Tuolumne River
About
Wild & Scenic since 1984, the Tuolumne cuts 18 miles of Class III-V whitewater through granite gorges below Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Tuolumne County. At 980 CFS average with an optimal range of 300–2,500 CFS, this is technical Sierra Nevada water that commercial outfitters like OARS Tuolumne and All-Outdoors California Whitewater run through the protected corridor in Stanislaus National Forest. The Southern Sierra Miwok called these canyons home before dam construction altered the upper watershed. USGS gauge 11274790 tracks releases that determine whether the granite slides and pourover drops run at pushy Class IV or full Class V intensity. The 2023 Hetch Hetchy restoration debate continues to influence long-term management of flows through this Wild & Scenic section.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.