Put in above the highway 140 bridge, either from the steep left bank, or a ways upstream on the right bank. There is a pool before the bridge, but rapids begin immediately below. Sewage treatment plant for Yosemite Valley on the right. 1 Bridge and Red Bud picnic area, alternate put-in. Rafts usually put in here because the rapids are more wide-open downstream.
Rapids ease a bit, but remain mostly continuous.
After a pool, the river bends right, then turns left and splits around an island. The high water route used to be on the left, the low water route on the right of the island, but the flood of 1997 scoured away the boulder field that made the left side difficult to run at low water. Even at low water this rapid closely follows the one above, and at high flows they merge. Motel Hole, almost always flips inflatable kayaks, but can be avoided on the right. At high flows this is an alternate put-in because the rapids are less difficult downstream.