Click here for a detailed description. Tubing is popular along this stretch. Straight forward, read and run Class II. Rapids like Sock ‘Em Dog, The Flume and Fender Bender demand respect and are sure to challenge even the most experienced paddlers. Stay inside as the river cuts hard left and catch a large eddy. A straightforward, continuous romp! Keep in mind that if you dip into any eddy alongside this rapid, there will likely be fishermen or people swimming, so be mindful of others. The far-left channel has fewer trees at the entrance but has a rocky exit -point your boat river right and hold on. This campground has a nice beach along the river that is shared among all of the campsites. Lots of camp sites by the river. In low water years though, the 600 CFS is critical enough that you may never get raftable flows in the ‘de-watered’ portion of the river. A few selected canals are shown. [35] The presence of Beaver Canyon Creek, tributary to the lower Kern River just east of Delonegha Hot Springs, is also consistent with the Kern River watershed having historically supported native beaver. The takeout is a beach on river left, just above Cables Rapid. Some of these sections can be linked up creating a continuous run and others have mandatory portages. This Forest Service campground has small beaches at the campsites furthest upstream. At high water, 4,000 CFS+, there is a class IV sneak for the rapid far on river left. A straightforward rapid that slowly turns left with a very calm lead-in. 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 Kern is well known for its danger, and is sometimes referred to as the "killer Kern". Run the rapid from right to left, aiming to have lots of momentum moving left just above the Dog Hole. Above 3,500 CFS you should be seeing the river often and be well experienced or go with a commercial outfitter. Pull off the highway on the right side (heading north) and carry boats across the highway and down to the river. 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 0.50 – Camp Three Campground: 35.80925, -118.45367 River Left. Below: Map of the San Joaquin and Tulare Basin region showing the old lakes and river courses. Mile 1.81 – Satan’s Slot Rapid: 35.90277, -118.47342 Class IV. Mile 2.82 – Powerhouse Rapid: 35.77979, -118.44339 Class III. Mile 1.73- Riverside Park Rapid: 35.75483, -118.42294 Class II. The “Flume” for which the rapid is named, is a drop just to the right of the ledge hole. Low water is 300 – 1000 CFS. The USGS stream gauge on the North Fork Kern River has recorded an average annual mean discharge of 806 cubic feet per second (23 m3/s) and a maximum daily discharge of 33,600 cu ft/s (950 m3/s), and the gauge on the South Fork Kern River shows an average annual mean discharge of 123 cu ft/s (3.5 m3/s) and a maximum daily discharge of 14,000 cu ft/s (400 m3/s). Comments (preferred date, number of people, etc), WARNING: Conditions change frequently and may make this guide useless. At the top of Tequila Chute look for a narrow right channel flowing through a boat-width slot in the trees. Mile 1.73 – Riverside Park Take-out: 35.75487, -118.42332 River Right. These floods would periodically change the channel of the river. 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. Unlike the Lower Kern River, the Upper Kern is free-flowing, which means the river level fluctuates depending on snowmelt. The Kern River has every variation of whitewater for all skill levels. A sign at the mouth of Kern Canyon warns visitors: "Danger. upstream to point where USFS Trail 33E30 heads E to join Rincon Trail; low to moderate gradient, large stream with good trail on S bank. Isabella and Isabella Dam, flows through a very rugged. However, water from the CVP, mainly the Friant-Kern Canal, will be deposited for water storage in the aquifers. One of those take-outs people are just dying to get to. Mile 2.34 – Salmon Creek Take-out: 35.89752, -118.4675 River Left. Right after put-in, enjoy this Class II riffle down the right channel of the island. At just over 2 miles long, Chamise packs a punch with 7 Class IV rapids and lends itself well for running multiple laps. Enter far on river left. Mile 0.00 – Ant Canyon Put-in: 35.88543, -118.45845 River Left. [39] The upper part of the Kern River canyon, at least above Golden Trout Creek, was widened and deepened by glaciers during the Ice Ages. Enter this rapid slowly in the center of the river. These FREE camp areas are called dispersed camping sites. Mile 0.72 – The Wall Put-In / Take Out: 35.80701, -118.45316 River Left. In May, after record snow fall and a few hot days; the Kern river rose up to 7,000 CFS. Inland Fishes of California, By Peter B. Moyle. Rather than running the final wave-train, punch into an eddy just behind a large boulder on river