About This Route
The Tuolumne River's Clavey Falls to Wards Ferry section (about 25 miles, multi-day) or shorter Day Tripper run offers Class IV-V rafting below Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, gateway to Yosemite's wild north. Permits required via Recreation.gov; flows prime May-July at 1,000-3,000 cfs. Features like Lumsden Falls and Hell's Kitchen demand expert skills amid granite gorges. NPS and SFPUC regulate for wilderness protection.
Safety Considerations
Portage musts like Clavey Falls; must-see video recon first. Extreme hydraulics cause pins/flips; train with AWA safety courses. Multi-day trips face poison oak, black bears, rattlesnakes. Scout via Crocker Point. Hypothermia, heat exhaustion dual threats.
Essential Gear
Full drysuits (Kokatat), IRATA helmets, knife, pin kit, PLB.