Sierra Mac River Trips

Just got back from an amazing experience. I am not a real outdoorsy person. Never would I have expected to go on multi-​day rafting trip of class 3, 4 and 5 rapids. We had a bit of a different trip as we booked out a two night trip with 21 of us including one person that was the chef for the trip.
The trip was exciting, beautiful and fun. The staff was very professional and supportive. Very safety minded and technically excellent in hitting the slots for the rapid and even adding a bit more thrill in working the streams.
The thrill of rafting and sleeping out under the stars in perfect weather was one of those things that really resets your perception on nature and life. I highly recommend Sierra Mac.

I have been river rafting in Utah, Colorado, and Montana and this is by far my favorite river and my favorite rafting company. They make you feel safe, and comfortable while gliding the river. Jordan is the best river guide; his cunning sense of humor and adventures spirit is what made the trip all that more great. Lunch that they provided was healthy and delicious, they spare no details! I felt secure the entire way. If you are looking for a fun, adventurous activity to do around Yosemite, Sierra Mac is your place! Although I only did a one day river trip, I will definitely be back for a longer one.

We had a group of 4 people and went on the one day rafting trip on the Toloume. It was our first time rafting and Sierra Mac definitely made the experience amazing. Our guide was awesome and we all had a really good time. Definitely recommend taking a rafting trip with these guys if you’re in Yosemite.

1 day rafting trip of Tuolumne river was amazing! Our guide was John who had over a decade of experience. Not only was he a great guide but also a great story teller. He’s been all over the world with stories that anyone will enjoy! Our family had a blast!
I wish they (Sierra Mac and Unilocal) made it more clear that this is right next to Yosemite Park, and about 20 miles outside the SF exit. In Unilocal map they show up as #3 but the number is hidden behind #2. Another company booked our tickets and charged a commission unknown to me.

We just did the last day of commercial rafting on the Tuolumne, our second time on this river (both overnight trips). What beautiful scenery, amazing wildlife, wonderful water and awesome guides (Keith and Dave).
If you’re used to overnight trips on rivers like the American, this is a very different deal. You’re not setting up camp at an established base camp then getting shuttled between runs. You show up at the general store parking lot with all your gear, they give you dry bags for what you’re going to want in camp — the gear boat carries your gear, all the food and other gear. If you want anything on the river, take it with you on the bus. There’s portable johns if you dare (pro tip: do your business wherever you eat breakfast).
The trip down the valley is a hair-​raiser — other vehicles coming uphill are taking their lives in their hands while passing. It’s dusty and bumpy and offers spectacular views of the river.
Don’t expect to get on the water right away — everyone has to wait for the dam to release the bubble of water that you’ll be riding all day. The company has no control over that release — they want to get on the water just as much as you. Just pay attention during the safety orientation and paddle talk.
The river gives you what you give it. Pay attention to your paddling — if you’re in front, you’re setting the pattern for everyone behind you, so listen to the guide’s commands and even if you’re at the top of a trough and can’t get your paddle in the water, mime it for the sake of the people behind you — chances are, they can get their paddles in the water. It works much better if someone is paddling effectively. If you’re in back, stroke in time with the paddler in front. Make sure you rock forward with each stroke — you’re using your legs and core muscles, not your arms, to power your stroke.
Lunch is sandwiches. Good sandwiches — build your own out of good quality ingredients. Plus cookies. Dinner is always different but sumptuous, always more delicious in the wilderness. While the guides are making dinner is an excellent time to swim or hang out on the beach.
The reason you keep seeing the same kayaker is that she’s the photographer getting pics of your group running the rapids. Pics are about $ 90 for the whole set at the general store at the end — a huge value considering how much work that photography is. I always buy them — worth it for the facial expressions alone.
Breakfast generally includes bacon and is delicious — just what you need to get through to lunch. Did I mention that they feed you a lot?
Take-​out is at the bridge at the start of the reservoir. That truck has a crane on it because it’s going to haul the boats out of the water. You don’t get to ride — scramble up the trail — there are cold sodas waiting.
I’ve finally remembered to bring lots of cash to tip the guides. It may seem that you’re paying a lot for the trip, but most of that goes for permits and raft maintenance — guides get hardly anything. Do tip generously.
Keith was a great guide — extremely experienced, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the geology and fauna of the area.
Looking forward to doing this run again next year!

