July 5, 2019

Yosemite – Float the Merced River


person paddling at the Merced River

Having grown up a 2-hours drive from the Yosemite Valley, it was a common occurrence in my family to head up to the mountains and spend a day in Yosemite. However, it was not until recently that I discovered that you can bring a raft to float the Merced river in Yosemite. There is a narrow window for when you can actually float the Merced river because the water levels have to be juuuust right – not too high, not too low. So on July 4th weekend (notoriously an insanely busy weekend in Yosemite) in 2019, I decided to make it happen and bring our own raft to the famous National Park.

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Where to start the float at the Merced River… and parking

Yosemite recommends that you float starting at Stoneman Bridge and disembark at Sentinel Beach. For our first time, we got in at Stoneman Bridge and got out at Sentinel Bridge. We arrived in the Yosemite Valley by 9 am and it was already crazy busy, so we snagged a spot at the Chapel (near Sentinel Bridge). Deciding where to park was by far the most difficult logistical issue because we only had one car and the park filling up by the minute. When going, you’ll have roughly three options for parking:

  1. Park at the top near Stoneman Bridge, float down, and then take a public shuttle with a wet, partially deflated raft to get back to your car.
  2. Park at the bottom near Sentinel Bridge, jump on a shuttle at the start with a dry, fully deflated raft, then float back to your car.
  3. Purchase a Travel Yosemite Shuttle ticket for a ride from Sentinel Beach back to Half Dome (formerly Curry) Village and park at Half Dome Village.

We went with the second option, thinking that it would be easy to catch a shuttle with a dry raft. However, this was not the case. It was SO busy in the park already that two shuttles passed us completely full of people and unable to take on additional passengers. We gave up on the shuttle and I was convinced that someone would give us a ride. The traffic going to Half Dome Village (formerly Curry Village) was only slightly faster than walking pace and I asked two cars who politely declined. On the third try, a guy agreed and we hopped into his perfectly clean truck for the 7 minute/1 or 2-mile drive. Yah!

At a Glance:

  • Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would go again
  • Intensity: Swimsuit, water shoes, tank top, screen, waterproof phone case
  • Location: Yosemite National Park, California
  • Cost: Free, if you bring your own raft, but don’t forget the cost of the National Park entry fee AND reservation! Each car is $35.00 or buy the annual pass for $80.00. Did you know you can purchase annual pass from REI?
  • Restrooms: At the park entrance or there are more restrooms at the bottom of the Glacier Point Road turn-off
  • Timing: 1 – 3 hours

Highlights:

  • This is a super unique way to experience the Yosemite Valley
  • Amazingly peaceful, despite being an extremely busy day
  • Cool and fun!

Lowlights:

  • Trying to figure out where to put the car
  • Very narrow time of year that you can do this

Logistics Planning Resources:

  1. Use this map for Stoneman Bridge and Sentinel Beach location reference
  2. Use this map for public shuttle stop reference (note: I am unclear if and when the public shuttles will be running in 2022 and beyond, check the website and plan accordingly 🙂
  3. Here is the Travel Yosemite Rafting Information
the Merced River
woman's back at the Merced River
person in red hat at the Merced River
woman holding a paddle on a inflatable boat at the Merced River
bridge over the Merced River
ripples at the Merced River
person leaning on a tree

Float the Merced River

At Stoneman Bridge, we found a shady spot to inflate our raft. We saw other people starting at this spot as well. I recommend crossing the bridge and starting at the clearing in the shade. This way, you get to go under the bridge at the very start. When you’re fully inflated, push off and enjoy the float down the river. This is snowmelt, so the water will be quite chilly! How high the water is will determine your speed, but you can also steer yourself to quicker or slower moving sections of water. After the initial bridge, it becomes quiet and peaceful almost immediately. It is incredible how all the traffic, people, and frustration can melt away in amazement of the Yosemite Valley.

Unless you want to do serious steering, I would let the river turn your raft around and take in the changing views of the stone giants surrounding you. You’ll be able to see Half Dome emerge and disappear behind the trees. Then you’ll get a fantastic view of Yosemite Falls. There is one sandy area where many people were getting out to take a short break and enjoy the view. Due to the number of people in the sandy area, we decided to skip this option.

Before I felt ready to stop, we had already reached the walking bridge that was just past Sentinel Bridge. Our car was just a short walk away at the chapel. Re-reading through the information, I see that you can float all the way to Sentinel BEACH. This would make for a 3-mile long float and even more enjoyable. Be careful as the public shuttle does not go to Sentinel Beach, only the Travel Yosemite rafting information mentions a shuttle. The logistics are still rough.

person paddling at the Merced River
a guy paddling at the Merced River
2
woman smiling
inflatable boat near the river

Try to take it slow

Since we did not go all the way to Sentinel Beach, we only floated for about 45 minutes to an hour. With prep, transport to the starting point, blowing up the raft and packing up, the experience took much longer – I would say closer to 2.5 or 3 hours. This is meant to be a leisurely activity, so I didn’t mind, but I wish we had more time to float. Or maybe float it twice.

The river was pretty high when we went in 2019, so it moved us right along. To slow down, I would steer towards slower-moving river sections and do the full route, of course. To do the full route in the future, I would likely try one of the following:

  • Pay the $5.00/per person to take the Travel Yosemite Shuttle (assuming it is in operation).
  • Park in the public lot next to the Yosemite Valley Lodge because there is a public shuttle stop, and you can float for a bit longer.
  • Park at Sentinel Beach and convince family/friends/strangers to drop us off at Stoneman Bridge.

Rent a Raft or Bring Your Own

You can rent a raft, which is $28.50 per person, from Half Dome (formerly Curry) Village. Check out this website for more information. Since there were two of us, we did not want to spend over $50 to float the river, so we brought our own raft and loved it! Don’t forget to bring your pump and paddles to help you steer.

When can you float??

When you can float the Merced depends on the snowpack and melting rates, so it will be a little different year-to-year. Typically it is around the end of June, July, and sometimes early August. This also coincides with the busiest time of year for the park. The water must be lower than 7ft at 8 am at Pohono Bridge. Here is a very technical site that Yosemite links to check the gauge height.

What to bring with you: Floating the Merced River in Yosemite

Here’s everything you’ll need for a successful day floating through the incredible Yosemite Valley:

Other Activities to Pair Your River Float within Yosemite

With the river floating only taking a few hours, I recommend pairing the experience with something else while in Yosemite to make a day of it. Here are a couple of not-too-intense ideas:

Overall Thoughts: Float the Merced River in Yosemite

Although logistically challenging, I had so much FUN floating the Merced River through the Yosemite Valley. This was a completely new way to experience this majestic place, that I wish it were longer. It was incredible how quickly all the traffic and crowds melted away while we were on the river. We would see a few people on the river banks or walk across the footbridges, but this was a fraction compared to driving in and out of the Valley. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and have thoughts to make it a longer experience in the future! Would you give it a try?

Honestly, I haven’t done much river floating before. I think I’m hooked now. Where are your favorite places to do a river float? Let me know in the comments, so I can add it to my list.

Happy Travels,

Hanna

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Filed Under: California, Water Activities

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