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    Zephyr Whitewater Rafting

    4.9 (142 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    We made it!
    Mike M.

    Skyler was a very accommodating and knowledgeable guide. The company was well run and everything went smooth. I would definitely sign up for another trip when we are back in town.

    This was an amazing experience for our family. The trip was planned and coordinated in detail, and everything was done in a safe and timely manner. Our guide was Nate who was awesome and super friendly as well as professional. We will definitely come back!

    Us rafting
    Mystica M.

    Highly recommend!! My husband and I had so much fun! Was definitely a highlight of our trip. Dustin & Sage were awesome! So kind, friendly, and welcoming. 100% worth the price. It was super easy & convenient to reserve our rafting trip. Went to their online website the night before, booked & paid, went rafting the next day. So glad we were able to go even though we booked last minute.

    Arlene E.

    Came to Midpines to visit Bass lake for the week, saw this recommendation at our air b n b guest book and booked a half day trip and was the most fun we had our whole trip !! This experience was so much fun!! Views were breath taking, rapids were great and with a 10 year old it was a good combination of adrenaline fun yet calm enough to be safe plus the fun swimming and rock jumping! Perfect for our first time and excited to keep going! This opened our love for rafting and we plan to do many more! Our guide Skylar was hilarious, super cool, friendly and informative! Our family is a big beef jerkey person and Skylar expressed he made some and even gave us some at the end of the trip which was super sweet! And if he sees this--- let him know it was very good!! Nate and Gary were awesome as well! Nate was was a hilarious host and even tho not our guide he was very friendly as well and Gary our bus driver was very friendly! Everyone we encountered was! We loved the professional photographers following along and the package of tons and tons of photos of beautiful memories- so many to choose from . If you are in Midpines or near HIGHLY recommend this place!!!

    David R.

    One of the highlights of our trip to Yosemite was going rafting with Zephyr Whitewater Rafting. Our trip leader was Brian and he did a great job of capably guiding us down the river, while having a lot of fun, and also telling us a lot of information about the area while doing so. They also had a great photographer which kept traveling down the river by car and taking photos which were very high quality, and though I normally wouldn't buy photos after an event, these photos were numerous and high quality, which I thought was well worth the cost. They provided wet suits and the life vests, though I would recommend bringing some water shoes or sandals that have a strap on the back so they don't fall off which you'll need. Also, bringing a cap to wear under the helmet helps with the sun, as well as good sun screen. One of the best parts for are adult kids was there were a couple of places where it was safe for them to go into the water and float down next to the raft, which they did and really enjoyed that. All the staff were incredibly nice and welcoming as well. Overall, we had a great time, and will have to check them out next time we are back.

    Yup! You're going to get wet!!
    Jeffrey L.

    Zephyr Whitewater Rafting is awesome! ...the gold standard of whitewater rafting companies!! I have been taking groups of friends on their tours for more than thirty years (hate to admit that part). Their guides are always fun and informative while staying constantly on top of their guiding responsibilities. We always have a blast and lots of laughs! Although, I will say I've probably heard the turtle joke enough times now... go and you will understand. I dare say I know a little bit about what I'm talking about since I have gone whitewater rafting since my early teens in places all over the world and even went through raft guide school and have even done some guiding (both decades ago). There are only a handful of rafting companies in the world as good as Zephyr Whitewater Rafting. And... No, I wasn't paid or even given a discount to say all this. If you're not sure who I am, search my name.

    Absolutely fantastic -- one of the best outdoor experiences we've had as a family. The river was thrilling (but within the comfort levels of our 10 and 12 year old). The guide (Heather) was super experienced, friendly, and great in encouraging our kids. The Merced river scenery is awe inspiring -- what can beat watery excitement in natural beauty like this? I would wholeheartedly recommend Zephyr and I'd give them 10 stars out of 5 if Yelp allowed it. Worth every cent and the experience of a lifetime!

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    26 days ago

    Great time on the river. Our guide keep everybody involved the entire time. Highly recommend.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Zephyr Whitewater Rafting

    Review Highlights - Zephyr Whitewater Rafting

    The half day tour down Merced River is fun and family friendly with some big rapids that my husband enjoyed too.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Curry Village Recreation Center, Rafting and Ice Skating - Shuttle rolls up around 3:17pm, after leaving us stranded on the roadside for around 90 minutes and miles from Curry Village.