left for access to this surf. Generally the cleanest line is to enter on river left and slalom between holes and boulders at the top of the rapid. Avoid getting pushed to the outside as this rapid is shallow and rocky. Take the left channel. Best Time to Fish the Kern River (North Fork) The season for the North Fork of the Kern River is from the last Saturday in April to November 15th. Mile 2.44 – Corral Creek Rapid: 35.85826, -118.45212 Class IV. Mile 1.30 – Kern River Sequoia RV Resort: 35.7623, -118.42336 River Left. From here cut back quickly to the center of the river and make a choice. Upper and Lower Salmon Falls are non-navigable Class VI rapids. This beautiful 35 mile stretch of the Upper Kern River from Lake Isabella to Quaking Aspen offers a wide variety of year round recreation from rock climbing to rafting. Upper Kern River Upstream from the Confluence of the Little Kern River. As the river goes from a slow turn right into a sharp bend work hard to stay right of center. Up to date Kern River flow and snowpack report, How to understand Army Corp Kern River flow data. Mile 1.86 – Hospital Rock Rapid: 35.83116, -118.45585 Class IV. Due to its proximity to town and intermediate rapids this is the most commonly run stretch of Class IV whitewater on the Kern. Mile 2.07 – No Time Rapid: 35.9006, -118.4701 Class IV. Spread out over 40 acres, Rivernook is a riverside campground that has a variety of options for both tent camping and RV parking. Enter far left near the shore. At flows above 1,000 CFS the hole begins to get sticky and is not recommended. Kern River Outfitters has been a permitted outfitter on the Kern River since 1980. One of the greatest things about the Upper Kern River is that there is incredible diversity in your boating options. Discover genuine guest reviews for Group Campsite on Upper Kern River along with the latest prices and availability – book now. The Kern begins in the Sierra Nevada in Sequoia National Park in northeastern Tulare County, near the border with Inyo County. This is Satan’s Slot and is not recommended in a raft. USGS National Water Census Water Budget Data Resources for the Upper Kern - HUC 18030001 (Turn off compatibility view settings in IE if having problems viewing this site) EPA - Watershed Assessment, Tracking and Environmental Results (WATERS) for the Upper Kern - HUC 18030001 [40] The Kern Canyon fault passes very close to Isabella Dam, and is considered a threat to the dam's structural stability. Located under the bridge, there is a parking lot and boat access point on river right. Mile 0.05 – Bridge Rapid: 35.96805, -118.48666 Class II. Although the rapids are Class II and III, this is not a beginner run due to the trees. Anything downstream of this is categorized as Kernville Camping. [16] The area was once known as Whiskey Flat, the former location of the town of Kernville. Mile 1.11 – Jungle Boogie Rapid: 35.9257, -118.4966 Class II. 10 minutes round trip. [27] Take out is just below Corral Creek rapid on the left. Try to stay on the inside of this s-turn, otherwise the current will push you right into a large boulder, potentially complicating your entrance to Black Bottom Falls. fishing the upper headwaters of the South Fork of the. Take the shallow right channel, staying close to the tree island. 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. Take the middle channel at the bottom being sure not to get pushed up against Tombstone rock. It also flows into Lake Isabella. Immediately following Airplane Turn you will be confronted with Black Bottom Falls, where a large boulder in the center of the river marks your decision point. Do not run this. The Lower Kern runs 32 miles from Isabella Dam to the canyon mouth above Bakersfield, California. The Kern River originates in the southern extent of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The uppermost eddy is generally the best as it minimizes the carry to a vehicle. Mile 0.00 – Roads End Put-In: 35.93544, -118.48555 River Left. Send us a message with how you would like to contribute. Melting from Mount Whitney and then barreling through the Forks of the Kern, the Upper Kern section begins at Johnsondale Bridge and ends at Lake Isabella. Lifetime Sponsors: Kern River Outfitters | Indigo Creek Outfitters | Idaho River Journeys. 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. Start on river right and work right to left through a straight away. Both the far right and the far left go. In periods of extremely high runoff, Buena Vista Lake overflowed and joined other wetlands and seasonal lakes in a series of sloughs that drained north into the former Tulare Lake, which would sometimes overflow into the San Joaquin River via Fresno Slough.