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

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Current weather conditions at Merced River, Central Sierra Nevada, California
WXPort

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...



OTHER_INFO
  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.
 

   

OUTDOORS
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

Outdoors related information copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. - Detailed hotel information copyright © Interactive Hotel Solutions
Some content, including Reach Name, Class, and Length, comes from American Whitewater