I’ve been on around 5 rafting trips around the US, and this was by far the best I’ve been on. Most importantly the river was awesome with rapids every few minutes with Class III, IV, and even V, which was a blast. We went in August on a hot day, so the cold river water felt great. The guide was technically skilled, gave instructions so our entire raft was able to work together quickly, and was a fun person to spend the day with. Another great plus for the trip was the food. We did a day trip, and the lunch was wraps and sandwiches with top quality, fresh meat and produce accompanied with wonderful summer fruit. We appreciated not being given bologna with white bread and chips. We would love to go again.

The trip on the Tuolumne was my first experience rafting, and Sierra Mac made the trip incredibly fun and easy to execute. With our busy lives, it can be hard to plan details for trips, but with Sierra Mac, all the planning was done for us. They are a top notch organization, and we had quality gear, good instructions, excellent food, and great guides on the trip. Our group, a bachelor party, was too big for a single boat, so we had two boats and some good shenanigans going back and forth between the two. Our guide Martin was very knowledgeable about the river and its history, often pointing out interesting trails, old structures, or cool rocks along the river. He was a pro on the oars, guiding us into a surf hole and holding us there for what seemed like a long time — we even went back in a second time for some more water in the faces and boat! The only downside of the trip was that our van broke down on the way back from the river to the cars, causing about a 45 minute delay, but I would guess that is not an ordinary experience, given the quality of the organization in all other areas of the trip. I had such a good time, now I can’t wait to go back and try rafting Cherry Creek!

Just back from my bachelor party weekend, with a 2 day trip down the main tuolomne river… and what a great trip! 2 days of some great whitewater, with excellent guides (in my boat, Adam was super nice and calm, and did a great job guiding us down the river), complimented by GREAT food (lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; poached wild salmon and excellent steak for dinner; hot breakfast; chicken soft tacos) and great things to do along the way — lounging in the river, jumping off rocks, exploring an old mining shaft.) I was expecting that it was going to be nonstop rafting for 2 days, but the pace is much more relaxed, with a long period of free time in the afternoon on day one after some intensely fun rapids, and the morning of day 2. It turned out to be a great mix, and made for a relaxing and fun weekend. (Note that it is a full 2 days — you finish by about 5:30pm on day 2).
Everything was handled professionally, and the guides and staff really enjoyed what they were doing. Lots of great memories. Will be finding a time to try Cherry Creek in the future!

Our group of 8 went on a 3-​day Tuolumne trip.
Pros:
Camps — Great spots (we stayed at Indian and Mohican) with great swimming and natural beauty preserved (lets keep it that way, please!)
Hikes — Challenging, beautiful, and rewarding (can we say jump rocks people???)
Guides — In my experience, river guides are the biggest factor in making a multi-​day trip good or just okay, and this trip was great. Tom, Kristin, Keith, and Jordan were stand outs on this trip.
Accommodating — Sierra Mac was very understanding, accommodating, and careful when dealing with some life-​threatening food allergies in our party. Some of our favorite guides really went out of their way to prepare special foods to accommodate this. Our case is such that we played it safe by bringing enough of our own food for the entire trip, but it was HUGE for us that they treated this seriously and considerately.
River beauty — Low water flow at this summer time (shallow and some less-​than exciting rapids) didn’t detract from a river as beautiful as this.
Con:
Having had the good fortune to be a guest on 15+ commercial river trips across the US, I’d never had a river guide I didn’t like until now. These guys/​gals perform this very physical, sun-​baked, often high-​stress job day-​in and day-​out. So, I understand everyone has less-​than awesome days, but I really wish we’d had someone else… Thankfully he didn’t totally ruin my wife’s first river trip, but man, it was close.
Tip: Some of the hikes on our trip were very challenging for my less-​than-​fully physically prepared parents (both in their early 60s). Don’t miss these hikes, but think twice about the steadiness of your party’s footing.