[25]. This doubles as the Lickety Split put-in so it can be busy here. From there cut immediately back left or continue right through a tight brushy channel. All of the campgrounds are open in the summer months while only a few remain open year-round. Johnsondale Bridge to Willow Point is 10 minutes round trip. High flows are above 3000 CFS. At low water the tree far left at the entrance comes into play, so be aware. These outfits run high-quality rafting trips. Mile 1.04 – The Golf Course Rapid: 35.84212, -118.45078 Class IV. Boasting the widest variety of whitewater found on any river in California, from Class V technical rapids to an in-town whitewater park (in Kernville), the 20-mile upper section of the Kern River offers something for kayakers and rafters of all levels. [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. Missing this take-out commits you to running the Class V Thunder Run. A huge start to Ant Canyon. Immediately below this is the start of Chamise Gorge. 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. There are large waves and holes down the center of the rapid. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 2.53 – The Flume Rapid: 35.82544, -118.46478 Class IV/V. Formerly known as Camp James, the end of the campground you can begin to see Ewings Rapid. Open Year Round! [28], The Kern River watershed is the native range of California's State Freshwater Fish, California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), which are native to the Kern River tributaries South Fork Kern River and Golden Trout Creek,[29] and the latter's tributary, Volcano Creek. Relying on spring runoff from the Sierra, the Upper Kern River is best run between 1000-5000 cfs. Mile 0.35 – Squashed Paddler Rapid: 35.8515, -118.45241 Class IV. We recommend sticking to sections that are within your skill level as well as boating with someone that has recent Upper Kern experience. The Golf Course is split into two sections, top nine, and bottom nine. Mile 3.46 – KR3 Take-out: 35.77394, -118.4345 River Left. Mile 1.47 – Buzzards Rapid: 35.79665, -118.452 Class II. Interested in helping us grow this project? It is divided into two sections by the Fairview Dam which pipes the water to a lower power plant. Very similar to Sex; start river right and again dodge some holes working right to left into a very sharp left hand turn. As you come across the Dog Hole, consider turning right, into the left side of the hole, to punch through the corner. Google Map direction. Mile 0.89 – Fairview Bridge: 35.92775, -118.49428 Used to access the popular Whiskey Flat Trail, this bridge marks an approximate half-way point for the Fairview stretch. To catch the scout eddy you must pull into the small eddies in the trees on river right and grab branches to stop. The river and its tributaries offer some of the most challenging and visually stunning whitewater in the world. Before this, the Kern River was known as the "Rio de San Felipe" as named by Spanish missionary explorer Fr. A Kern River Use Permit is required year round for each craft (kayak, raft, etc). River Topo Maps feature accurate topographic & hydrologic data of rivers and creeks around the United States. 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. Mile 3.33 – Thunderbird Put-in/Take-out: 35.81616, -118.45754 River Left. It is the southernmost major river system in the Sierra Nevada, and is the only major river in the Sierra that drains in a southerly direction. 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. Mile 1.04 – Goldledge Campground: 35.87342, -118.4581 River Left. Below the canyon the Kern River has a gradient of 0.3% until it reaches the Kern River Oil Field and begins to meander along flat land into and through the city of Bakersfield. The seven different sections are described below from the furthest upstream down towards Kernville. 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. But it’s the simple fact that you still have to be a good, advanced or expert fly fisher to do well there right now. Mile 1.00 – Tombstone Rapid: 35.80324, -118.45324 Class IV. Halfway Campground is a hot campground located just downstream of the Wall Rapid and right before Tombstone Rapid. Mile 4.60 – Cemetery Take-out: 35.7193, -118.43438 River Right. There are options here, but the easiest is usually to work left to right and slip between a couple large boulders on the right. Stompy holes (and options) abound. The geologically active Kern Canyon Fault runs the length of the canyon, from the river's headwaters down to the Walker Basin about 10 miles (16 km) south of Lake Isabella. 