Kern River Road Sierra Way in Kernville travels north along the Upper Kern River & becomes Mountain Hwy 99 – which eventually connects with the Western Divide Highway in Giant Sequoia National Monument. Not much shade at this campground, but walkable to McNally’s restaurant. Starts at: $160 / person. Beautiful River, Lake, Mountain and many great restaurants. Comments (preferred date, number of people, etc), WARNING: Conditions change frequently and may make this guide useless. [9][10][11] After deviating briefly from its due south course as it flows east around Hockett Peak, it is joined by the Little Kern River from the northwest at a site called Forks of the Kern. It also flows into Lake Isabella. Mile 1.78 – Upper Springhill Rapid: 35.86688, -118.44816 Class III. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking. Kern Canyon, the deep canyon of the river northeast of Bakersfield, is a popular location for fishing and boating, particularly fly fishing and whitewater rafting, whitewater kayaking, and riverboarding. Start on river right and work right to left through a straight away. Stay right of center through the first “main” drop. Mile 0.86 – Limestone Rapid: 35.96397, -118.48144 Class IV. Click here for a detailed description. From here a short but steep carry takes you up to the road; take care crossing. Stay Out. Mile 1.47 – Buzzards Rapid: 35.79665, -118.452 Class II. Up to date Kern River flow and snowpack report, How to understand Army Corp Kern River flow data. Mile 4.60 – Cemetery Take-out: 35.7193, -118.43438 River Right. Correct to a downstream right angle, and run the center drop with a right angle. Relying on spring runoff from the Sierra, the Upper Kern River is best run between 1000-5000 cfs. Take the main channel to the left. Mile 1.06 – Rock ‘n Roll Rapid: 35.90708, -118.48446 Class III. Be aware of the tress and low lying branches. Each print is carefully designed from scratch using a variety of techniques and real USGS data, creating unique artwork that you will not find anywhere else. Unlike the Lower Kern River, the Upper Kern is free-flowing, which means the river level fluctuates depending on snowmelt. The campsites are a combination of shaded and sunny. Campground located at the bottom of Hospital Rock Rapid. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 2.4 – Willow Point Take-Out: 35.9491, -118.48061 River Left. This section of the Wild and Scenic Upper Kern River offers top Class V whitewater and fresh mountain air. [42], Due to water diversion and Isabella Dam the Kern River's discharge changes considerably over its length. Upper Kern and Little Kern River Fishing Report – August 25-28, 2017 August 30, 2017 Gunpowder River, Hunt Valley MD July 28, 2017 Seven Tips and Tricks for Fly Fishing in the Fall April 11, 2017 Google Map directions. These include Alligator Rock, private property and Fairview Bridge. About halfway down you will pass holes in the center of the river and can start working right to punch through big hits at the bottom. The Kern River is one of the very few rivers in the Central Valley which does not contribute water to the Central Valley Project (CVP). Just below Lower Springhill the river splits around a tree island. Isabella and Isabella Dam, flows through a very rugged. Usually entering center and dodging rocks, stay center as the river turns and line up for the big waves and holes through the bottom of the rapid. There are large waves and holes down the center of the rapid. All of the campgrounds are open in the summer months while only a few remain open year-round. There is a dirt path here that leads you directly to the top of Brush Creek rapid that is seldom used as a put-in. Make a right bend around the tree island and work your way towards the right side of the rapid. Mile 1.42- Ewings Rapid: 35.75847, -118.4212 Class III. [citation needed] Kern was the topographer of Fremont's third expedition through the American West. A wonderful and mild section of the Kern River, the Lickety Split is a great option for young families and those new to whitewater. Mile 0.72 – The Wall Put-In / Take Out: 35.80701, -118.45316 River Left. Make sure you’re on the inside of this turn as there is a large hole bottom right. This is Satan’s Slot and is not recommended in a raft. Enjoy 4 bedrooms. The river forks here (take the right channel) and the class IV starts at the confluence of the two channels. Since the late 19th century the Kern has been almost entirely diverted for irrigation, recharging aquifers, and the California Aqueduct, although some water empties into Lake Webb and Lake Evans, two small lakes in a portion of the