Just got back from the 3 day Tuolumne River trip. Our family of 5 had a great time. Kids 19, 17, and 13. The rafting of course was the best part, second I didn’t have to do any cooking or cleaning (I had to get past not to offer to help) and day excursions were amazing and a great workout so I didn’t feel one bit guilty about what I ate which was great food and very healthy. We all came back sunburned, more from the day excursions then the rafting. Even with 50 sunblock you still get it, so wear light long sleeve shirts and hats under helmets as much as you can.
During this time of the year (July) the cool river saved us from sore muscles and over heating. It was very hot! We all love the water so we couldn’t get enough of it. If you are not big on swimming I recommend enjoying the river anyways, it will make your trip! During the down time, go in the river rather then baking in the sun.
We took a lot of pictures ourselves and purchased the full trip on a CD. So cool to get pictures of all of us on the rapids in action.
The guides were very nice and our guide was patient with a family that hadn’t been rafting before. He taught us the basics before we started and by the end of the trip I think we were doing pretty good:) There will definitely be a next time, we are all hooked!

I used Sierra Mac for a bachelor party I threw last weekend for my cousin. I did some reseach and chose these guys because they are a local family run business that only runs this river and know it well. We did the main tuolumne 2 day trip. These guys were great in every aspect and all 6 of us on the trip are ready to go back next year. This is the only outfitter we will use if we do. Our guides were Tom, Kristen and Jordan and I would be happy to have any one of them next time. They were all great.

This should’ve been fun.
There were 14 of us total, four couples in our late 40’s, early 50’s, and six grown children, ages 17 – 24. All with a tremendous amount of water experience. We’re long time friends and we decided to spend a little time together on the river.
6 of us got stuck with a guide who had something to prove, he was so disrespectful and not at all prepared to interact with other human beings that he ruined the trip, not just for those of us on his boat but for the entire camp because the bad energy was palpable.
We felt as if we were «City Folk» and we should be looked down upon by the seasoned river veterans. Not to mention the fact that the two day trip that we opted for consisted of about 6 hours of rafting, long lunch breaks and a 22 hour layover on the bank of the river. That could’ve been fun if any of the guides had a plan or activity to help to pass the time. (or even offered to let us use the camping chairs so we wouldn’t have to sit around on rocks)
If I HAD to do it again for some reason, like to rescue an orphan or run from the law, I would opt for a one day trip where we race right past the camping areas and follow the water from the top to the bottom as fast as it flows. And if our guide started yelling at us for no reason or treating the men on his raft with tremendous disrespect, I would paddle back to the shore and demand my money back or that he get out of the little boat.

Not only are these guys complete professionals, they are some of the nicest people I have ever meet. Everything ran smoothly the entire trip. Mark, our guide, was a vault of historical information and a seasoned rafting veteran. We could not have had a better experience.
To top it all off my fiancé could not make it on the trip and we were able to get our money refunded two days before.

I agree with other folks — this outfitter is top notch. Easy to work with, skilled guides, a great experience overall.
I do want to mention that for certain parts of the river that are very difficult (namely Cherry Creek) there is a required swim test. And not everyone passes. I do think this is appropriate — Cherry Creek is very challenging and if you are not comfortable in the water, could have bad consequences. Sierra Mac does everything they can to alert rafters that they won’t take anyone down Cherry Creek that they feel isn’t up for it, but inevitably they have to refuse people. In our session there was a group that had traveled from across the country just to do Cherry Creek, several members of their group did not pass the test and basically had to hike back out and take a van back to the drop off point — their day was done before it started. As the rafter, it is your responsibility to be prepared — call the outfitter, ask questions, research as much as you can, and if you still don’t feel comfortable, then don’t do it.
The rest of the river though for the most part is fine. Mostly class IIIs and IVs, with one not too bad class V area. Just like any other river, there are people that have been severely injured or died, but if you get a good guide and listen to them, are self aware, and don’t act like an a$$, then everything will be fine and you’ll have a blast.

