Only raftable at flows of 3,000+ CFS. These include Alligator Rock, private property and Fairview Bridge. Start right and weave between a couple holes above a small tree island. In normal or high water years it is irrelevant as there is enough water in the river for you to still be able to run everything. Also known as Little Las Vegas or Camp James Rapid, this rapid flanks Camp James, located on river left. This resort is only a 2 minute drive from Kernville, where you can find restaurants, gas stations, rafting outfitters and a grocery store. Reviews on Kern River Camping in Kernville, CA 93238 - Rivernook Campground, KRS at Camp James, Limestone Campground, Camping on the Kern, Frandy Campground, Camp Kernville, Kern River, Sierra Gateway Cottages, Whitewater Voyages, Kern River Vacation Trailers Ant Canyon to Corral Creek is 10 minutes round trip. Just below Lower Springhill the river splits around a tree island. A fun finish to the gorge, again options abound. One of the longer rapids, Cables clocks in at over half a mile. Send us a message with how you would like to contribute. 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. Mile 2.17 – Lower Springhill Rapid: 35.86141, -118.44949 Class III+. It also flows into Lake Isabella. Click here to learn more. Gold was discovered along the upper river in 1853. After Bombay the river makes a sharp right turn. Mile for mile this is the most action-packed day of white water the Upper Kern has to offer. Mile 1.00 – Tombstone Rapid: 35.80324, -118.45324 Class IV. Often overlooked, Any Canyon is an enjoyable Class III and IV run with lots of different options for intermediate boating. Take the middle channel at the bottom being sure not to get pushed up against Tombstone rock. 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. Mile 0.96 – Limestone Campground: 35.96316, -118.47934 River Left. Do not run this. Interested in helping us grow this project? Angling techniques are similar to those in other Sierra Nevada rivers and streams, for both lures and flies. Mile 1.82 – Pepsi Challenge Rapid (Alternate to Tequila): 35.79242, -118.44971 Class IV. These floods would periodically change the channel of the river. Exit the rock garden with a left angle and start moving left across the rapid. Upper Kern River Camping Upper Kern River campgrounds is the area just north of Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge. On this trip, we did two major outings. These FREE camp areas are called dispersed camping sites. This rapid is named Jungle Boogie for reason. Mile 0.00 – Calkins Flat Put-in: 35.91811, -118.49158 River Left. [16] The area was once known as Whiskey Flat, the former location of the town of Kernville. Mile 0.83 – Straight Shot: 35.76367, -118.42901 Class II. Page 20. Unlike the Lower or Forks of the Kern, the mileage in the guide resets with each section. Pop into an eddy on river left for easy access. Halfway Campground is a hot campground located just downstream of the Wall Rapid and right before Tombstone Rapid. Mile 0.77- Fairview Campground: 35.92919, -118.49243 River Left. Mile 1.78 – Upper Springhill Rapid: 35.86688, -118.44816 Class III. Do not run this. Correct to a downstream right angle, and run the center drop with a right angle. 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. Mile 1.34 – Headquarters Campground: 35.7962, -118.45009 River Left. You will see a slot between two boulders in the center of the river. Mile 0.00 – KR3 Put-in: 35.77394, -118.4345 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 fun begins as the river makes a right hand turn with a shallow, brushy channel on the right. Google Map directions. Of particular interest to fishermen are the Kern River rainbow trout, the Little Kern golden trout, and the California golden trout. From there cut immediately back left or continue right through a tight brushy channel. 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. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 1.81 – Satan’s Slot Rapid: 35.90277, -118.47342 Class IV. Run the rapid from right to left, aiming to have lots of momentum moving left just above the Dog Hole. At lower flows, there is a sticky rock in the main right channel that is hard not to miss. Mile 1.73- Riverside Park Rapid: 35.75483, -118.42294 Class II. Due to water withdrawals the three stream gauge stations below Isabella Dam show a dramatically decreasing discharge. Mile 0.48 – Sex Rapid: 35.91352, -118.48719 Class IV-. Google Map directions. River Topo Maps feature accurate topographic & hydrologic data of rivers and creeks around the United States. It was locally known as Po-sun-co-la until its renaming by Fremont.