former Buena Vista Lakebed. This is a great put-in if one is looking to increase the difficulty of a run into town without adding bigger class IV runs located upstream. This is the last take-out before you’re really in the lake. Mile 0.77- Fairview Campground: 35.92919, -118.49243 River Left. It can also be used as an endpoint if one is looking to only run the bigger sections upstream. Mile 0.06 – Bombay Rapid: 35.88522, -118.45732 Class IV/IV+. Together, these three trout form what is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Trout Complex". Please let us know by filling out a bug report located here. Due to its proximity to town and intermediate rapids this is the most commonly run stretch of Class IV whitewater on the Kern. At flows above 3,000 CFS, this section is recommended for people with strong rafting experience due to the low head dam just below the take out at Willow Point. Upper Kern River Camping Upper Kern River campgrounds is the area just north of Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge. Often overlooked, Any Canyon is an enjoyable Class III and IV run with lots of different options for intermediate boating. There are options here, but the easiest is usually to work left to right and slip between a couple large boulders on the right. Upper Kern: Best river rafting access in California. This doubles as the Lickety Split put-in so it can be busy here. By Matt|2021-01-03T15:36:23-08:00October 3rd, 2020|Categories: Kern River|, Kern River Conditions January 2021 OutlookPosted: 1/3/2021Upper [...], By Matt|2020-11-26T06:46:48-08:00August 25th, 2020|Categories: Kern River|, Kern River Flows How to read the Army [...]. Map of the San Joaquin and Tulare Basin region with the Kern River highlighted. A large parking area offering dispersed camping with a good shaded beach to launch from. Aptly named for the high number of rubber raft bottoms seen here, flips in Black Bottom must be cleaned up quickly, as there is “no time” before the next rapid just downstream. A large parking area with a short but tricky carry down granite boulders. 10-15 minutes round trip. This Forest Service campground has small beaches at the campsites furthest upstream. Mile 1.92 – Airplane Turn Rapid: 35.90181, -118.47217 Class IV. This river access point doubles as a both a Thunder Run take-out point and a put-in for Cables. [16] The area was once known as Whiskey Flat, the former location of the town of Kernville. The Upper Kern is a popular stretch of river for whitewater boating, camping and fishing. Most of these campgrounds are public campgrounds, but there are some private camping options available too. Rapids like Sock ‘Em Dog, The Flume and Fender Bender demand respect and are sure to challenge even the most experienced paddlers. [22] The river then flows through a winding valley in the Sierra foothills[23] before entering the San Joaquin Valley at Bakersfield, the largest city on the river. Mile 3.46 – KR3 Take-out: 35.77394, -118.4345 River Left. A sign at the mouth of Kern Canyon warns visitors: "Danger. If this take-out is missed there is still some time before Upper Salmon Creek Rapid, but you will have to run a consequential Class IV rapid at the mouth of Salmon Creek that is not recommended. Split a couple holes at the top and line ‘er up at the bottom for a steep, bumpy ride. National Forest. The Kern begins in the Sierra Nevada in Sequoia National Park in northeastern Tulare County, near the border with Inyo County. Look for an eddy that has a short but steep carry to a dirt parking lot. The North Fork of the Kern River aka the Upper Kern is born on the steep slopes of the lower 48’s tallest peak, 14,500ft Mount Whitney. Keep in mind, a right angle and right-ward momentum are needed when running this drop as it is crucial to catch the eddy behind the Satan’s Slot rock to avoid being swept down the shallow, manky left side of the rapid. The river channel continues about 20 miles (32 km) southwest to a point near the California Aqueduct on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley. Rather than running the final wave-train, punch into an eddy just behind a large boulder on river left for access to this surf. Mile 1.99 – Calkin’s Flat Take-Out / Chamise Put-In: 35.91811, -118.49158 River Left. The Kern River is particularly popular for wilderness hiking and whitewater rafting. Not a great takeout but it does add scenic mileage. An enjoyable Class IV romp, the Cables run is the Kernville classic. After a short reprieve from the action in the first half of the gorge things pick up again with some small waves and boulder-weaving above Satan’s Slot. If