Best part of our Yosemite trip! Rafting the Tuolumne River was incredible. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and professional. We did the one day and it was perfect!
They served an awesome lunch — deli meat plus lots of fresh veggies and fixings.
Would do this trip again if we are ever in Yosemite or would upgrade and do the 2 day trip.

Our group of 3 had a fantastic time on the Toulumne with our guide, Luke, over Memorial Day weekend. He had great finesse in maneuvering us down the rapids and took great care of our boat. I was impressed by the deli spread put out for lunch — we had sundried tomato pesto, fresh avocado, watermelon, and oranges in addition to the traditional lettuce, tomato, and deli meats. Would definitely recommend Sierra Mac and rafting on the Toulumne! It is a gorgeous river and was crystal clear.

It’s too soon to say about the quality of 2012’s Cabernets, but whatever vintage you chose to drink that summer (2005 worked really well for me) I guarantee that there was no better time and place to drink it then on a two-​day Tuolumne River whitewater rafting adventure hosted by Sierra Mac!
Having already enjoyed half a dozen Tuolumne whitewater adventures (my last three having been with Sierra Mac) none of the magic was even close to wearing off, but I had enough experience under my belt to try and raise the bar a little on the quality of the two-​day trip’s in-​camp experience. Marty McDonnell, the owner of Sierra Mac, was happy to help.
First up, I convinced my Man Movie Buddy (and fellow red wine aficionado) to join a small group I was organizing to take a Tuolumne whitewater trip with Sierra Mac in July of 2012. Knowing that I’d be traveling with someone who could appreciate sharing some truly outstanding vintage Cabernet in a Wilderness setting, I then talked to Marty. He readily agreed to pack in a couple of bottles for us; all I had to do was bring the bottles from my cellar to the jump-​off point on Saturday morning, and Marty’s team would do the rest.
Next, I reviewed the menu options offered by Sierra Mac with the members of my group, and noted that while most of them were salivating over the normal menu choices, a couple of them had other thoughts. I called Marty again and talked to him about a their special food requests; he said he would make them happen.
The day of our trip finally arrived — after an amazing day navigating some incredibly exciting and beautiful class four rapids, we put in to shore at a secluded beach and set up our tents while the guides made camp and began to trot out our evening’s feast. The food and service at camp were like an outdoor resort. There was always enough — more like too much — fresh, delicious food. Our evening meal began with Hors d’oeuvres, snacks, ice-​cold soft drinks, beer, and premium wines.
For my MMB and me, it was time to break our most important equipment — it was my aerator’s first whitewater trip! We opened the first bottle of vintage Cabernet — a Raymond Reserve 2002. Everything tastes better when you’re on the River — an ice cold beer can taste like champagne; this tasted like nectar of the Gods!
Our expert guides did double-​duty as outstanding wilderness chefs; the regular menu entrees (Filet Mignon and Salmon) tasted sublime, and the various other special requests I had shared with Marty before the trip were all spot-​on. As if all that wasn’t enough, as the evening went on Tom McDonnell (Marty’s son) showed us all that he’s not only a talented guide and chef, he also has an incredible knack for juggling, not to mention a sense of humor deadpan enough to make Steven Wright proud.
After a completely off-​the-​map in-​camp experience (including a fabulous breakfast the next morning!) our top-​notch guides Neva, Martin, and Tom led our expedition through Clavey Falls, the legendary class five rapid:


