Railroad Flat Campground | California
Overview
Merced River Recreation Management Area Overview
The Merced River Recreation Area is a special place just downstream from Yosemite. It is well known for excellent whitewater boating, wildflower viewing, camping, swimming, and recreational gold panning/prospecting.
Visitors will have plenty to do in the Merced River Recreation Area during every season. Springtime comes early to the Merced River Canyon and by March the wildflower season is well on its way—lasting into May. Easy access, un-damned flows, and excellent whitewater boating attract rafters and kayakers during the spring runoff (April through July). Commercial rafting trips are available from the following BLM permitted outfitters: All Outdoors, ARTA, OARS, and Zephyr (Contact outfitters directly for more information). It is a very popular swimming destination during the hot California foothill summers with some of the clearest swimming hole around. Gold panning and prospecting have never fallen out of favor since the 1850’s when this canyon had a large mining population. In autumn the crowds subside and the Merced River Recreation Area provides more solitude while still offering most of the appeal and activities as earlier in the year. By winter, true solitude can be found. The weather is usually quite warm and sunny between storms. Daytime highs in the 60’s and overnight lows in the 30’s are common.
While some activities are best in specific seasons, there are many things to do all year long. Bird watching is good throughout the area most of the year. Fishing is popular for trout and bass along the entire river. Biking along the gravel roads and trails is popular with families and experienced mountain bikers alike. Hiking is great anytime of the year. The Merced River Trail continues on downstream from the end of the campground River Road and brings hikers or bikers to the North Fork of the Merced and beyond. The Burma Grade is another popular route to explore on foot, bike, or high-clearance automobile. This scenic backroad climbs steeply out of the Merced Canyon and eventually leads to Greely Hill or Buck Meadows (CA-120).
Railroad Flat Campground Overview
After crossing the historic Briceburg Suspension Bridge, Railroad Flat Campground is 4.5 miles downstream along the Merced River Road. This is the last of three campgrounds operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) along the Merced Wild & Scenic River. This is a popular destination campground during spring and summer.
There are three (3) walk-in campsites and six (6) drive-up campsites. The walk-in sites are between 50 and 200 feet from the parking lot. An accessible crushed rock trail leads to each site.
Recreation
The Merced River Recreation Management Area was established due to the outstanding recreational opportunities found here. The proximity to Yosemite National Park attracts people from around the world to camp, boat, swim, and play along the Merced River.
Whitewater rafting opportunities are excellent with easy road-side access. Established launch sites upstream near El Portal are Redbud, Indian Flat, Old Suspension Bridge, and Briceburg Day-Use Area. Take-out locations include Briceburg Day Use Area, Railroad Flat Boat Ramp, and Bagby.
Hiking along the Merced River Trail/Old Yosemite Railroad Grade is good year around.
Camping along the Merced River has been a cherished recreational activity for generations of families for a hundred years. Picnicking, nature study, hobby gold prospecting, wildflower viewing, birding, mountain biking, and swimming are all popular recreational activities within the Merced River Recreation Management Area/Merced Wild & Scenic River.
Facilities
Each of the three BLM Merced River Campgrounds includes the following features:
• Vault toilet(s), and seasonal port-o-potties
• Bearproof garbage cans.
• Bearproof recycling cans.
• Bearproof food locker in each site
• Picnic table in each site
• Fire ring in each site
• Bulletin board with local information, rules and
Photos
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
At least 90% of all campsites are ADA accessible
MERCED RIVER TRAILHEAD (RAILROAD FLAT)
Merced River Trail:
The Merced River Trail follows the old Yosemite Valley Railroad Grade for 28 miles from Bagby, on Highway 49, to El Portal, near the Arch Rock entrance to Yosemite National Park. The trail is not maintained for that entire distance. The BLM manages the lower 18 miles, while the USFS manages the remaining 10 miles closest to El Portal. This trail is primitive and is constantly subject to rock and mud slides. It is common for trees to fall across the trail at any time of year. All side-creek crossings are rough and will require a mountain biker to “carry” across the gulches.
The BLM does try to maintain two sections of this trail to a more use-friendly standard. But, even within these two sections, there are rough patches, portages, and re-routes that traverse rock slides etc. Every season presents new challenges and wash-outs so expect the unexpected. The maintained sections of the Merced River Trail are from Railroad Flat to the North Fork, and from Briceburg to the Forest boundary.
Merced River Trailhead (Railroad Flat):
From Briceburg, cross the suspension bridge and head downstream on the Briceburg River Road past all three campgrounds and park at the road’s end (4.5 miles). Do not block gate.
This trailhead serves hikers, and mountain bikers access to the North Fork Merced and continues downstream to Bagby. (Equestrian riders will have difficulty passing Halls Gulch which is only 1/8 mile from the trailhead). This is a very good wildflower viewing trail during spring (February through April). There is no bridge at the North Fork so expect to get wet if you are heading all the way to Bagby. The North Fork Merced can get too high to cross during rainy periods in winter and spring. By summer, the flow is usually modest enough to cross knee high to ankle deep. Trail condition deteriorates rapidly downstream from the North Fork along the main Merced River Trail.
The main attraction from this trailhead is the North Fork Merced which offers excellent wildflower viewing in spring and great swimming late spring and summer. The main Merced River has great swimming holes near the confluence with the North Fork. Backcountry camping is allowed here. Make sure you have a valid fire permit if camping overnight. Check fire restrictions before your trip—usually no fires by early summer.
The trail up the North Fork is narrower and steeper than the main Merced River Trail. Poison oak and rattlesnakes are common here. The North Fork Trail leads to a beautiful bedrock gorge with a small cascade about ¾ of a mile upstream from the confluence. The trail deteriorates rapidly after the falls, eventually disappearing in a distance.
Contact Us
Activities
Addresses
Geographic Coordinates
Directions
From Mariposa, take CA-140 east to the visitor center, where the highway first meets the Merced Wild & Scenic River. Turn into the visitor center and cross the Suspension Bridge. Follow the Briceburg Campground Road downstream 4.5 miles to Railroad Flat Campground.
From Yosemite/El Portal, take CA-140 west (downstream) to the visitor center, where the highway starts to climb away from the Merced Wild & Scenic River. Turn into the visitor center and cross the Suspension Bridge. Follow the Briceburg Campground Road downstream 4.5 miles to Railroad Flat Campground.
Fees
Booking Windows
Individual sites at this campground are block released on the 15th of each month:
Facility Rates
Facility rates by season dates
SEASON DATES SITE TYPE NIGHTLY/DAILY RATES *
January 01- December 31 Standard Nonelectric $20.00
Group Site (up to 20 people) $40.00
* Displayed rates include any/all associated fees and do not reflect discounted rates.