Merced River
Merced River
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Thursday
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Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
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4.5
16 reviews
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Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
Mar 2022
Don't get lost on the incredible granite cliffs and mountains and waterfalls springing from them, to forget the live blood of the valley, the Merced. If you spend time in the valley you will criss-cross this river so many times without noticing because the stars are the cliff, mountains and waterfalls. However, the water in the river is the lifeblood of the valley. Also the river can provide both the best views and backdrops for your pictures. Many of the best pull overs are along the river. Finally the river is impressive when you leave the glacier portion of the valley at the park's entrance. This section of the drive is a pretty as any section in the park but so different. With that said, unless you actively make yourself notice the river, you will probably forget it is there.
Written 27 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerCentralFLA
Clermont, FL1,781 contributions
May 2023
We visited Yosemite as a family and loved the valley. Running through Yosemite Valley is the Merced River. It was flowing quickly and overflowing its banks because of the record snow they received this past winter. The Merced is beautiful and set in one of the most amazing settings in the world.
Written 9 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China175,511 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The Merced River is a river in central California that is fed by the snowmelt within Yosemite National Park. The river winds its way through Yosemite Valley, making a central feature of this area of the park.
When visiting the Valley, you won't help but see and spend time near the Merced River. One way roads run along side the Merced River into and out of the valley. There are several nice bridge crossings of the Merced and hiking trails that run along side the river.
We visited the Yosemite Valley this past April and were quite impressed with the water flow and natural beauty of the river. Our favourite spot was at the Swinging Bridge picnic area in the center of the Valley.
At this location the Merced widens a bit and flows with a flat surface, recreating a reflection pool where you can see Yosemite Falls and the ridge of the valley walls to the north in the standing river water. This was a beautiful spot on the river for photos of the valley. We will specifically seek out a return to this particular location on the Merced when we are next able to visit Yosemite.
We also enjoyed stopping along El Portal Road just outside the Valley. There are several pullover locations where you can exit your vehicle and have a look at the river, which runs very rapidly in this location.
Lastly, we spent a bit of time on the Merced River near El Portal and Briceburg, where there is a nice walking trail - Merced River Trail. At this location, you can walk alongside the river and enjoy spring blooms during the spring.
When visiting the Valley, you won't help but see and spend time near the Merced River. One way roads run along side the Merced River into and out of the valley. There are several nice bridge crossings of the Merced and hiking trails that run along side the river.
We visited the Yosemite Valley this past April and were quite impressed with the water flow and natural beauty of the river. Our favourite spot was at the Swinging Bridge picnic area in the center of the Valley.
At this location the Merced widens a bit and flows with a flat surface, recreating a reflection pool where you can see Yosemite Falls and the ridge of the valley walls to the north in the standing river water. This was a beautiful spot on the river for photos of the valley. We will specifically seek out a return to this particular location on the Merced when we are next able to visit Yosemite.
We also enjoyed stopping along El Portal Road just outside the Valley. There are several pullover locations where you can exit your vehicle and have a look at the river, which runs very rapidly in this location.
Lastly, we spent a bit of time on the Merced River near El Portal and Briceburg, where there is a nice walking trail - Merced River Trail. At this location, you can walk alongside the river and enjoy spring blooms during the spring.
Written 21 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JamieRoamingThePlanet
Lake Orion, MI27 contributions
June 2018 • Family
We love rafting down the river in Yosemite! Here are some tips:
1. The water is cold (in a good way!). Get acclimated, and then go swim!
2. You can rent rafts for up to 6 people at a Half Dome Village, but we bring our own.
3. There needs to be enough water flowing in the river, so go in June.
4. The is a bridge with a beach about 1/4 mile up the road from Half Dome Village where you can put your raft of tube in to start, and then get out at the third bridge you come to, and you will be right back at Half Dome Village in about an hour.
5. For a longer float, go to the next bridge, deflate your raft, roll it up, and take the free shuttle back.
6. For an even longer float, stay on the river until Sentinel bridge, and then get out, and they have a bus you can ride back to Half Dome Village for people who rented their big rafts, but it will cost you $6 per person to ride this special bus.
We jokingly call this experience “enjoying the healing waters of the Merced River” because it is cold and refreshing for the body and the soul to be here in the beautiful Yosemite valley. We come every year!
1. The water is cold (in a good way!). Get acclimated, and then go swim!
2. You can rent rafts for up to 6 people at a Half Dome Village, but we bring our own.
3. There needs to be enough water flowing in the river, so go in June.
4. The is a bridge with a beach about 1/4 mile up the road from Half Dome Village where you can put your raft of tube in to start, and then get out at the third bridge you come to, and you will be right back at Half Dome Village in about an hour.
5. For a longer float, go to the next bridge, deflate your raft, roll it up, and take the free shuttle back.
6. For an even longer float, stay on the river until Sentinel bridge, and then get out, and they have a bus you can ride back to Half Dome Village for people who rented their big rafts, but it will cost you $6 per person to ride this special bus.