    Curry Village Recreation Center, Rafting and Ice Skating

    3.8(21 reviews)
    30.0 mi

    It's been my dream for several years to raft in Yosemite, but there has always been too much/too…read morelittle water flowing. Finally, in June of 2016, conditions were just right! *How to reserve/get a raft: You can wait in line early at the reservations kiosk near the Curry Valley/Half Dome Valley check-in center. The kiosk opens at 10, the line for renting bikes/rafts (same line) is long, and rafts are first-come/first-served. NOTE!! Only 100 rafts go out each day according to NPS rules. So when rafts become physically available at 11 and people go out on their raft, even if they return it in an hour, that raft does not go out again. RAFTING SELLS OUT FAST! I found this out to my dismay (we planned to raft on a Tuesday), but, happily, I could reserve a raft for the next day (Wednesday was cooler but still beautiful). We let them know we wouldn't be putting in until the afternoon to make sure the crew didn't think we were no-shows. *Actual rafting: You pick up your raft along with oars and life jacket at a station near shuttle bus stop 13a (I think), just a stroll away from center camp (Curry Village). You have to bring your receipt (your actual physical receipt) and they give you the required life jackets. Sooner or later a crew member conducts a 5-minute group instruction talk, then you grab your raft (cumbersome for two people but do-able) and walk across the street to the river where another crew member helps you launch. I didn't even get my feet wet (none of us did) by pushing off and jumping in at once. Others have described the mellow and gorgeous trip down the river. It's short--we took just about an hour because we didn't stop and frolic on the many riverside beaches (cool air + a cranky rafter in our boat). *At the end: You get to shore (crew calls out to you before you reach the beach plus someone helps with your raft); again, it was easy to stay dry. You drag your raft up, wait in a disorganized group for the shuttle bus, and use your lifejacket as a ticket to get on the bus for the 5-or-so-minute trip back to the rafting pick-up spot. This is a must-do if the river is right. It isn't a great value ($30 pp) but man! what a view. Unless you screw around, you/your stuff will probably not get wet at all. The views of Yosemite Falls were spectacular, though (honestly) the same as from the shore. Ideally go when it is warm so you can freeze yourself silly in the river and then warm up in the raft. PS Why not 5 stars? The information for renting should be on a poster--you have to wait in what can be a 30+ minute line just to figure out what is going on. Like the 100-raft/day thing and the you can reserve in advance thing, both of which are important for planning purposes. I saw so many frustrated people (who were there for a day and couldn't raft) and this could easily be avoided.

    Fun for kids, but not for parents. Kiosk opens at 8am, but families are queued up before 7am to get…read morerafts or bikes. Only one person at cash register, so the line looks like it could take about an hour to pay. If you get a bike, only one person there too, so you wait another 30 minutes or so to get a bike. If you raft, you need to go 30 minutes early for safety briefing that lasts maybe 5 minutes. They tell you to stop and enjoy the beaches, but get to the raft shuttle back in two hours. We got in the water around 12:05pm and finished around 1:49pm. Then, no shuttle came to take us back until around 3:17pm. That was almost 90 minutes waiting around with kids and no water. Better bring sneakers with you and be prepared to walk back 2.5 to 3 miles to Curry Village. Don't believe Aramark if they say you can also take the free shuttle. The families left stranded by the raft shuttle waited 90 minutes for those too. Most of those were so full, they only took two of the 30 people waiting at the four mile stop, or drove past without stopping. The shuttle driver didn't have a phone or radio. Customer service from the contact us page was no help. They called back after 30 minutes, then put me on hold for another 15 minutes. The manager Skye wouldn't talk to the families who were left stranded. She sent four other people (two at the shuttle area and two in Curry Village) to talk to us, but not help us. They wrote down her email address and told us to email her.

    Photos
    Curry Village Recreation Center, Rafting and Ice Skating - Enjoying the ride

    Enjoying the ride

    Curry Village Recreation Center, Rafting and Ice Skating - After dragging a raft up to the truck, talking to three Aramark employees, and waiting 60 minutes, still no shuttle.

    After dragging a raft up to the truck, talking to three Aramark employees, and waiting 60 minutes, still no shuttle.

    Curry Village Recreation Center, Rafting and Ice Skating - Short walk to the rafts

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    Short walk to the rafts

    Sierra Nevada Adventure Co - Worry-free loading and unloading of 4 adult-sized kayaks (11.5 feet) in the back of our pickup truck.

    Sierra Nevada Adventure Co

    4.5(55 reviews)
    50.8 mi
    $$

    Great shop right on Hwy 4, in the middle of Arnold. They open at 8, and Bear Valley opens at 9…read more So get there at opening, and drive the 30 minutes. You can be first in line when the lifts open! There were several families there, but service was fast and efficient, and we were on our way in no time. The equipment was in decent shape. They have full Rossi rental packages. The boots were comfortable if not a little basic. The skis were in good condition. Everything looked fairly new. The poles were a little cheap, but who cares--they're just sticks right? We also got a demo package. Nicer Rossi boots plus Atomic skis. The previous week I tried the premium Rossi skis somewhere else, but these Atomics were hot. After I returned them, he offered to sell me a new pair that were on sale. Not this time, but I was tempted. The staff was friendly and knowledgable, without being overbearing or know it all. The were fast too. They sped us through our paperwork, we paid up front, and returned our stuff by 5:30 day of. Great experience overall!

    SNAC is the best! They went absolutely out of their way to help us when we were in a tight spot…read moreduring the recent storms, going way above and beyond to make sure our family was safe. They have the best rental game in town, are so knowledgeable and friendly, and are locals. Hit them up in the winter -- or summer -- if you need gear or some local insight. Could not be more grateful for their whole team!

    Photos
    Sierra Nevada Adventure Co - Worry-free loading and unloading of 4 adult kayaks in our pickup truck.

    Worry-free loading and unloading of 4 adult kayaks in our pickup truck.

    Sierra Nevada Adventure Co
    Sierra Nevada Adventure Co

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    Zephyr Whitewater Rafting - rafting - Updated June 2026

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