South Fork Merced River

Merced River drainage basin

The South Fork Merced River is the largest tributary of the Merced River. Most of the river flows within Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California.^[1] The river is 43 miles (69 km) long, and its drainage basin covers about 240 square miles (620 km²), of which 109 square miles (280 km²) are in the national park. The average flow at the mouth is 356 cubic feet per second (10.1 m³/s).

Originating at about 10,600 feet (3,200 m) on the south flank of Triple Divide Peak, the South Fork initially runs southwest through a pine forest flanked by granite cliffs until the valley walls close in to become a deep canyon as the river turns west. This canyon comes to an end at a large bowl-shaped valley where the river passes the north side of Wawona and receives Chilnualna Creek from the right. After passing under Wawona Road (the south entrance road to the national park) the river drops into another broader, deeper gorge running north, receiving Alder, Rail, Big, and Bishop Creeks, all from the right. Soon the river turns west, crossing the boundary of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest and entering the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and merges with the Merced River some 25 miles (40 km) downstream of the end of Yosemite Valley.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

The river was mislabelled "Illilouette Creek" on 1871 California Geological Survey reports.^[1] Illilouette Creek is actually another tributary of the Merced River further to the east.

References

1 2 "South Fork Merced River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1981-01-19. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
↑ "Hydrology and Watersheds". U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
↑ USGS Topo Maps for United States (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
↑ "Merced Irrigation District Watershed" (PDF). Merced Irrigation District (MID). www.mercedid.org. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
↑ Yosemite National Park (PDF) (Map). Cartography by National Park Service. U.S. National Park Service. 2003. Retrieved 2009-10-29.

Rivers of California's Central Valley watershed (north-to-south)

Sacramento River watershed	Pit River McCloud River Cow Creek Cottonwood Creek Battle Creek Mill Creek Deer Creek Thomes Creek Big Chico Creek Stony Creek Butte Creek Feather River Yuba River Bear River American River Cache Creek Putah Creek

San Joaquin River watershed	Mokelumne River Cosumnes River Calaveras River Stanislaus River Tuolumne River Merced River Mariposa Creek Chowchilla River Fresno River

Tulare Basin	Kings River Kaweah River Tule River White River Poso Creek Kern River

Yosemite National Park

Attractions

Valley attractions	Half Dome Northwest Face Yosemite Falls El Capitan Films: El Capitan, To the Limit The Nose Bridalveil Fall Happy Isles Mirror Lake North Dome Vernal Fall Nevada Fall Little Yosemite Valley LeConte Lodge Bracebridge Dinner Yosemite Firefall Yosemite Valley Chapel

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History of the Yosemite area
Geology of the Yosemite area
National Register of Historic Places in Yosemite National Park
List of waterfalls
Yosemite Category
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