"I came away from the Tuolumne trip with such a feeling of well-being; it is not very often that one can work so hard and yet be so well take care of."

- H. Haskell, CA

One day trips occur in the early spring when the water is high and the weather is cool. It is a long day on the river with only a stop for lunch.

Two and three day trips set a more leisurely river pace with time for hiking and canyon exploration. There is a stop mid day for lunch and camp is reached in the late afternoon. You will have free time to set up camp, relax, and explore before dinner is served. Summer mornings can also be quite leisurely as we wait for water to reach our campsite from upstream reservoir releases.

All trips end in the late afternoon at Ward's Ferry. A charter bus will take you back to your car at La Casa Loma store. You can expect to be back to your car between 4 and 6 PM.

The pace of a trip is very dependent on water level! In 'normal' years, water in the Tuolumne is controlled by upstream dam releases. The schedule of water releases varies from month to month.

Human History

The 20th century social history of the Tuolumne has been almost as turbulent as its rapids. At the turn of the century miners, power generators, and cattlemen all had their day in the rugged Tuolumne canyon. In fact, you can still see the remains of a power house built in 1906.

The Tuolumne came on the national scene in 1913 when John Muir and the Sierra Club battled the City of San Francisco over damming the Tuolumne inside Yosemite National Park. Muir and the Sierra Club lost that Congressional fight with the passage of the Raker Act in 1913 which led to the building of Hetch Hetchy reservoir. Seventy-one years later, in 1984, Congress designated the Tuolumne a National Wild & Scenic River. This designation is a special tribute to the river's outstanding quality and offers it protection from further encroachment by man.

Kayakers first ventured down the Tuolumne in the mid 1960's. Commercial rafting began in 1970. Many of the rapids and special spots on the river, like Meral's Pool, Hackamack's Hole, Sunderland's Chute, and Grey's Grindstone, are named after early kayakers. India rapid is named after India Fleming, the first woman to kayak the river.

Where is the Tuolumne?

The Tuolumne cascades out of the high reaches of Yosemite National Park, north of popular Yosemite Valley. It is slowed at the edge of the park by O'Shaugnessy Dam where it forms Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, then tumbles west through the Sierra Foothills towards California's Central Valley.

Our meeting place is about an hour drive from Yosemite National Park, and many of our guests combine their river trip with a visit to this spectacular spot. It is also in the center of California's historic Gold Country.

Whitewater

The Tuolumne is a Class IV-V river: long rapids with powerful, irregular waves, dangerous rocks, boiling eddies, and strong currents requiring precise maneuvering. It drops 66 feet per mile for the first six miles and 38 feet per mile overall. Boats maneuver through over 30 rapids such as Sunderland's Chute, Grey's Grindstone, and the legendary, world class Clavey Falls.

The season is a long one, starting in April and continuing through mid-September. Changes in the canyon's climate and the river's water level provide quite a diversity of experiences. On one and two day spring trips (April - June) the water is high and cold with the Sierra snow melt. Summer brings longer and hotter days with water flows controlled by dam releases giving time on two and three day trips to explore some of the Tuolumne's wonderful side canyon hikes.

Tuolumne Splendor - Whitewater & More ...

In addition to fantastic whitewater, the Tuolumne canyon offers an equally exceptional escape into a ruggedly beautiful wilderness. Three day trips during the hot days of summer are best for exploring the canyon and for simply relaxing in its splendid solitude. Side creeks reveal beautiful waterfalls and calm swimming holes that reward the hiker in the hot summer months. More strenuous hikes up the main canyon allow for dramatic views of the Tuolumne River from up high, or you may visit some of the Tuolumne's old mining sites. Crystal clear water also offers some of the finest trout fishing in the country.

Bird watchers should keep their eyes and ears open for two special birds: the Canyon Wren and the Ouzel, also know as the Dipper. You will hear the Canyon Wren's beautiful call, which begins high and descends the scale, early in the morning. You will see the Ouzel make its trademark bobbing and dipping motion along the shore, then actually swim underwater, looking for insects.

What Next?

• Call us at (800) 652-3246. We love to talk about our trips!
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