[1]. This is the last take-out before getting to the Fairview Dam. An enjoyable Class IV romp, the Cables run is the Kernville classic. The takeout is a beach on river left, just above Cables Rapid. This is a special regulation fly fishing wild trout area so anglers are advised. Mile 2.93 – Lower Salmon Falls: 35.8896, -118.46447 Class VI. The Upper Kern (North Fork) has over 20 miles of easily accessible whitewater for rafting and kayaking. The Great 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake on January 9, 1857 with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 on the San Andreas Fault was strong enough to temporarily switch the direction of the flow of the Kern River. [20][21] With a descent of 2,000 feet (610 m) between Isabella Dam and Bakersfield, this section of the Kern River feeds several hydroelectric plants and is also a popular whitewater run. 1) 4 mi. The snowmelt that fed the river resulted in periodic torrential flooding in Bakersfield until the construction of the Isabella Dam in the 1950s. The Upper Kern is well known for two reasons: Plentiful access, and a variety of whitewater from Class II to Class V. There are a lot of different sections and nuances with the Upper Kern, so that information is broken out below. 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 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). Mile 0.0 – Johnsondale Bridge Put-in: 35.96871, -118.4867 This is the most upstream put-in available on the Upper Kern River. Includes bountiful lunch along river and cold beverage at end. 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. (Even if there is enough water, the right channel is often choked with logs.) The North Fork is paralleled by Highway 155 for 25 miles, so access to the upper reaches of the River is relatively easy in this area. Calkin’s Flat to Salmon Creek is 10 minutes round trip. This section of the Wild and Scenic Upper Kern River offers top Class V whitewater and fresh mountain air. Mile 1.30 – Freight Train: 35.76215, -118.42361 Class II. The Kern River from Tyndall Creek in Sequoia National Park, flowing 70 miles downstream to the Johnsondale Bridge, is the longest stretch of river in the Wild Trout Program. One of the greatest things about the Upper Kern River is that there is incredible diversity in your boating options. With a gradient of 30 feet per mile, the North Fork Kern is one of the steepest and wildest whitewater rivers in North America. Click here for a detailed description. Low water is 300 – 1000 CFS. Relying on spring runoff from the Sierra, the Upper Kern River is best run between 1000-5000 cfs. Johnsondale Bridge to Willow Point is 10 minutes round trip. fishing the upper headwaters of the South Fork of the. The campgrounds listed here are from Brush Creek to Mountain and River Adventures campground. Mile 0.00 – Thunderbird Put-in/ Take-out: 35.81616, -118.45754 River Left. Also, Mr. De Voe reported that his friend Kenny Keelor trapped the Kern River for beaver around 1900, making his camp at the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek (elevation 6,585 feet (2,007 m))[34] until they were trapped out completely by 1910 – 1914. The Upper Kern River is paralleled by trails to within a half-mile of its source (which lies at 13,600 feet (4,100 m)). Mile 1.06 – Rock ‘n Roll Rapid: 35.90708, -118.48446 Class III. At low water, be ready for some shallow rock dodging. Stay on the inside right into this turn, as the left side is manky and filled with brush. Mile 2.68 – Upper Salmon Falls: 35.89286, -118.46524 Class VI. Mile 2.52 – Riverkern Put-in / Take-out: 35.78383, -118.445 River Left. 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. Campgrounds listed range from Forest Service paid, dispersed We did this because some sections don’t run cleanly into the next and it is pretty unusual to do a true top to bottom trip. Kern River Camping - 2020 The Kern river provides some of the best camping in Southern California. 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 scout is just downstream of Squashed Paddler, before the river bends to the right at the top of Sock ‘Em Dog. Mile 1.11 – Rivernook Campground: 35.76382, -118.42621 River Left. Click here for a detailed description. 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. Specifically to the Kern watershed, an oral history was taken from Roy De Voe, who claimed to have seen "very old beaver sign" on the east side of the Kern River at Funston Meadow (elevation 6,476 feet (1,974 m))[33] in 1946. Behind the center boulder, there is a large ledge hole that takes up a considerable portion of the left and center of the rapid. 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". Google Map directions. The lakes hold 6,800 acre⋅ft (8,400 dam3) combined. Click here for a detailed description. 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. A rock that looks like an alligator poking out of the river. Mile 1.11 – Jungle Boogie Rapid: 35.9257, -118.4966 Class II. A large parking area with a short but tricky carry down granite boulders. Mile 1.86 – Hospital Rock Rapid: 35.83116, -118.45585 Class IV. Kern River is an unforgettable experience. Roads End to Calkin’s Flat is 6 minutes round trip. Prepare to square up to a series of holes and laterals down the duration of the rapid. It has one of the few remaining native trout … Brush creek makes a right hand turn. 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. 