you are using this as a take-out, be sure to catch the eddy on river left at the bottom of the rapid. After Bombay the river makes a sharp right turn. A straightforward, continuous romp! Stay at this campground in Kernville. The distances from Kernville range widely, as some are located just Also known as “Corner Pocket” because there is a small hole the form in the corner pocket next to the rock wall where the river bends left. Mile 2.93 – Lower Salmon Falls: 35.8896, -118.46447 Class VI. Mile 1.81 – Satan’s Slot Rapid: 35.90277, -118.47342 Class IV. Mile 1.33 – Pulling Teeth Rapid: 35.87083, -118.45397 Class IV. All but two of these sections are impacted by Fairview Dam and its corresponding diversion. In May, after record snow fall and a few hot days; the Kern river rose up to 7,000 CFS. Mile 2.60 – Corral Creek Take-out: 35.85615, -118.45068 River Left. [8] The Kern River flows due south through a deep glacier-carved valley, passing through Inyo and Sequoia National Forests and the Golden Trout Wilderness, and receiving numerous tributaries including Rock Creek, Big Arroyo, Golden Trout Creek and Rattlesnake Creek. These outfits run high-quality rafting trips. It can also be used as a takeout if one is just looking to run the bigger stuff that is up-river. Low water is 300 – 1000 CFS. Historically, a 20 mi (32 km) distributary of the Kern split off above Bakersfield and flowed south to what is now Arvin, where it formed the seasonal Kern Lake, which would grow to cover about 8,300 acres (3,400 ha) during wet periods. This fertile region is a large alluvial plain, or inland delta, formed by the Kern River, which once spread out into vast wetlands and seasonal lakes. This take-out is in the park that starts immediately after the bridge on river right. Upper Kern River Upstream from the Confluence of the Little Kern River. The Kern is well known for its danger, and is sometimes referred to as the "killer Kern". Mile 2.34 – Salmon Creek Take-out: 35.89752, -118.4675 River Left. Another fun option starts right at the top of the rapid angling left, where you’ll pick your way to a sizable center drop. Mile 0.22 – Adam Ant Rapid: 35.88411, -118.45498 Class IV. Dry and dropper fly combinations or double nymph rigs dead drifted under an indicator are top choices for fly anglers. Going against all intuition, avoid tee-ing up this first drop and hit it close to the center boulder with a slight right angle to catch the slack water behind the boulder. The campgrounds listed here are from Brush Creek to Mountain and River Adventures campground. At normal flows, the main line runs a good-sized drop to the left of the slot. 15 minutes round trip. Mile 1.30 – Kern River Sequoia RV Resort: 35.7623, -118.42336 River Left. Due to water withdrawals the three stream gauge stations below Isabella Dam show a dramatically decreasing discharge. Spread out over 40 acres, Rivernook is a riverside campground that has a variety of options for both tent camping and RV parking. Upper and Lower Salmon Falls are non-navigable Class VI rapids. The highest mean annual flows occur just downriver of Isabella Dam, but because the dam serves to regulate the flow of water the highest daily discharges occur above the dam on the North Fork section of the Kern River. An easy rapid down a straight-away, stay river left the whole way. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. There are developed campgrounds maintained by the US Forest Service along the North Fork of the Kern River. Mile 0.83 – Straight Shot: 35.76367, -118.42901 Class II. Enter center or just left of center and enjoy the ride. [36] This oral history is consistent with another oral history taken one watershed to the north by CDFG's Donald T. Tappe from a retired game warden in 1940, who stated that beaver were "apparently not uncommon on the upper part of the Kings River" until 1882–1883. Gold was first discovered on the river 1851 at the mouth of Greenhorn Creek, but it … Our guides pick and choose the best sections each day, which means you will always have a blast. Your final take-out option before Upper Salmon Creek Rapid is just below this rapid on river left. Mile 2.01 – Black Bottom Falls: 35.90114, -118.47092 Class IV/IV+. The river's course has been modified several times throughout ancient geological history. The Little Kern golden trout (O. m. whitei), found in the Little Kern River basin, and the Kern River rainbow trout (O. m. gilberti), are also found in the Kern River system. Open Year Round! Mile 1.52 – Milly’s Hole: 35.79585, -118.45195 Class II. The Golf Course is split into two sections, top nine, and bottom nine. The far-right is the deeper channel, but you may have to duck under low branches at the entrance. At the last gauge, near Bakersfield, the river's average flow is only 312 cu ft/s (8.8 m3/s).