Best Merced River Day Trips & Things to Do

The 145-mile Central California river flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains through Yosemite National Park to the Central Valley. Merced River is a popular destination for water sports including whitewater rafting, boating and fishing. Remnants of its old railroad can be seen on a hike trail along its course and it is bordered by several campground sites. Merced River's watershed contains 37 fish species and 127 bird species. The Merced River Hatchery was constructed in 1991 due to the decreasing salmon population.