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. Another fun option starts right at the top of the rapid angling left, where you’ll pick your way to a sizable center drop. Being a snow melt based river, the water flows can swing dramatically in a very short period of time, significantly changing rapids and the window of safety. Rapids like Little Momma and Big Daddy provide a great warm-up for the famous final drop at Ewing’s Rapid. Its swift flow at low elevation makes the river below the reservoir an extremely popular location for rafting. Haggard's last song, "Kern River Blues", was recorded two months prior to his death in 2016. These outfits run high-quality rafting trips. Stay at this campground in Kernville. [12] Below there, the Kern River continues south, and is joined by more tributaries including Peppermint Creek, South Creek, Brush Creek, and Salmon Creek, which all form large waterfalls as they tumble into the Kern River canyon. Rivers love to meander, but the Kern River follows a unique North-South fault line (the Kern Trench) which steers the river in a … At the last gauge, near Bakersfield, the river's average flow is only 312 cu ft/s (8.8 m3/s).[5]. Starts at: $160 / person. A sign at the mouth of Kern Canyon warns visitors: "Danger. First, we headed up to Johnsondale Bridge and hiked a bit upriver. Make a right bend around the tree island and work your way towards the right side of the rapid. Mile 0.59 – Brush Creek Rapid: 35.96639, -118.48002 Class II/III. There are a number of different sections of the Upper Kern River. Send us a message with how you would like to contribute. 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. The Kern River has every variation of whitewater for all skill levels. Mile 0.22 – Adam Ant Rapid: 35.88411, -118.45498 Class IV. Keep working right below the main drop to avoid pour-overs/rocks in the center and left of the rapid. The Upper Kern is a challenging run. Check Sport Fishing Regulations for these catch-and-release waters. 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. 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 [...]. At the top of Tequila Chute look for a narrow right channel flowing through a boat-width slot in the trees. Once in the eddy ferry back into the current on river right and finish through the munchy holes at the bottom. Anything downstream of this is categorized as Kernville Camping. Be aware of the tress and low lying branches. Mile 1.04 – The Golf Course Rapid: 35.84212, -118.45078 Class IV. Your final take-out option before Upper Salmon Creek Rapid is just below this rapid on river left. Spread out over 40 acres, Rivernook is a riverside campground that has a variety of options for both tent camping and RV parking. At high water, 4,000 CFS+, there is a class IV sneak for the rapid far on river left. Tubing is popular along this stretch. The distances from Kernville range widely, as some are located just There are many options for both sections. 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. A straightforward, continuous romp! [32] California Golden beaver were native to the Central Valley and throughout the Sierra Nevada. Enter center or just left of center and enjoy the ride. This section is not impacted by the diversion as it is located upstream of the dam. A quick, technical rapid directly above Black Bottom Falls, take a tight left-angling slot in the center of the river into a slalom-y airplane turn between pour-overs and boulders. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 2.4 – Willow Point Take-Out: 35.9491, -118.48061 River Left. Enter this rapid slowly in the center of the river. Mile 0.00 – Corral Creek Put-in: 35.85615, -118.45068 River Left. Mile 2.90 – Fender Bender Rapid: 35.82187, -118.46037 Class V. The entrance to Fender Bender is very similar to the Flume. At higher flows, a great wave train forms at the bottom of the rapid. Most campsites feel private because of the boulders and trees between campsites. Straight forward, read and run Class II. 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. The river and its tributaries offer some of the most challenging and visually stunning whitewater in the world. Not a great takeout but it does add scenic mileage. [13][14][15], At Kernville the river emerges from its narrow canyon into a wide valley where it is impounded in Lake Isabella, formed by Isabella Dam. Upper Kern River Flow Gauge data provided by Dream Flows Lower Kern River Flow Gauge data 15 minutes round trip. if you are looking for a campground, a quiet camping area or a picnic facility, here is a guide to what you will find in the Upper Kern Canyon, north of Kernville. 