Can you raft down the Merced yet?

[hbsurf]

A few friends were saying that the water level was too high a few weeks ago. Is it lower now and can you raft down thru the valley yet?

Dave

[dan]

A few friends were saying that the water level was too high a few weeks ago. Is it lower now and can you raft down thru the valley yet?

No, not in the park. See this page for status:
http://www.yosemitepark.com/activities_ ... fting.aspx

Whitewater rafting downstream, outside the park (as opposed to flatwater rafting in Yosemite Valley), is a different matter.
http://yosemitefun.com/white.htm
http://www.c-w-r.com/information/yosemite-rafting.html

[Dean Los Angeles]

It might be possible soon. I was there two weeks ago when the river level was 10 feet and the Merced looked more like the Mississippi.

The river level today (Tuesday, July 12) peaked a little over 6 feet. That's the first time it has been below 6.5 feet, and that is the cutoff for rafting the Merced in Yosemite.

The level by mid-July is usually much lower.

All rivers in the sierra above the dams have been closed to recreation because of the very high water levels.

The San Joaquin and Kings are closed below the dams because of the high flows being released to make room for the incoming water.

[Dean Los Angeles]

Update:
TULARE COUNTY REOPENS THE KINGS RIVER

Today the conditions of the Kings River were carefully reviewed by Tulare County Sheriff's Department and General Services Staff. The river water levels have returned to a reasonable level to allow the reopening of the river on Tuesday July 12, 2011.

[hbsurf]

Thanks for all the updates. Just got home from a week in Yosemite. They were renting rafts, as usual when we got there on the 12th. I saw some waterfalls this year that I haven't seen in 20 years, such a good trip.

Dave