It's Flowing, So Get Going!

Spring Rivers Waterfall and Lakes in Yosemite Mariposa

05.16.2019

Adventure Rafting!

A rollicking rafting trip on the Merced River goes only in spring and early summer—and this is a year not to be missed! Combine a rafting adventure with visiting Yosemite Valley. The river runs from Class 2 to 4, but after peak snowmelt like we’re seeing it’s running high and fast—Class 3 to 4. Who’s game?

Lakeside Camping

Forget the crowded elbowing for campsites and cabins and get to Mariposa County’s less known but absolutely beautiful Lake McClure and its baby sister Lake McSwain. Close to Yosemite Valley but with a far-way feel, both these lakes can be entered at Merced Falls, about 27 miles from Merced and 25 miles from the town of Mariposa. McClure Point Campground and Lake McSwain have swimming, boat rentals, and all the creature comfort amenities for easy overnights!

Waterfall Hikes

Now is an ideal time to hike to two of Yosemite’s classic falls—Vernal and Nevada. They’re absolutely thundering these days, and the trails are less busy than in summer. (Get an early morning start to maximize solitude!)

Stay & Eat in Mariposa

Mariposa County has plenty of awesome lodging. Friendly and artisan, this gold rush town has plenty of dining options, and there’s a super popular craft brew scene. Just an hour from Yosemite via Highway 140, this route is one of California’s most scenic canyon drives: waterfalls spill over the canyon walls, wildflowers carpet the hills, and the fast-flowing Merced River parallels the road.

Check out Yosemite Mariposa County’s website for lodging and outdoor adventure ideas.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

  2. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View
  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View

  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View

  3. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

    View

  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View