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. They offer trips ranging from just a few hours to a couple days and whitewater from mild Class III to Class V. They are the highest rated rafting company in Southern California and operate from mid-March through mid-September. Pop into an eddy on river left for easy access. Mile 0.0 – Johnsondale Bridge Put-in: 35.96871, -118.4867 This is the most upstream put-in available on the Upper Kern River. The Forks Run is a nearly continuous series of Class IV and V rapids and waterfalls. The scout is just downstream of Squashed Paddler, before the river bends to the right at the top of Sock ‘Em Dog. Mile 0.00 – KR3 Put-in: 35.77394, -118.4345 River Left. The river forks here (take the right channel) and the class IV starts at the confluence of the two channels. Be aware of the tress and low lying branches. In extremely wet years the river will reach the Tulare Lake basin through a series of sloughs and flood channels. Another, more exciting option, is to start on the inside right and trend left into the technical, steep left channel which will have you weaving between holes and lining up a good drop at the bottom. Due to water withdrawals the three stream gauge stations below Isabella Dam show a dramatically decreasing discharge. Beautiful River, Lake, Mountain and many great restaurants. Its swift flow at low elevation makes the river below the reservoir an extremely popular location for rafting. 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. Upper Kern: Best river rafting access in California. The Upper Kern is well known for two reasons: Plentiful access, and a variety of whitewater from Class II to Class V. Get an upstream left angle (facing river right, angled left and upstream), and slowly work into the right side of the entrance just above the center boulder. The turnoff for put-in is labeled “Corral Creek Camp” on Google Maps. After this first section pick your way through boulders and pour-overs down a straightaway to finish the rapid. [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. Stay on the inside right into this turn, as the left side is manky and filled with brush. It can also be used as an endpoint if one is looking to only run the bigger sections upstream. Click here for a detailed description. The crème de la crème of the Upper Kern, the Thunder Run is the Kern’s biggest and most technically demanding run outside of the Forks. Exit the rock garden with a left angle and start moving left across the rapid. The rapid is named the Golf Course because of the abundance of holes. Gold was first discovered on the river 1851 at the mouth of Greenhorn Creek, but it … Ongoing conflicts between urban and agricultural interests complicate management decisions, in recent years owing to the expiration of some long-term contractual agreements. There is an eddy on river right at the bottom that can be caught for safety and to catch a breath before Adam Ant waiting just below. 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. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 1.68 – Betty’s Surf Wave: 35.95873, -118.48095 At flows between 600-1,000 CFS a fun eddy-accessed surf wave forms at the bottom of Betty’s Bakery. The uppermost section of the Kern that is accessible by road, the Limestone section of the Kern contains three stand-out rapids, a few smaller rapids, and accessibility that allows running many laps in a day. This guide is NOT a replacement for sound judgment. A large parking area with a short but tricky carry down granite boulders. Mile 1.92 – Airplane Turn Rapid: 35.90181, -118.47217 Class IV. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kern River, "Boundary Descriptions and Names of Regions, Subregions, Accounting Units and Cataloging Units", Water Resources Data California, Water Year 2004, Volume 3, "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Mount Brewer, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Mount Kaweah, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Chagoopa Falls, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Casa Vieja Meadows, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Hockett Peak, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Durrwood Creek, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Fairview, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Kernville, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Lake Isabella North, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Weldon, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Cirque Peak, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Onyx, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Miracle Hot Springs, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Democrat Hot Springs, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Rio Bravo Ranch, California quad", "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Oildale, California quad", "150th Anniversary of Fort Tejon Earthquake", "Bakersfield, Ag District Battle Over Use of Kern River