Yosemite - Rafting, Swimming, Picnic on Beaches - 2

Swimming in Thawed Snow

Summertime is hot in Yosemite Valley, so it’s a refreshing treat to hop off the raft for a quick dip along the way. The water is recently melted snow, and it is frigid. A quick plunge is enough to satisfy my husband and me, but our daughter prefers to splash around a bit longer. To keep her lips from turning blue, I bring along her wetsuit. It’s also a good idea for the whole family to wear water shoes while rafting. The beaches and river bottom are full of pebbles and rocks.

There are also several deep pools along the Merced where rafters can pull out for a swim. Our favorite is adjacent to Swinging Bridge, which has one of the deepest and widest sections along the route, as well as ample beach area on which to spread out. (This area is accessible even if you aren’t rafting: It’s an easy walk from Yosemite Lodge, which is just northeast of the bridge.)

Picnicking on Rocky Beaches

Tiny beaches that line the Merced River are ideal for a leisurely picnic as well. A favorite of ours is about a third of the way along the rafting route, just before the bridge at Housekeeping Camp. There are scenic views of the Royal Arches and Washington Column and a wide beach on the east side of the river, with room for several rafts to pull out. In addition, a short walk over the bridge will take you to public restrooms and a vending machine where you can purchase cold beverages.

• The author's daughter is all smiles during a rafting trip along the Merced River.
• Debbie K. Hardin

The swank Ahwahnee Hotel in the Valley will pack sumptuous box lunches for its guests. Or head to the expansive grocery store adjacent to the Visitor Center in Yosemite Village and buy just about any snack or sandwich fixing you fancy and make your own.

Carry your picnic in a water-tight plastic container. Although it’s unlikely your meal will fall in the water—there are certainly no rapids to overturn you—it is likely you’ll encounter a water fight among fellow rafters. A few summers ago, while floating down the Merced one particularly hot day, my husband, daughter and I came across a “pirate raft” full of college students, complete with a costumed Jack Sparrow and his eye-patched ship mates—all armed with Super Soaker water guns. Rafts daring to pass them on the river were fair game (especially if carrying children who were eager to join in the battle).

Also, remember that you’re in bear country, even on the water, so don’t leave your food in an unattended raft. And because this is one of the loveliest bits of wilderness in the world (and because it’s the law), be sure to pack out all trash, even biodegradable items like orange peels and peanut shells.