Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge (Main Tuolomne)Class IV-V
18.5 Miles
Avg Gradient 40 fpm
Meral's Pool
Meral's Pool Photo of Meral's Pool, Put-in for Main Tuolumne Runs, Take-out for Cherry Creek by Matt Urdan taken 5/28/01 @ 1250 cfs Gauge Information
Tuolumne
River DescriptionThe Main Tuolumne River is a California classic, with nice scenery, exciting class 4 rapids, good side hikes and interesting historical sites.Permits are Required from May 1 to October 15 of each year. Permits must be obtained from the Stanislaus National Forest, Groveland Ranger District. Day trip permits are usually easy to obtain in person. Overnight permits can be reserved starting on January 1st. Weekday overnight permits can be easy to obtain also. The forest has good information at their Tuolumne River web page. Permit Instructions Getting There: Put in: Meral's Pool at Lumsden campground is at the bottom of a narrow, twisty, rough and slow dirt road. It is generally closed in the winter time. Call the ranger district to see when this road opens in the spring. There are several free campsites along the river in the vicinity of the put in. They have pit toilets but no potable water. Alternate access can be had by hiking down the SF Tuolumne road. It is a two or three mile hike but all down hill with some nice scenary. It does face east so catches morning sun. Obviously this hike takes effort and it does take a bit longer than driving down Lumsden road, but it is much faster than driving back down and up Lumsden road to collect a put in vehicle after your trip. It is often used in the winter when Lumsden Rd is closed. Take out: Wards Ferry Road bridge crosses the upper end of New Don Pedro reservoir. Boaters will usually have to paddle a mile or two of flatwater on the lake. If the reservoir is low there can be nice rapids almost to the bridge. There is a trail on the upstream river right side of the bridge. Parking is limited, so cars get spread out on the shoulder along the road. Don't leave any valuables in the car. Break ins sometimes happen. Other information sources: Cassady & Calhoun, Holbek & Stanley, Martin Rocks and Rapids of the Tuolumne River, by Terry Wright CaCreeks.com CaliRiver.com. Tuolumne River - National Forest page Tuolumne-River Rafting Hompage StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2007-04-24 15:09:04
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