[5]. Interested in helping us grow this project? Click here for a detailed description. Mile 0.59 – Brush Creek Rapid: 35.96639, -118.48002 Class II/III. It has one of the few remaining native trout … Watch for poison oak. On August 2, 1806, Padre Zavidea renamed the river La Porciuncula for the day of the Porciuncula Indulgence. An easy read and run rapid, this section forks right around a small island but can be bypassed and medium and higher flows to the left. Mile 0.50 – Camp Three Campground: 35.80925, -118.45367 River Left. Very similar to Sex; start river right and again dodge some holes working right to left into a very sharp left hand turn. [32] California Golden beaver were native to the Central Valley and throughout the Sierra Nevada. This resort is only a 2 minute drive from Kernville, where you can find restaurants, gas stations, rafting outfitters and a grocery store. Take the middle channel at the bottom being sure not to get pushed up against Tombstone rock. [30][38], The upper Kern River Canyon was created primarily as a result of tectonic forces, and not just by the erosional force of the river. From here keep trending left through some hits before teeing up a river-wide hole at the bottom. Although the rapids are Class II and III, this is not a beginner run due to the trees. Stay Alive" and tallies the deaths since 1968; as of May 22, 2020, the number of deaths listed is 307. Make sure you are on the left side, as the right side is very bony at most flows. Enter far left near the shore. Take the shallow right channel, staying close to the tree island. Kern River is an unforgettable experience. Ongoing conflicts between urban and agricultural interests complicate management decisions, in recent years owing to the expiration of some long-term contractual agreements. The Friant-Kern Canal, constructed as part of the Central Valley Project, joins the Kern about 4 mi (6.4 km) west of downtown Bakersfield, restoring some flow to the river. Mile 0.13 – Little Momma Rapid: 35.77209, -118.43461 Class II. From here cut back quickly to the center of the river and make a choice. Do not run this. Take the left channel. This guide is NOT a replacement for sound judgment. [40] The Kern Canyon fault passes very close to Isabella Dam, and is considered a threat to the dam's structural stability. Google Map directions. If missed, there is a final eddy 300 yards downstream at the end of the park. River Miles: 11-15. Johnsondale Bridge to Willow Point is 10 minutes round trip. After making the turn look out for the rock/pour over known as The Greasy Spoon. The Kern River, originally Rio de San Felipe, later La Porciuncula, is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately 165 miles (270 km) long. Angling techniques are similar to those in other Sierra Nevada rivers and streams, for both lures and flies. Mile 2.17 – Lower Springhill Rapid: 35.86141, -118.44949 Class III+. If you are using this as a take-out, be sure to catch the eddy on river left at the bottom of the rapid. Mile 0.48 – Sex Rapid: 35.91352, -118.48719 Class IV-. On most rivers we work with a professional rafting company. Anything downstream of this is categorized as Kernville Camping. The Forks Run is a nearly continuous series of Class IV and V rapids and waterfalls. Tubing is popular along this stretch. Merle Haggard's song "Kern River" fictionally recounts such a tragedy. Mile 0.84 – Alligator Rock: 35.96407, -118.48177 River Right. With the cooler climate, great camping areas, and excellent fishing, the Upper Kern has become a very popular summer vacation get-away for many Southern Californian's. Run the rapid from right to left, aiming to have lots of momentum moving left just above the Dog Hole. Johnsondale Bridge to Willow Point is 2.4 miles. Mile 3.33 – Thunderbird Put-in/Take-out: 35.81616, -118.45754 River Left. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 0.82 – Violence Rapid: 35.90919, -118.48654 Class IV. Pull off the highway on the right side (heading north) and carry boats across the highway and down to the river. Mile 1.19 – Joe’s Diner: 35.96116, -118.47705 Class III/IV. McNally’s is a popular steakhouse. The lakes were part of a partially endorheic basin that sometimes overflowed into the San Joaquin River. [8] The main branch of the river (sometimes called the North Fork Kern River) rises from several small lakes in a basin northwest of Mount Whitney. 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