Zephyr Whitewater Rafting — Local services in Oakhurst

I don't usually give 5 stars because nobody's perfect. What's different here is that our guide, Danny, and the entire staff really made our trip safe, fun, and memorable. The day that my group ran the rapids, the Merced was flowing at 10,000 CFS, class 4+ in places, 45 degrees F, and kind of scary.

Before we put into the river, the guides spoke to us about safety, "what-if" scenarios, and what to expect along the river. We conducted a swim test and practiced pulling a person into the raft. The orientation was brief, pragmatic, and reasonably comprehensive.

I was apprehensive about the final set of rapids. Danny was excellent at giving a sober appraisal of the challenge ahead and of the option of putting out before heading into the waters that were running "big and fast." A fellow passenger older than me and really out of shape said, "We'll be fine. The guide knows what he's doing."

He was right. The experience was exactly what Danny described. I didn't fully appreciate the talent of the guide until seeing the pictures after our run. In short, I feel that we put a lot of trust in the guide, and he could not have been better.

Aside from that, Zephyr was organized, clear in communicating, and helpful every step of the way. They provided wetsuits, helmets, water proof shells, and rafts. The equipment was well cared for, in excellent condition. Our driver, Cathy, was skilled, experienced, and very cool, which also instilled confidence in the organization.

Finally, the pacing of the trip was superb. We rafted for about an hour before putting out for lunch. Thank god because my feet and legs were frozen, numb, and cramping. I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to stand up and remain upright. But I did, and thawing out and regaining my sense of normalcy was such a relief and just in time for the bountiful spread of build-your-own sandwiches, chips, cookies, fruit, and drinks. Lunch never tasted so good. We weren't rushed, but we didn't dilly-dally either, and I was ready for act II of our adventure as we took our final bites. Honestly, I can't think of how our adventure could have...

With two college daughters on different schedules, it's not often we get away on a family trip anymore, and after two days of driving and a day touring Yosemite, we were ready for a little exercise and excitement. Boy did we get it!

The Zephyr Whitewater half-day trip on the Merced River was the highlight of our vacation. The water was fast, the rapids were big, and the experience was great! Our guide, Sage, expertly maneuvered us through the rapids, giving instructions on what to do as we went. She was very professional, personable, and fun (ask her to tell you her guide jokes:-)

From beginning to end, the Zephyr experience was excellent - easy booking, responsive to pre-trip questions, quality equipment, professional guides, and great on-river photos. It was an experience we won't forget.

The mandatory swim test was easy, assisted by the wet suit and life jacket (PFD). It gave us a chance to get used to being wet (with wet suit, river jacket and PFD, it wasn't as cold as expected). It also gave us a chance to practice pulling a person back onto the raft. This was especially helpful when dad (that's me) flipped out of the raft and my daughter had to haul me back in. That was an exhilarating 15 seconds!

Thanks to everyone at Zephyr for a...

Family of 5. 4/7/2021. AM trip. Temperature in the morning was 57-60. No clouds. We all thought it would be cold but the facility does a good job making sure you are warm, not for the weather but for the water. Because it’s melted snow, duh. You get a west suit- sweater and waterproof top. You will be comfortable.

Since it was early in the season our youngest (7) was able to attend.

All 3 kids LOVED it. They wanted to go back the same and next day.

The trip is a must. The scenery is worth it alone. Just sitting on the raft and staring was worth it and The rapids offered that rush. The guides were great and professional. The after photos were a reasonable price. For a family 5 was also a reasonable price. We did the half day AM.

Don’t wear a sweater. You’ll get hot. Wear whatever shoes you want- although I believe they have some extras if this is last minute. Take a tip for the guide- they really do a great job. Trevor, you rocked! See you on the...