Old browser warning

Site look funky? Your browser is either Internet Explorer (hit refresh (F5) several times due to a bug in Microsoft's code that we can't work around) or is 10 years old and standards-based layouts and styling confuse it. Consider updating. One excellent option is Mozilla Firefox, versions of which are available for Linux, Mac and Windows. Safari 1.0+ and IE 6.0+ are also supported.

Merced - 3) Routes 120-140 Junction to Park Boundary

Merced, California, US

3) Routes 120-140 Junction to Park Boundary (Merced Gorge)

Usual Difficulty	V (for normal flows)
Length	6.8 Miles
Avg. Gradient	242 fpm

Merced Gorge

Merced Gorge
Photo by Thomas O'Keefe taken 03/12/09

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
MERCED R A POHONO BRIDGE NR YOSEMITE CA
usgs-11266500	300 - 1000 cfs	V	00h48m	745 cfs (running)
usgs-11266500	Range for best boatability uncertain. Please help your fellow paddlers by providing a comment or report.

River Description

This section probably does not get paddled very much as it is discouraged / not allowed by Yosemite National Park. The first descent, described in Holbeck and Stanley was enabled by Yosemite local Tom Meagher who arranged special permission. Other parties have descended the river, and by modern standards it may be comparable to other very difficult rivers now commontly run. It is still likely that numerous portages remain.

Put in: google map. Elevation = 3820 feet.

Alternate Access Points: The road is close to the river over much of this section though it climbs away below Arch Rock entrance station. There are numerous potential alternate access points. In the area near Cascade Creek the gradient and difficulty on the Merced is moderate.

Take out: Highway 140 comes back down to river level at the park boundary. There are two large turnouts for parking upstream of the motels. google map. Elevation = 2120 feet.

The total drop in this section is about 1700 feet over 7 miles for an average gradient of 240 feet per mile.

Other Information Sources:
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Water Activities

Merced & SF Merced Planning Process:
The Merced River Plan process is still accepting public comments. Boaters should write comments about which sections of the river and tributaries that they like to boat on and want to boat on. Describe what the experience is like and how it fits into your appreciation and understanding of Yosemite.
Merced River Plan- Public scoping open! till Feb 4, 2010
Merced & South Fork Merced River Draft Outstandingly Remarkable Values Report (1.3 MB, PDF file)

Comment forms [772 kb PDF]
Submit comments electronically to the Yosemite National Park Service planning team at
yose_planning@nps.gov or
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?parkId=347&projectId=18982