, Class III-V - 3 miles long (Goldside Drive off road 600 to Road 600)   Ski Areas Near Merced River: Badger Pass, California , 3 miles away, 540 vertical feet Dodge Ridge, California , 32 miles away, 1600 vertical feet June Mountain, California , 42 miles away, 2580 vertical feet Sierra Summit, California , 45 miles away, 1679 vertical feet Mammoth Mountain, California , 48 miles away, 3100 vertical feet Bear Valley, California , 49 miles away, 1900 vertical feet Kirkwood, California , 59 miles away, 2000 vertical feet Sierra at Tahoe, California , 66 miles away, 2212 vertical feet Heavenly, California , 69 miles away, 3500 vertical feet Homewood, California , 82 miles away, 1650 vertical feet   Hotels Near Merced River: dnc -- Wawona Hotel, Yosemite National Park , 5 miles away Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, Yosemite National Park , 5 miles away dnc -- Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite National Park , 5 miles away Curry Village, Yosemite National Park , 5 miles away Wawona Hotel, Yosemite National Park , 5 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Merced River: Indian Flat RV Park, Yosemite National Park, 3 miles away Mather Family Camp, Yosemite National Park, 3 miles away Tamarack Flat Campground, Mariposa County, 4 miles away   Trails Near Merced River: Pohono Trail, Mariposa County , 2 miles away, 11.4 hiking miles, 3527 feet elevation difference El Capitan Trail, Mariposa County , 4 miles away, 14.7 hiking miles, 4758 feet elevation difference Yosemite Falls Trail, Mariposa County , 7 miles away,  9.4 hiking miles, 3958 feet elevation difference Eagle Peak Trail, Mariposa County , 7 miles away,  9.4 hiking miles, 3939 feet elevation difference Hetch Hetchy Trail, Mariposa County , 8 miles away, 7.7 hiking miles, 3804 feet elevation difference Four Mile Trail, Mariposa County , 8 miles away, 3.7 hiking miles, 3869 feet elevation difference Chilnualna Fall Trail, Mariposa County , 9 miles away,  7 hiking miles, 2879 feet elevation difference   National Parks Near Merced River: Yosemite National Park, Yosemite National Park - CA , 7 miles away Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes - CA , 67 miles away