Tuolumne

1. Tuolumne Meadows to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir(Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne)

DifficultyIV-V+
Length31.9 mi
Avg Gradientn/a
GaugeTuolumne R a Grand Cyn of Tuolumne Ab Hetch Hetchy
Flow Rate as of 43 minutes
13.66 ftrunnable
Reach Info Last UpdatedSeptember 4, 2023

River Description

The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne was first kayaked in 1983. There has been a steady increase in boating use ever since. With the rise in kayaking skills and the development of better and better creek boats, more people than ever are paddling and portaging this river.    However, the consensus still seems to be that the best paddling in is the upper miles while the middle section is better for hikers and canyoneers.

A GUIDE TO THE BEST WHITEWATER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, HOLBEK & STANLEY, 1988

Other Information Sources:

Grand Canyon of the T paddler report  Seven Rivers Expedition, 2004

Yosemite Park:  Tuolumne River/Tuolumne Meadows Plan

2008 Tuolumne Planning Workbook page   Comments due Sept. 15, 2008


River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Take Out

Distance: 32 mi
Take Out

As part of the River Management Society conference at Yosemite we took a field trip to Hetch Hetchy and discussion Wild and Scenic Rivers Planning and management of the river corridor and reservoir. It was an opportunity to discuss the interests of American Whitewater in a setting that included park staff and senior agency leadership involved in Wild and Scenic Rivers planning and management.

Yosemite National Park

Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Planning

NOW AVAILABLE:  THE TUOLUMNE PLANNING WORKBOOK, A WORK IN PROGRESS

This summer, the NPS  will continue discussions with the public, park

visitors, staff, stakeholders, and volunteers regarding planning  for both

the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River and Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite

National Park. To further these conversations, the NPS is releasing  the

TUOLUMNE PLANNING WORKBOOK, a compilation of all work completed on  this

planning process to date.

While release of the draft EIS for the Tuolumne River Plan and  Tuolumne

Meadows Plan will not occur until summer 2009, the NPS is providing  this

workbook as a progress report and seeking additional comments from

interested members of the public. This is a new step for planning in

Yosemite, inspired by members of the public who asked for  opportunities to

provide input on park plans DURING the plan's development.

The Tuolumne Planning Workbook contains draft descriptions of Tuolumne

River values, prescriptions for future management, and preliminary  concepts

for where and how these management prescriptions could be applied.  It also

contains a comment card and map of the Tuolumne River corridor,  suitable

for marking up and mailing back.

Hundreds of comments were received last summer during public  scoping for

these two plans, which continue to inform the planning process.  However, if

information contained in the Tuolumne Planning Workbook prompts new

thoughts on how to plan for Tuolumne Meadows, additional 'scoping'  comments

are welcome.

This is an exciting point in the process where no decisions have  been made,

but a tremendous number of ideas have been shared. Yet the NPS  planning

team is seeking more. Before heading into development of Tuolumne  River

Plan alternatives this fall, the NPS wants to take advantage of  this summer

season to get additional input.

To be considered in the alternatives development process, comments  on the

workbook must be received no later than September 15, 2007.

The workbook can be viewed online at www.nps.gov/yose/planning/trp. To

request a printed version--or submit written comments--send an email

YOSE_Planning@nps.gov, fax  209-379-1294, or mail  Yosemite  Planning, ATTN:

Tuolumne River Plan,  P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389.