The Tuolumne River runs through steep granite canyons south of Sonora and offers some of the most challenging commercial white-water rafting in California. The main run descends roughly eighteen miles through a roadless wilderness canyon with a succession of Class IV and V rapids — Cherry Creek, Clavey Falls, and the Jawbone are among the most demanding stretches on any commercially run river in the state.
Several outfitters based in or near Sonora offer guided day trips and multi-day expeditions from spring through early summer, when snowmelt keeps the river high and powerful. The season typically runs from April through July. For calmer water, the Don Pedro Reservoir downstream offers flatwater paddling, swimming, and fishing year-round.