Welcome to the Recreation Safety Recommendations

Adam Blauert

The purpose of this page is to provide a comprehensive database of recreation within Merced County and an hour’s drive of cities within the county.

Your author, Adam Blauert, is an outdoorsman and outdoors columnist for the Merced Sun-Star.  You can read his weekly column about outdoor recreation at www.mercedsunstar.com.  Please direct comments, feedback, and suggestions to AdamBlauert@yahoo.com.  It is our goal to provide useful and relevant information about all types of recreation in our area.

A note on safety:  All outdoor activities involve some degree of risk or injury. 

The keys to being safe include:

• Making sure you are in the proper physical condition before trying a new activity. Check with your doctor if you are uncertain about your condition and abilities.

• Taking lessons or training before attempting an activity that requires specialized skills.

• Enjoying outdoor recreation with family or friends. Never hike, swim, or boat alone. Make sure that someone outside your group knows where you are going and when you expect to return before you leave home.

• Wearing proper safety gear and equipment. When boating or swimming outside of a swimming pool, make sure that life jackets and flotation devices are available for each person in your group.

• Checking current conditions such as weather and water conditions. If you have any questions contact the agency that operates the recreation area that you plan to visit.

• Drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

• Not using alcohol or illegal drugs.

• Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats to avoid sunburn.

• Bringing extra layers of clothing and rain gear in case of a change in weather.

• Having a first aid kit available and being knowledgeable about common first aid procedures and CPR.

• Having a cellular phone available to call for help if an accident occurs. Cellular reception is available within much of Merced County.

It is your responsibility to know and monitor conditions.  All information provided on this website describes optimal conditions.  Conditions can change rapidly.

For general information

Concerning safety for a variety of outdoor activities, see: http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/

• Adam Blauert 69
  • Apr 28, 2014 McConnell State Recreation Area
  • Apr 29, 2014 Modesto Reservoir Regional Park
  • May 26, 2014 Tuolumne Meadows – The Other Yosemite
  • May 27, 2014 Rainbow Pool – A Great Swimming Hole on the South Fork of the Tuolumne
  • Jun 2, 2014 Pacheco State Park
  • Jun 8, 2014 Don Pedro Lake - One of California's highest-rated fishing area & 5th largest artificial lake
  • Jun 13, 2014 Reservoirs, Fishing, and Boating within an Hour of Merced County Communities
  • Jun 15, 2014 Eastman Lake: Formed by a dam on the Chowchilla reservoir, this tends to be more popular than nearby Hensley Lake.
  • Jun 15, 2014 Hensley lake ~ Very close to Merced County with many facilities
  • Jun 24, 2014 Kearney Park and Mansion
  • Jun 28, 2014 George J. Hatfield Recreation Area Merced County
  • Jun 29, 2014 Sierra Foothill Conservancy
  • Jul 6, 2014 Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County
  • Jul 13, 2014 Dos Palos Museum
  • Jul 14, 2014 Meux Home Museum
  • Jul 16, 2014 Great Bike Paths in Merced County
  • Jul 17, 2014 Merced’s Multicultural Arts Center
  • Jul 20, 2014 Merced County Wildlife Refuges
  • Jul 21, 2014 Raymond Museum
  • Jul 22, 2014 George J. Hatfield Recreation Area
  • Jul 25, 2014 Fresno Chaffee Zoo
  • Jul 31, 2014 Livingston Historical Museum
  • Aug 2, 2014 Henderson Park
  • Aug 3, 2014 Sierra National Forest
  • Aug 9, 2014 Turlock Lake State Recreation Area
  • Aug 13, 2014 Romero Visitor Center – San Luis Reservoir
  • Aug 29, 2014 McHenry Mansion and Museum
  • Aug 30, 2014 Yosemite – The Other Three Seasons
  • Sep 2, 2014 Merced County Historical Society Museum
  • Sep 13, 2014 Moccasin Trout Hatchery
  • Sep 14, 2014 Clovis Botanical Garden
  • Sep 20, 2014 Shinzen Japanese Garden
  • Oct 5, 2014 Local Performing Arts
  • Oct 17, 2014 Oakdale Cowboy Museum
  • Oct 18, 2014 Castle Air Museum-Atwater
  • Nov 12, 2014 Mariposa County Museums
  • Nov 16, 2014 Gold Rush Towns of the Central Foothills
  • Nov 18, 2014 San Juan Bautista
  • Nov 19, 2014 Calaveras Big Trees
  • Nov 24, 2014 Turlock Museums
  • Nov 26, 2014 Visit Hagaman Park-Merced County
  • Dec 5, 2014 Milliken Museum and Los Banos Historic Sites
  • Dec 26, 2014 Stanislaus National Forest
  • Dec 27, 2014 Madera County Museum
  • Jan 31, 2015 Merced's Central Park: Applegate Park, Zoo & Kiddieland Merced
  • Feb 15, 2015 Fishing and Floating the Merced River
  • Mar 17, 2015 Tuolumne County Museum
  • Mar 20, 2015 San Luis Reservoir Area
  • Apr 6, 2015 Forestiere Underground Gardens
  • Oct 28, 2015 MJC’s Great Valley Museum and Planetarium
  • Dec 29, 2015 Top 5 things to do in the Fall in and around Merced County
  • Jan 6, 2016 Yosemite National Park Winter Activities
  • Jan 27, 2016 State Parks and State Recreation Areas in Merced County
  • Jan 31, 2016 Chowchilla’s Historical Society & Museum
  • Feb 1, 2016 Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane
  • Feb 1, 2016 Downing Planetarium at Fresno State University
  • Feb 17, 2016 Top 5 Things to do in the Spring in and Around Merced County
  • Feb 19, 2016 Blossom Tours
  • Sep 11, 2017 Pumpkin Patches and Fall Farm Events
  • Jun 1, 2019 Swimming Pools in Merced County area
  • Jun 10, 2019 Top 5 things to do in the summer in and around Merced County
  • Jan 2, 2020 Top Five Things to do in and around Merced County
  • Jan 9, 2020 Top 5 Local Things to do in Winter in and Around Merced County
  • Apr 29, 2020 Welcome to the Recreation Safety Recommendations
  • Apr 30, 2020 Visit the Parks of Merced City
  • Apr 30, 2020 Merced County Parks
  • May 4, 2020 Lake McSwain and Lake McClure
  • Jul 8, 2021 YOSEMITE LAKE IN MERCED
  • Mar 30, 2023 The Gustine Historical Society~Gustine Museum
• Merced County Events 5
  • Nov 15, 2012 The Atwater Historical Society was formed in 1972 in response to the challenge of keeping the Bloss Home for the community.
  • Jan 7, 2014 The Merced County Library
  • Feb 1, 2014 "Only What you can Carry"
  • Mar 14, 2016 Kiddieland in the Applegate Park next to the Merced Zoo
  • Oct 25, 2018 Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame
• Brad Haven 1
  • Sep 27, 2015 The Mystery Spot and Point Lobos State Reserve