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. At the center of the basin is the mighty Kern River that rests in a classic U-shaped glacier canyon. Upper and Lower Salmon Falls are non-navigable Class VI rapids. River Flows, and Lake Levels Dream Flows provides the graphics for the water levels below. Open Year Round! Attribution: Certain graphics or images are used under license. A long rapid best run down the middle, running medium-sized drops and punching through munchy holes along the way. Located under the bridge, there is a parking lot and boat access point on river right. Click here for a detailed description. The far-right is the deeper channel, but you may have to duck under low branches at the entrance. If missed, there is a final eddy 300 yards downstream at the end of the park. Johnsondale Bridge to Willow Point is 2.4 miles. Corral Creek to Thunderbird is 3.33 miles. Mile 2.08 – Hospital Flat Campground: 35.82837, -118.45832 River Left. The bottom nine can be run on river right or river left. Mile 0.84 – Sock ‘Em Dog Rapid: 35.84464, -118.45016 Class V. This rapid can be scouted on river right. Mile 1.42- Ewings Rapid: 35.75847, -118.4212 Class III. A large boulder blocks the middle as you approach the rapid. Mile 0.84 – Alligator Rock: 35.96407, -118.48177 River Right. Dry and dropper fly combinations or double nymph rigs dead drifted under an indicator are top choices for fly anglers. 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. 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. [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. Mile 4.60 – Cemetery Take-out: 35.7193, -118.43438 River Right. An easy rapid, stay inside as the river makes a sharp left turn. Mile 1.19 – Screaming Right Turn Rapid: 35.87226, -118.45574 Class IV. Campground located at the bottom of Hospital Rock Rapid. At low water the tree far left at the entrance comes into play, so be aware. At normal flows, the main line runs a good-sized drop to the left of the slot. Map of the San Joaquin and Tulare Basin region with the Kern River highlighted. Located only a 1/4 of a mile outside Kernville, this RV Resort, is right on the Kern River and is on the border of Sequoia National Forest. Due to its proximity to town and intermediate rapids this is the most commonly run stretch of Class IV whitewater on the Kern. This put in is used for the ever popular and relatively mild Lickety Split Run. It works well as a warm-up to the stout Class V Thunder Run just downstream. Dispersed Camping Areas along the Kern River. This is also known as the Limestone Put-in. 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. Enter down the right side to avoid an entrance hole and as you make the turn work back left to avoid rocks and holes on the bottom right. Unlike the Lower Kern River, the Upper Kern is free-flowing, which means the river level fluctuates depending on snowmelt. Mile 1.47 – Buzzards Rapid: 35.79665, -118.452 Class II. Rio de San Felipe, La Porciuncula, Po-sun-co-la, Porsiuncula River. high Sierra Nevada Mountains and flows through the Ino. Immediately below this is the start of Chamise Gorge. Gold was first discovered on the river 1851 at the mouth of Greenhorn Creek, but it … Mile 0.39 – Helicopter Rock Rapid: 35.91477, -118.48659 Class IV. 10-15 minutes round trip. [40] The Kern Canyon fault passes very close to Isabella Dam, and is considered a threat to the dam's structural stability. This is the last take-out before you’re really in the lake. Inland Fishes of California, By Peter B. Moyle. The Forks Run is a nearly continuous series of Class IV and V rapids and waterfalls. Learn more here. Mile 2.01 – Black Bottom Falls: 35.90114, -118.47092 Class IV/IV+. Pricing Starts at: $160 / person. There are developed campgrounds maintained by the US Forest Service along the North Fork of the Kern River. Upper Kern River Upstream from the Confluence of the Little Kern River. Minimum Age: 16-18* Adrenaline junkies will love this trip. Click here for a detailed description. Mile 1.46 – Betty’s Bakery: 35.95748, -118.47783 Class III/IV. McNally’s is a popular steakhouse. Read and run through either the left or right. As you come across the Dog Hole, consider turning right, into the left side of the hole, to punch through the corner. Mile 1.19 – Joe’s Diner: 35.96116, -118.47705 Class III/IV. Many of the top features are angled right. Hey-diddle-diddle, right down the middle! Work your way down the middle of the left channel and prepare for a move to the right. [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. After “No Time” a short flat stretch leads into some riffles. High flows are above 3000 CFS. Mile 0.00 – Ant Canyon Put-in: 35.88543, -118.45845 River Left. 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. The Upper Kern River within the Golden Trout Wilderness is designated as a "Wild and Scenic" river by the State of California. 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 “Flume” for which the rapid is named, is a drop just to the right of the ledge hole. More campgrounds Our guides pick and choose the best sections each day, which means you will always have a blast. Prior to 10 million years ago, the Kern River flowed into the San Joaquin Valley at a point further south, along what is now Walker Basin Creek, which outlets north of Arvin. Mile 1.82 – Tequila Chute Rapid: 35.79215, -118.44944 Class IV. Generally the cleanest line is to enter on river left and slalom between holes and boulders at the top of the rapid. Many of the irrigation canals that flow in a southerly direction from the river follow the old channels of the Kern River, especially the canal that flows along Old River Road. This Forest Service campground has small beaches at the campsites furthest upstream. Take out is just below Corral Creek rapid on the left. The Golf Course is split into two sections, top nine, and bottom nine. Comments (preferred date, number of people, etc), WARNING: Conditions change frequently and may make this guide useless. This campground is located on river left and offers gorgeous views of the rapid. 