We jokingly call this experience “enjoying the healing waters of the Merced River” because it is cold and refreshing for the body and the soul to be here in the beautiful Yosemite valley. We come every year!
Written 24 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA212,259 contributions
July 2016 • Couples
We have been to Merced Rver at various areas in California. Our favorite place to enjoy the Merced River is in the valley area of Yosemite National Park. There are some historic bridges that are across the river.
Its a wonderful place to go rafting on a warm day especially in the late spring and early summer time. One can bring their own rafts or there are places in the park one can rent a raft. We have rented.
Its also a river that we like to walk along.
Some try fishing.
On a warm day, its great to just go and do some swimming in the Merced.
Its a wonderful place to go rafting on a warm day especially in the late spring and early summer time. One can bring their own rafts or there are places in the park one can rent a raft. We have rented.
Its also a river that we like to walk along.
Some try fishing.
On a warm day, its great to just go and do some swimming in the Merced.
Written 5 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheExplorerFamily
Somerset, NJ7,155 contributions
June 2022
The 145-mile Merced River runs in the central part of California. Glaciation during the ice ages carved its 81-mile path through Yosemite National Park, where the flow is steep and swift, but becomes a much calmer meandering stream through the Joaquim Valley.
The water of this river in Yosemite is fed mostly by the snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and is therefore crystal clear, but too cold and too fast for swimming. Most people are content to just sit by the banks, and watch the water flow by, since the water is high in mercury content and in some areas, the CA Water Board found high levels of Anatoxin A – a type of poison produced by algae blooms. Obviously, it is not advisable to drink the water directly without boiling, but in several areas, there is boating, camping and fishing available to visitors.
The best view of the river is when it drops over the Nevada and the Vernal Falls causing the phenomenal “Giant Staircase”.
We saw parts of this river under several bridges that we crossed in Yosemite, calmly moving along by the El Capitan meadow and the Cathedral Beach, and flowing more rapidly near Mirror Lake.
The river is everywhere, and you cannot miss it as you traverse the National Park.
The water of this river in Yosemite is fed mostly by the snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and is therefore crystal clear, but too cold and too fast for swimming. Most people are content to just sit by the banks, and watch the water flow by, since the water is high in mercury content and in some areas, the CA Water Board found high levels of Anatoxin A – a type of poison produced by algae blooms. Obviously, it is not advisable to drink the water directly without boiling, but in several areas, there is boating, camping and fishing available to visitors.
The best view of the river is when it drops over the Nevada and the Vernal Falls causing the phenomenal “Giant Staircase”.
We saw parts of this river under several bridges that we crossed in Yosemite, calmly moving along by the El Capitan meadow and the Cathedral Beach, and flowing more rapidly near Mirror Lake.
The river is everywhere, and you cannot miss it as you traverse the National Park.
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DPMALLIC
London, UK2,354 contributions
July 2018 • Family
A trip is always enjoyable if a beautiful river like River Merced accompanies you in most of the time. We saw this river first when we were entering the Yosemite National Park by Yarts bus. Next day, we we also found her during the Valley floor tour. We got her deeply when on the next day we went to Vernal Falls and found her source.
We came closed to the river when we took Ei Capitan shuttle and got down at Cathedral beach as well as El Capitan picnic area. The water was so attracting, I could not stop myself to get down in the river. It was peak summer (July 2018) but the river water was so cold (as it was the glacier water), it took some time to adjust. The depth was not so much, I found it’s 8 -9 ft maximum depth at the middle of the river at some locations only , however, I could wade a long distance following the bank.
After swimming for half an hour, all the pains due to hiking in the morning session vanished and became fresh again.
Love you River Merced.
We came closed to the river when we took Ei Capitan shuttle and got down at Cathedral beach as well as El Capitan picnic area. The water was so attracting, I could not stop myself to get down in the river. It was peak summer (July 2018) but the river water was so cold (as it was the glacier water), it took some time to adjust. The depth was not so much, I found it’s 8 -9 ft maximum depth at the middle of the river at some locations only , however, I could wade a long distance following the bank.
After swimming for half an hour, all the pains due to hiking in the morning session vanished and became fresh again.
Love you River Merced.
Written 7 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roj1281
Houston, TX524 contributions
Mar 2021
I visited Yosemite in March of 2021 and the drive from Mariposa to Yosemite was beautiful. The water was clear and clean, I kept dipping my hands in it because it was too cold to get in at the time. I got so many pictures of this river.
Written 10 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scrappysquirrel
Mechanicsville, VA486 contributions
June 2019 • Family
We visited Yosemite in mid-June. The Merced River was raging. We saw the river in so many different spots and it was beautiful. Be careful because the current is so strong.
Written 27 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DawgExplorer
Dalton, GA2,541 contributions
June 2019 • Family
The Merced was raging in early June after quite a bit of snowmelt. White water went on for miles and miles well past the perimeter of the park. It is one of the center pieces of the valley that connects many other highlights of the area.
Written 17 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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