WHITEWATER RAFTING

Tuolumne River Rafting

Trip Details

Day 1:
Meet at the La Casa Loma River Store in Groveland. Your guide will give you a waterproof bag in which to pack your belongings if you’re on an overnight trip. Departing Groveland, take a steep shuttle ride down to the river – a fitting introduction to a trip filled with big descents! Arriving at the put-in point, you’ll meet the rest of your O.A.R.S. crew and feel your anticipation build as you see the rafts waiting for you. After the guides present an orientation and thorough safety talk, the adventure begins.

Within the first two miles of the trip, you’ll encounter three of the Tuolumne’s most notorious rapids: Rock Garden, Nemesis, and Rams Head. The quick succession of fast chutes, sudden drops and technical maneuvering around boulders immediately sharpens your paddling skills, and your teamwork develops as you conquer the consistently exciting Class IV rapids.

Come lunchtime, pull over to a sandy beach for a delicious picnic. Your guides will lay out an abundant spread of cold cuts, cheeses, veggies, and breads, or perhaps a tasty taco salad for roll-your-own burritos, accompanied by fruit, cookies, cold water, and lemonade.

Back on the river, each mile brings more white-knuckling thrills, more laughs, adrenaline and high fives. The remote beauty of your surroundings enhances your enjoyment of the trip; since there are only two launches allowed on the Tuolumne each day, a feeling of absolute peace and seclusion in this breathtaking wilderness canyon is well founded.

Well founded, but temporary… “peaceful” might not describe your mood when, around Mile 5, you hear a distant, rumbling sound up ahead. The rumbling turns into a loud roar as you approach the biggest whitewater in the canyon: Clavey Falls. The ultimate thrill, Clavey is actually a series of three staircase drops that are sure to deliver heart-pounding, frenzied-paddling, unabashed excitement! Flying through the bottom of the last drop, you’ll feel an amazing sense of accomplishment and euphoria as you’ve just negotiated one of the most notable rapids in the West.

Come mid- to late-afternoon, stop and make camp if you’re on a multi-day trip; you grab your bags and set up your tent while O.A.R.S. takes care of the kitchen and “living room” – camp chairs and the site for tonight’s campfire (if permitted). This is the perfect time for you to lounge on the beach with that book you’ve been wanting to finish forever. Before long you’ll be savoring pleasing hors d’oeuvres and the beverage of your choice – delicious as these refreshments are, they always taste better after a day on the river! Read, nap, or just sit back and laugh with friends and family as O.A.R.S. prepares dinner. After another satisfying feast, the evening is yours to spend however you wish. Maybe music, stories or jokes will bring you together tonight; maybe the popping of the fire, the whisper of the river and the clarity of the big, star-filled sky will encourage silent reflection on the amazing wilderness that is, for now, your home.

Days 2-3:
Grey’s Grindstone, Thread the Needle, and Hell’s Kitchen provide more thrills as you continue down the Tuolumne. In between rapids, calm stretches of cool water invite you to jump in for a refreshing swim.

The three-day trip gives you lots of time to explore the hidden wonders of this canyon. Great hikes along the Tuolumne’s side streams bring you to waterfalls, swimming holes, natural waterslides, and clear creeks that offer excellent trout fishing. There is also time for relaxing on the beach, taking in some tanning rays or joining a game of Frisbee, volleyball or horseshoes.

As you reach Ward’s Ferry and flat water, the river trip draws to a close. At the take-out point, an O.A.R.S. shuttle will be waiting to give you a ride back to the Casa Loma River Store. You’ll be returned to your car by approximately 6:00pm.