Merced River Recreation Management Area

The Merced River Recreation Management Area is a very special place just downstream from Yosemite. It is well known for excellent whitewater boating, wildflower viewing, camping, swimming, and recreational gold panning and prospecting. Bird watching is good throughout the area most of the year, and fishing is popular for trout and bass along the entire river. Hiking is great anytime of the year, and biking along the gravel roads and trails is popular with families and experienced mountain bikers alike. Easy access, un-dammed flows and excellent whitewater boating attract rafters and kayakers during the spring runoff, April through July. Commercial rafting trips are available from BLM permitted outfitters. The Merced River Trail continues downstream from the end of the Briceburg Campground Road and brings hikers or bikers to the North Fork of the Merced River and beyond. The Burma Grade road is another popular route to explore on foot, bike or high-clearance automobile; this scenic backroad climbs steeply out of the Merced River Canyon and eventually leads to the towns of Greely Hill or Buck Meadows (CA-120). There are three developed BLM campgrounds along the Merced River after it bends away from CA-140. They are accessed by crossing the suspension bridge just beyond the Visitor Center and heading down river along the unpaved Briceburg Campground Road, the old Yosemite Valley Railroad Grade. It is not recommended for trailers over 18 feet or large RVs to cross over the suspension bridge. Reservations are required for all sites, and same-day reservations may be available. Bear-proof food storage lockers are at all campsites, and the camping stay limit is 14 days within a 90-day period. Distances from the Briceburg Visitor Center: McCabe Flat Campground 2.3 miles downstream, Willow Placer Campground 3.6 miles, Railroad Flat Campground 4.5 miles, and North Fork Primitive Camp a further 2.5 miles downstream of Railroad Flat. Cable Rock Day Use Site is 1.4 miles downstream, and the Briceburg Day Use area and put-in is on CA-140 at the Merced River, 12 miles east of Mariposa.