Kern River Valley

[Tidewater]

Has one of the board members been to the Kern River Valley east of Bakersfield, Calif.?
I just drove through it and it was breathtaking. I had never heard of this river, but it is spectacular. California Highway 178 runs along the south bank and the white water is amaxing. Lake Isabella is also impressive.
Anyway, if you are in the neighborhood, I highly recommend the Kern River Valley between Bakersfield and Ridgecrest, about a two hour drive.

 

[Tidewater]

Here are a couple of photos, but honestly, they do not do it justice.


I wonder how much kayaking is done on that river. These are some of the tame sections.

 

[Bazza]

The 2 states I have visited that I think have the most natural beauty are Colorado and California.

I realize this is a debatable subject so not trying to state anything as a fact. Just my opinion.

I hope one day I can return to both of these states to do more exploration and sightseeing.

Thanks for sharing with us, @Tidewater !

 

[oskie]

Excerpt from a song lyric Merle Haggard wrote:

There's the great San Joaquin
Where the seeds of the dust bowl are found
And there's a place called Mount Whitney
From where the mighty Kern River comes down

But now it's not deep nor wide
But it's a mean piece of water, my friend
And I may cross on the highway
But I'll never swim Kern River again

Merle was raised in Kern County, around Bakersfield.

 

[oskie]

@Tidewater Been through Bakersfield, but don't remember seeing what you saw in those photos. Thank you for posting them.

 

[Tidewater]

California Highway 178, heads into the mountains east of Bakersfield.
Folks talk trash on Bakersfield. I did not hate it. It just looks like a blue-collar town that is going about its work. I drove along Merle Haggard Boulevard. That gives an idea as to what the ethic of the town is. It's okay.
But the mountains to the east of Bakersfield are really stunning.
I had never even heard of the Kern River Valley.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

That's one of the few places I've never spent time in as a CA native, along with north-of-Sacramento CA, and the desert.

Bakersfield is a blue-collar town, but expanding quickly. I grew up in Madera/Fresno so the Central Valley brings good memories for me.

 

[Tidewater]

That's one of the few places I've never spent time in as a CA native, along with north-of-Sacramento CA, and the desert.

Bakersfield is a blue-collar town, but expanding quickly. I grew up in Madera/Fresno so the Central Valley brings good memories for me.

Next time you go back, check out Highway 178 east of Bakersfield. I was impressed. Really beautiful and stark.

 

[92tide]

Here are a couple of photos, but honestly, they do not do it justice.
View attachment 51591
View attachment 51592
I wonder how much kayaking is done on that river. These are some of the tame sections.

the entire kern watershed has world-class whitewater.

a small taste

 

[Tidewater]

the entire kern watershed has world-class whitewater.

a small taste

I figured somebody would be crazy enough to try it.
If you know what you are doing, I bet it is fun.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

Next time you go back, check out Highway 178 east of Bakersfield. I was impressed. Really beautiful and stark.

I just spent 2 weeks driving my Alabama-born wife and kids b/w Fresno, Yosemite, Monterey, San Simeon, LA and Orange County, especially driving through the non-typical stereotype California. It was fun and beautiful.

 

[Tidewater]

I just spent 2 weeks driving my Alabama-born wife and kids b/w Fresno, Yosemite, Monterey, San Simeon, LA and Orange County, especially driving through the non-typical stereotype California. It was fun and beautiful.

I used to live in Monterey. It wasn't LA and it wasn't San Fran. I did not much care fo LA when I went San Fran had character, however.
Beautiful state.

 

[92tide]

i had to take a quick 3 day trip to california (fresno) for my aunt's funeral back in april. i was able to bring along my 13 yo daughter for the trip and we were able to visit yosemite before we left. i hadn't been since i was 13 and had forgotten just how spectacular that place is.

we got there early and beat the crowds

 

[Tidewater]

I am leaving California (two grand-daughters born safely, thank God).
I was not allowed to return to Bakersfield via the Kern River Valley. It was closed due to the "Democrat fire," which I assumed meant there is a mountain or a river called Democrat Mountain or the Democrat River that has a fire on/near it. Anybody trying to drive the Kern River Valley should consult CalDOT before heading that way.
People in the Upper Mojave & Bakersfield are so friendly and welcoming they are almost Southern in character. It was a nice trip.

 

[92tide]

I am leaving California (two grand-daughters born safely, thank God).
I was not allowed to return to Bakersfield via the Kern River Valley. It was closed due to the "Democrat fire," which I assumed meant there is a mountain or a river called Democrat Mountain or the Democrat River that has a fire on/near it. Anybody trying to drive the Kern River Valley should consult CalDOT before heading that way.
People in the Upper Mojave & Bakersfield are so friendly and welcoming they are almost Southern in character. It was a nice trip.

congrats on the grand daughters.