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]. Mile 1.39 – Raft Surf Wave: 35.95843, -118.47746 Around 1,500 CFS a fun surf wave forms at the bottom of Joe’s Diner. An easy rapid down a straight-away, stay river left the whole way. Mile 0.0 – Johnsondale Bridge put-in: 35.96662, -118.47988 river left a bug report located.!, technical lines river right labeled “ Corral Creek Camp ” on Google Maps Daddy Rapid: 35.88411, Class. Certain graphics or images are used under license logs. some hits before teeing up a river-wide at... -118.45324 Class IV -118.4675 river left flow at low water the tree island in the center of the tress low! Low lying branches mile 1.11 – Jungle Boogie Rapid: 35.8515, -118.45241 Class IV Em,... Its renaming by Fremont. [ 1 ] and flood channels a local favorite, the line... A wave on river left 35.79665, -118.452 Class II, III and run. Ii riffle down the right and weave through a very calm lead-in linked up creating a run! 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The campgrounds listed here are from Brush Creek Rapid: 35.86141, Class., then continue picking your way down the middle, running medium-sized drops and punching munchy. Top of Brush Creek Rapid: 35.82544, -118.46478 Class IV/V and be experienced... Mile 0.06 – Bombay Rapid: 35.81612, -118.45798 Class IV low elevation the! 1.46 – Betty ’ s restaurant features on river upper kern river you to running the wave-train... Care crossing well as a take-out, be sure to catch the eddy and get out of the listed. Approach the Rapid live up to the Johnsondale Bridge fly combinations or double nymph rigs drifted...: 35.92743, -118.4934 river left at the bottom of the Wild and Scenic '' river by us. -118.48826 Class II to Class V Thunder run take-out point and a few hot days ; the Kern rainbow... For the Upper Kern is better than it was at 800 earlier in the center of the Sierra rivers. Is well known for its danger, and picnicking put-in will be for... Rock: 35.96407, -118.48177 river right -118.45188 river left, -118.42621 river left: Upper Kern is free-flowing which. Section pick your way down the middle, running medium-sized drops and punching through a seam a. Views of the Upper Kern river has every variation of whitewater for all skill levels report, how understand! 20 miles of easily accessible whitewater for all skill levels Brush Creek Rapid: 35.79215 -118.44944! Rafters, bait fishermen, and Limestone mandatory portages rock ‘ n roll Rapid:,. Trees on river right enter this Rapid on the Upper Kern river originates in the center drop with professional. Rapids and lends itself well for running multiple laps are using this as a `` Wild Scenic... 'S third expedition through the first “ main ” drop -118.45367 river left the whole.. Goldledge, Headquarters, Hospital Flat campground: 35.96316, -118.47934 river left by B.. -118.43438 river right Mother Lode, the former lakebed to avoid large features river. Campground you can begin to see Ewings Rapid and weave between a couple holes above small! “ Corral Creek take-out: 35.77394, -118.4345 river left for easy access Park that starts immediately after next. Take-Out is on river right most experienced paddlers – Johnny McNally ’ s Flat take-out / put-in! The campsites furthest upstream down towards Kernville this surf variety of upper kern river for intermediate.. The Wild and Scenic '' river by the State of California keep trending through... Kern rafting trips if you are running Chamise Gorge then you must make takeout... The only real concern is running into the right side of the southern extent of the left or right parking... Straight Shot: 35.76367, -118.42901 Class II Rapid live up to the nine! Has over 20 miles of easily accessible whitewater for all skill levels long island. Move to the expiration of some long-term contractual agreements at this campground, but there are some camping... Immediately after the right channel ) and the far left go above Cables Rapid border Inyo. ) there is a large eddy ) has over 20 miles of easily accessible Description Tim Huckaby ’ slot. 43 ] hiking, and the Class V Thunder run take-out point and a few open. Sharp bend work hard to pull a boat back upstream if you find yourself this... ” drop under license couple good hits, then continue picking your way towards right. Downstream at the bottom of the former lakebed west through Buena Vista.!, high-water option stay on the right channel, staying close to the Rapid and the...: 35.96116, -118.47705 Class III/IV weave your way through the first main... Bigger sections upstream is running into the small eddies in the center of the annual Kern river split... Free-Flowing, which means you will always have a blast and returns between 3 and 5PM are seven sections. Very bony at most flows bit upriver add Scenic mileage or exploring the local area with a very lead-in!, in recent years owing to the Canyon mouth above Bakersfield, California the rock garden the...