Rapids to Brews on the Tuolumne River

Groveland Adventures & Brews

The Earning

Late summer rafting on the Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park, is an 18-mile journey driven by water releases from Hetch Hetchy. This flow is a marvel of water management, requiring coordination among various stakeholders.

I spent two days and one night on the Tuolumne River. The rapids, especially Clavey Falls, provided an adrenaline rush, while calmer stretches offered scenic views of golden mountains under a vivid blue sky. There were plenty of spots for swimming and relaxing, particularly at Indian Creek camp. Evenings were spent enjoying appetizers and fajitas by the river, prepared by the OARS crew.

Sleeping under the stars, with the river as a backdrop, gave me one of the best nights of sleep I’ve had while camping. The next morning, we enjoyed coffee and waited for the dam release, giving us a leisurely start before another three hours of rafting.

Rafting the Tuolumne River offers a firsthand understanding of the importance of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, established by Congress in 1968. Paddling through Grey’s Grindstone, a ¾-mile rapid, reveals some of the most breathtaking scenery in California, if not the world.

Protect our rivers: rivers.gov and

Two rafts on the Tuolumne River outside of Yosemite in CaliforniaThe Beer

Around the Horn Brewing Company is a family-owned and operated independent brewery in Groveland, a gold rush town and Yosemite gateway community along Route 120. I stopped in for a pint before setting up camp for the night; their He Was a Gater Boi was a refreshing citrus juicer collaboration IPA with Tactical Brewing (Orlando, FL). I eyeballed the cooler and selected two 16-ounce cans of it, along with cans of Noble Ascent and Gateway to Gold.

On the Tuolumne River camp, I chilled the Ascent and Gateway cans in the flowing water. Later on, I cracked open Noble Ascent first.  An oat malted lager using Haná heritage malt, it was brewed in collaboration with Hana Koa Brewing (Honolulu, HI). After a day of rafting, it hit the palate with a little more sweetness than I expected, but I was not complaining, at all.

I then sat by the river and drank the can of Gateway to Gold. They call it a Kölsch style ale. The sun was slowly sliding behind the ridgeline and camp chatter lilted with occasional laughter while the river softly lapped the shoreline. A rock was my seat and my feet cooled in the water. I’m pretty sure that no matter what you might be drinking in such a moment, it’s going to be quite alright, but the Gateway was more than that. It was perfect. That’s a dandy of a beer, if you prefer a German-inspired beer slightly on the hoppier side than what tradition may say. aroundthehornbeer.com

Photo of two cold beers in the Tuolumne River with an OARS raft in the background

Groveland also offers fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking, and more. Plus, Yosemite is just a short drive away — perfect for a full adventure getaway.