Merced River Trips

Merced River Whitewater

Zephyr Whitewater is the largest whitewater rafting outfitter on the Merced river, just minutes away from Yosemite Valley. We have more Merced river trip launch dates, and guide more people down Yosemite's Merced river than all the other permitted outfitters combined!  You can rest assured that our guides know this river well!

We offer 5 different trip options on the Merced river.

The Merced river tumbles and twists out of Yosemite Valley, gradually mellowing into a runnable whitewater river just below the town of El Portal. It is here that our trips begin. Offering abundant whitewater confined by a narrow corridor, this river is a must for the whitewater enthusiast. Indeed, the Merced river offers one of the best whitewater rafting paddle-boat trips in California.

For part of its course, the Merced follows the old Yosemite railroad bed, passing abandoned gold mines and water flumes. Our overnight Merced river trips and our lower water 1-day Merced river trips include the famed "Quarter Mile Rapid"- over 500 yards of exceptional white water. Just below this intense section is a 20 foot waterfall which we must portage (a portage necessitates lining or carrying the rafts around the obstacle).

Click here to see what others have said about their Merced rafting trips in 2006.

Merced River Map

Meeting Spot: Zephyr Headquarters, right next to Indian Flat Campground, which is just outside Yosemite Park on highway 140, and only 3 miles downriver from the small town of El Portal.  From the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley, the drive is about 45 very scenic minutes to our meeting spot.  See our Trip Details page for recommended lodging/camping in the immediate area

Trips on the Merced river begin and end close to the Arch Rock entrance to Yosemite Valley, and a visit to this national treasure can easily be incorporated with your rafting trip. Our staff has spent a lot of time in Yosemite, and we would be happy to help you with information on lodging, hiking, things not to miss, good restaurants, etc. Just give us a call or e-mail! For additional Yosemite information, visit the Virtual Yosemite page . And for special guided walking or driving tours within Yosemite National Park, visit our friends at YosemiteGuides.com.  And for information on public transportation in and around Yosemite, visit the YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) website.

Merced River
Merced River
1/2 Day Merced trips (no lunch)
Indian Flat to Briceburg
Class 3, 11 miles
April till season end

One Day Merced trips (lunch)
Indian Flat to Railroad Flat
Class 3-4, 16 Miles
April through Mid-July

Two Day Merced trips (camping, 4 meals)
Indian Flat to Bagby , 26 miles
April through Mid-July