Merced

There is a large flat pool at the put in for paddling around and warming up. But the sound of whitewater comes from just downstream. Several distinct drops come in quick succession once you commit to this right side channel. This is one of the bigger rapids on the section but a couple others are as big or a bit bigger. Canoes and open cockpit kayaks will probably get some water splashed in.
Stan tests out his patch job on 14 foot rec boat that used to have a 2 foot chunk missing from the bow. In the background are huge piles of river rock dredged up at the beginning of the century in a search for gold.
Henderson Park is about halfway between the put in below Snelling diversion dam, and the take out at Snelling Road. At 1200 cfs it took a little over an hour to get here and even less time from here to the take out. It is a pretty park and a convenient lunch stop.
From left to right, Dan, Shane, Tracy and Stan discuss and practice the finer points of skipping pebbles at Henderson Park. Deneyse and Jim look on. Henderson Park makes a good stopping spot or intermediate access point.
Shane & Dan Hogg follow Stan Gray into the swiftwater of a narrower channel. The river generally alternates between wide slow sections and narrow swiftwater sections. Small riffles were very common, but there were many rapids with larger waves. I was too busy paddling to get pictures of the bigger drops.
I think this is the entrance to the largest rapid that we encountered. It is only large in relative terms, but for the beginners in the group it was hair raising. It is a narrow channel with a first drop that accelerates the water. Halfway through is a large horizon line that looks like it could be an abrupt drop. At 1200 cfs the drop itself was very smooth, but the waves following were big enough to get some water in my canoe.

Beginners without sufficient maneuvering skill, judgment or guidance from experienced boaters could easily end up tipped or swept into trees along the side.