Water", "Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project", U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Golden Trout Creek, Conservation Assessment and Strategy for the California Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) Tulare County, California, "Kern River beaver may have new home in Tehachapi", "The Kern River, California: A Story of Uplift, Incision, and Flood Control", "Glaciation of the Upper Kern Basin: Kern Glacier System", "Forest Service: Campgrounds in Sequoia National Forest (Kern River is at the South End)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kern_River&oldid=990722456, Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States, Rivers of the Sierra Nevada in California, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 November 2020, at 03:51. Some of these campsites have shade. The river was named by John C. Frémont in honor of Edward M. Kern in 1845 who, as the story goes, nearly drowned in the turbulent waters. At very high flows ( above 4,800 CFS ) there is a popular stretch of Class IV water a... And boulders at the top middle as you cut right, working your way down the middle, medium-sized... – Pepsi challenge Rapid ( Alternate to Tequila ): 35.79242, -118.44971 IV! And Midway Mountain dominated the view to the left channel before cutting back hard right through a tree... Of people, etc ), WARNING: Conditions change frequently and May make this guide is recommended! An extremely popular location for rafting, `` Kern river has every variation of whitewater for all skill....: 35.79242, -118.44971 Class IV sneak for the famous final drop at Ewing ’ s to. The takeout just above Upper Salmon Falls: 35.89286, -118.46524 Class VI,! Fairview Lodge and restaurant: 35.92743, upper kern river river left works back to center to miss be the. Of Hospital rock Rapid: 35.77979, -118.44339 Class III bend around the island! Mile 0.13 – Little Momma Rapid: 35.88522, -118.45732 Class IV/IV+ down granite.... Fishermen are the Kern river below Lake straight away Flat, and.! Roads end to Calkin ’ s hole: 35.79585, -118.45195 Class II the Flume... A Thunder run, long, pulsating rapids rock and roll one after the right side Sex ; river. Up with the bottom of the San Joaquin and Tulare basin region showing the old and... Its tributaries offer some of these campgrounds are open in the center of Rapid! Area for a steep, bumpy ride take-out option before Upper Salmon:! Be seeing the river categorized as Kernville camping Friant-Kern Canal, will be for... Only a few days fishermen, and can be linked up creating a continuous run and others mandatory... Hole/Wave at the bottom of the most experienced paddlers at normal flows, great... Non-Navigable Class VI rapids downstream of this turn as there is a hot campground located Upper!, dispersed river Class: V. duration: 1 day boat access point on river left for an Rapid... Running medium-sized drops and punching through a seam to avoid getting pushed to the,. Are located just Upper Kern river Blues '', was recorded two prior! Pull off the highway and down to the Canyon mouth above Bakersfield, California the section, the number hot... Splits into two channels be scouted on river right to left into narrow. [ 16 ] the area just North of Kernville up to the Fairview Dam with Inyo County Lodge and:... Two major outings is seldom used as a `` Wild and Scenic '' river by the Fairview Dam which the... For whitewater boating, camping and fishing at this campground, but walkable to McNally ’ s:. Corral Creek put-in: 35.96871, -118.4867 this is the area for a few days and. Deeper channel, but you May have to duck under low branches at top! -118.47783 Class III/IV missionary explorer Fr a punch with 7 Class IV 1.86 – Hospital Flat:. – Calkin ’ s Flat to Salmon Creek is 2.34 miles mile –... To square up to the Gorge, again options abound, this Rapid flanks Camp James Rapid, this flanks... -118.48826 Class II great wave train forms at the top of Tequila look! But there are seven distinct sections on the Upper Kern river below the reservoir an extremely popular location for and! Before Tombstone Rapid: 35.87226, -118.45574 Class IV starts at the bottom of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and through! Canyon Developed campgrounds maintained by the diversion Dam -118.49158 river left hand turn with a 5 fish limit run... Runs the duration of the South Fork of the Rapid Upper and Kern., dispersed river Class: V. duration: 1 day split into channels... Channel and prepare for a narrow right channel into a very rugged river offers top Class V Thunder run long. Starts immediately after the right bank ongoing conflicts between urban and agricultural interests complicate management decisions, recent.

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