In-​camp or on the River, there’s simply no better outfit to ensure a fabulous whitewater Adventure. Sierra Mac is five stars all the way, and I look forward to many future rides on Nature’s Rollercoaster with them:

The Tuolumne River is absolutely fabulous. I have gone on the Tuolumne with Sierra Mac three times, always in late summer, and the weather is warm but not sweltering, the river is cool but not freezing, and it is absolutely beautiful all around.
I really like Sierra Mac as an outfitter because they have very experienced guides, top grade gear (yes, that matters…), and they do a great job serving amazing meals on the river during the multi-​day trips (steak, salmon, etc.).
Overall rafting with these guys is a great experience. It feels safe and exhilarating at the same time. It’s hard work, but also relaxing.
The river is very close to Yosemite National Park and this is a good place to go if you want to interact with the landscape rather than merely look at it. :)
From San Francisco it’s about a 2.5 hour drive (not during rush hour of course).

I’ve just returned from my second trip down the Tuolumne River with Sierra Mac River Trips, and it couldn’t have been better! Marty, the owner, and his dedicated group of guides helped me and my group of longtime friends relax and enjoy ourselves on a three day river trip. Every detail was considered, and with an emphasis on safety, fun, and good food, we had a blast each day. The Sierra Mac kitchen crew whipped up delicious food and drinks for everyone daily — it’s easily the best camp food out there — more like a gourmet meal at a restaurant than seemed possible given the location.
Tom, our guide for the adventure, was experienced with the route we took down the river, and helpful in suggesting day hikes during our time not spent rafting. During the rafting, he was patient with our lack of paddling prowess and helped me improve, along with ensuring our safety, and I trusted his ability to give directions and make sure we made it through all of the category 4 and 5 rapids we encountered.
The scenery that exists along the Tuolumne River is impressive, and the fact that Sierra Mac has been running river trips for more than 40 years, and helped ensure that there is access to the Tuolumne for us to enjoy, was important to me. I also liked that it was a family run business, and that the guides seemed to genuinely like working for Sierra Mac, and that they return year after year to work for Marty.
I’m already looking forward to my next trip with Sierra Mac down the Tuolumne, and would recommend these guys to anyone looking for a great time rafting!

How does one follow up Half Dome, the most spectacular hike of my life? Try whitewater river rafting, which turned out to be one of the most exhilirating experiences of my life. Talk about an incredible two days!
It was also an incredibly athletic two days. I had no idea what whitewater rafting entailed. I figured you just sat in a boat and went along for the ride. I couldn’t be more wrong. Your guide certainly provides some propulsion and steers the boat, but we as a team did most of the paddling.
From start to finish, the entire outing was just tremendous. Sierra Mac provides everything you need — a wet suit and jacket to keep you warm, a helmet and life jacket to keep you safe, and a dry bag to store your things while on the water. They also provide a very satisfying lunch about half way through the journey.
The Tuolumne River was at high flow during our trip. This was most definitely a good thing. The rapids were roaring! Two of my friends did a rafting trip on the Merced River last year and they confirmed that this trip on the Tuolumne had more frequent rapids. Most of what we hit were class 4 with one class 5 (Clavey Falls). Our guide, Ally, was simply awesome. She considered us to be a pretty strong team, so she went big on many of the rapids. Let me tell you, there is nothing more fun than staring down a wall of water just before it drenches you and your crew.
I even fell out of the boat during one the last runs. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I suddenly found myself falling backwards off the side of the boat. All day long, I was a little scared of the prospect of going for a swim, but I’d have to say that it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Once I hit that water, the adrenaline just kicked in. Somehow, I managed to hold on to my paddle, swim back to the boat against the current, and get back in with the aid of my team. Most of the guides call that particular rapids, «Driftwood.» How many people get to say that they were driftwood in a class 4 rapid?
All things considered, I can’t imagine how this rafting trip could have been better. You cannot go wrong with Sierra Mac. Highly recommended.