Tuolumne, California, US

4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge (Main Tuolomne)

Exit from Thread the Needle rapid

Exit from Thread the Needle rapid
Photo by Paul Martzen

Gauge Information

River Description

The Main Tuolumne River is a California classic, with nice scenery, exciting class 4 rapids, good side hikes and interesting historical sites.  Dependable flows are provided by Holm Powerhouse up on Cherry Creek.   Hetch Hetchy Water and Power has developed a good relationship with the whitewater community and has agreements to provide dependable daytime flows through the summer to the extent possible.  

Permits are Required from May 1 to October 15 of each year. Permits must be obtained from the Stanislaus National Forest, Groveland Ranger District. Day trip permits are usually easy to obtain in person and are free. Overnight permits can be reserved starting on January 1st. Weekday overnight permits can be easy to obtain also.   Permits are free but there is a fee to reserve permits ahead of time.    The reservation fee is $15 per 1st 10 people, and $2 per person over 10 people.  
The Groveland Ranger District office is on Highway 120, about a third of a mile east of Ferreti Road, the turnoff to Meral's Pool.   Call (209) 962-7825
Permit Instructions
Permit Application 

Getting There:  Groveland is on Highway 120, the northern route into Yosemite National Park.   From Modesto or Manteca on Freeway 99, it is a little more than an hours drive up 120 to Groveland. 

Driving from the south up highway 99, turn north at Merced up J59. through Snelling to La Grange.  Take highway 132 to Coulterville.   In Coulterville, turn north onto 49 and continue to highway 120 at the bottom of the Priest Grade.   Alternatively, turn onto Greeley Hill Road in Coulterville, then turn left after a few miles onto the Priest Coulterville road.  This narrow road meets highway 120 at the top of the Priest Grade. 

Put in:    From Goveland, drive east on highway 120 about 8 miles to Ferretti road at Casa Loma.   Turn left and drive 1 mile to the junction with the Lumsden Road (Forest Route 1N10)    Meral's Pool  is 5 miles down this narrow, twisty, rough, slow, dirt road.  Allow about 20 minutes driving time from Highway 120 down to Meral's Pool.  Lumsden Road is generally closed in the winter time. Call the ranger district to see when this road opens in the spring. There are several free campsites along the river in the vicinity of the put in. They have pit toilets but no potable water. 

When Lumsden road is closed, kayakers can hike down the SF Tuolumne road. It is a two or three mile hike but all down hill with some nice scenary. Talk to the rangers at the Forest Service station for directions and conditions.   The turn off for the road/trail is about .4 miles past the Buck Meadow Lodge.

Take out:    Wards Ferry Road bridge crosses the upper end of New Don Pedro reservoir. Boaters will usually have to paddle a mile or two of flatwater on the lake. If the reservoir is low there can be nice rapids almost to the bridge. There is a trail on the upstream river right side of the bridge. Parking is limited, so cars get spread out on the shoulder along the road. Don't leave any valuables in the car.  Break ins sometimes happen.   Allow about 20 minutes driving time each way from the river to Highway 120. 

Alternate Take out:  A commercial towing service will tow rafters down the reservoir to Moccassin Point Marina, where derigging and unloading is much easier.    Contact: Dave 209-962-4965] direct, or contact Tuolumne River shuttle service,  [Darrell ] 209-559-4605 to reserve a time for hook up and pull out.

Other information sources:
Cassady & Calhoun, Holbek & Stanley, Martin
Rocks and Rapids of the Tuolumne River, by Terry Wright
Tuolumne River Trust

CaCreeks.com
CaliRiver.com.
Tuolumne River - National Forest page
Tuolumne-River.com guide page 
Loma Prieta Tuolumne River Guide
Paddle to the Sea; 2009 (blog)
Tuolumne River Shuttles (209-732-6165)

Geology:
Cenozoic evolution of the Tuolumne
http://www.terrywrightgeology.com/tguiderevision07.1.doc  is an msWord doc of Terry Wright's wonderful book, 'Rocks and Rapids of the Tuolumne River; A guide to the Natural and Human History'.