Merced River Recreation Area and Briceburg

Highway 140 into Yosemite follows the Merced River through a deep, winding canyon, and the Merced River Recreation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management near Briceburg, is the place to get out of the car and enjoy it. The area sits along Highway 140 between Mariposa and the park, near Midpines in central Mariposa County, and it protects a long stretch of the Wild and Scenic Merced in steep foothill country of oak, gray pine, chaparral and redbud. A suspension bridge at Briceburg carries visitors across the river to the north bank, where a road and trail run downstream along the old grade of the Yosemite Valley Railroad, which carried travelers from Merced to El Portal in the early twentieth century. The grade makes for level, easy walking with the river always beside you, and in spring the slopes put on one of the best wildflower displays in the Sierra foothills; the county tourism bureau describes the flower season running from March into May. Spring flows also make this one of California's well-known whitewater runs, and several outfitters run rafting trips when water levels allow. In summer and autumn the river is a place for swimming and fishing, and gold panning here is a tradition that goes back to the 1850s. Three first-come, first-served campgrounds along the river fill in summer. Winter is quieter and milder than in the mountains — at this low elevation snow is rare — which makes the canyon a good outing on days when the high country is closed or the valley is icy. There is no park entrance fee here; check BLM notices for any fees or seasonal access changes before you go.

Why go. Most visitors see the Merced canyon only through a windshield on the way to Yosemite, but walking a few miles along the river gives a completely different sense of the landscape that feeds the valley. In March and April the hillsides are green and bright with poppies, lupine and redbud, the river runs high and loud, and you can have miles of trail almost to yourself on a weekday. It is also the gentlest hike in the region: level, low-elevation and rarely snowy.

Doing it well. Park near Briceburg, cross the suspension bridge and walk downstream along the old railroad grade as far as you like before turning back; the further you go, the quieter it gets. Bring water, sun protection and sturdy shoes, and watch for poison oak along the edges and for rattlesnakes in warm weather. Swift water and cold snowmelt make the river dangerous in spring, so admire it from the bank unless you are on a guided raft trip. In winter, combine a canyon walk with lunch in Mariposa and the two Gold Rush museums. Spring visitors can pair it with the waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, which peak around the same time.

Who it suits. Photographers chasing wildflowers and river scenes, families wanting an easy walk, anglers, rafters, and anyone staying in Mariposa, Midpines or El Portal. It is not a substitute for Yosemite itself, but it is the perfect complement on an arrival or departure day, or in winter when weather keeps you out of the high country. AutoCamp Yosemite in Midpines and the El Portal lodges are close by.