Tuolumne River Trips

Zephyr Whitewater is the largest whitewater rafting outfitter on the Tuolumne river. We have more trip launch dates, and guide more people down the Tuolumne than any other California whitewater rafting outfitter. 

The Tuolumne is simply California's finest wilderness whitewater rafting trip!  Located just outside Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne river in 1984 was included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system, evidence of its very special qualities. 

The Tuolumne (pronounced too-all-o-me) is a magical 18 mile corridor, boasting long, tantalizing class IV rapids, wondrous side creeks and wide, sandy beaches for camping. Unlike most of our other river trips, the Tuolumne river is not accessible by road during the entire trip. Thus, all necessary gear is taken with us on the rafts. Rapids such as Rams Head, Steamboat, Cabin, Hells Kitchen and the granddaddy of them all, Clavey Falls, will stir the blood of any rafter, veteran or novice.

• SIZZLING SUMMER INTERNET SPECIALS:  Click here for discounted rates on selected Tuolumne trips

Tuolumne river trips range in length from one to three days. All trips cover the full 18 miles of river, but the more time spent in the canyon, the better. One-day trips are long days, with just enough time for a stop for lunch.  Our 2 and 3-day trips allow time to enjoy two enchanting side creeks (we normally camp at both on the three day trip) where deep pool swimming holes are interconnected with natural granite jacuzzi pools. Overnight trips also let you test the extended culinary talents of our guides. 

About Tuolumne Flows:
In years with normal snow-pack, water releases from Hetch Hetchy reservoir near Yosemite typically provide raftable flows on the Tuolumne seven days per week prior to about July 1, and six days per week (every day but Sunday due to lack of power generation on Sundays) after July 1. As a result, on our 3 day Tuolumne trips launching on Saturdays after about July 1, Sundays are generally layover days... perfect opportunities to unwind, pool-hop and explore the Clavey river, and perhaps hike to abandoned mining sites, fish, read, or just plain relax. Feel free to call our office with any questions about the above special trip scenario. To insure trip quality on this National Wild and Scenic River, the U.S. Forest Service restricts commercial Tuolumne trip starts to just 2 per day!