Tuolumne Canyon from Lumsden Road.

Tuolumne Outfitters
Book your trip today! 1, 2 or 3-day rafting trips on the Main Tuolumne and Upper Tuolumne/Cherry Creek:
All Outdoors
ARTA
ECHO
OARS
Sierra Mac River Trips
Whitewater Voyages
Zephyr

Tuolumne River Rapids Map
The Trust, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, is offering a Rapids Map of the Main Tuolumne from Meral’s Pool to Ward’s Ferry Bridge. Get your waterproof map today and take it with you down the river—cost: $2.50. Contact Cynthia King at (209) 588-8636.

Permit Applications
The Tuolumne is a special wilderness experience because it is permitted, resulting in more solitude than other rivers. To get a permit contact the U.S. Forest Service’s Groveland District office at (209) 962-7825 or fill out the application online.

River Flow Links
Check out current river flows for the Tuolumne and its tributaries.

TUOLUMNE'S FIRST CLASS WHITEWATER

Stretching from the highest peaks in Yosemite to the expansive Central Valley, the Tuolumne River watershed features an amazing landscape spectrum. Alpine peaks, mountain meadows, dramatic river-sculpted canyons, and much more can be found by traveling around the watershed.

This year in particular, melting snow is swelling the Tuolumne with high flows and huge, fast rapids best suited for experienced boaters. Affectionately known as “the T,” the federally-designated Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River’s runs are known for their technical rapids. These trips are also famous for their scenic beauty, wildlife viewing, fishing, creek exploring, and solitude. At this time of year, the canyons’ walls and nearby rolling hills explode with amazing wildflower displays.

Born from glacially fed headwaters within Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne provides a true wilderness experience. The notorious Class V+ Upper Tuolumne/Cherry Creek is only for experts. The popular Class IV Main Tuolumne is enjoyed by intermediate to advanced boaters, and adventurous beginners on commercial trips.

The 9-mile Upper Tuolumne/Cherry Creek run drops an average of 110 feet per mile, providing fifteen Class V and V+ rapids and many Class IV+. The run starts just downstream of Holm Powerhouse on Cherry Creek and eventually drops over 200 feet in a single mile, with back to back Class V rapids, a section aptly named the Miracle Mile. Large rapids continue until take-out at Meral's Pool.

The most commonly run stretch, the Main Tuolumne, starts at Meral's Pool (named after Jerry Meral, founding board member of the Trust). It flows through 18 miles of technical, boulder strewn rapids to the Ward's Ferry Bridge take-out. The Tuolumne drops nearly 760 feet in elevation on this run, producing more than a dozen Class IV rapids and numerous Class IIIs. The Clavey River confluence, location of frothy Class V Clavey Falls, is this trips’ highlight.

The Rafting Season
Both runs depend on runoff in the spring and early summer, and then on releases from San Francisco’s Cherry Reservoir through the summer. When the rafting flows are dam-controlled, they are more predictable (generally occurring only Monday through Saturday and at 1,000-1,200 cfs for 3-5 hours per day).

The Upper Tuolumne/Cherry Creek’s difficult rapids can only be run after the early season snow melt, so summer is the best time to catch this thrilling experience.

For the Main Tuolumne, boating season generally extends from March to September. As the season continues, flows become more controlled and appropriate for adventurous beginners.