Merced River Recreation Management Area

Free access to hiking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and recreational gold panning along the Merced River near the Briceburg Put-In, 12 miles east of Mariposa where Highway 140 meets the Wild & Scenic Merced River. Managed by the BLM's Mother Lode Field Office. Its Wild and Scenic River designation reflects genuine federal protection status, and the combination of whitewater rafting and recreational gold panning gives it activities not found at any of the more developed parks closer to Atwater itself. It's a longer drive than most other entries on this list, so it's best planned as its own half-day or full-day trip.