The Merced River Trail is absolutely stunning in the spring. Beginning of April lots of poppies and other flowers are in bloom. Go all the way down to the North Fork and continue up it for about a mile to a beautiful waterfall. If you start early you might have the whole place to yourself. It can get hot so be prepared with the appropriate clothing and lots of water. There may be a few muddy patches from runoff and be aware of poison oak and on the lookout for snakes. I didn’t see any but it’s that time of year for them to start being out. Dog friendly. Once you reach the North Fork and start heading up, there are a couple nice spots for camping if you wanted to backpack in. This trail would also be good for trail running for most of the hike. And be sure to check out Halls Gulch, which is at the beginning of the trail to your right (by the bridge) which there are a series of cascading pools that make for a nice dip at the end of your hike! My dog and I definitely enjoyed a little cool down.
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