Kern River

The Kern River runs from the 14,000 ft. slopes of the High Sierra near Mt. Whitney more than 100 miles to the fields and farms of the San Joaquin Valley, near Bakersfield, California. The Kern is protected by more miles of Wild and Scenic designation than any other river system in the continental U.S. It is the longest whitewater river in the California. Located approximately half way through the river’s course is Lake Isabella, a reservoir created by Isabella Dam. Just upstream of Lake Isabella is the town of Kernville, just downstream the town Lake Isabella. The reach upstream of Lake Isabella and Kernville is generally referred to as the Upper Kern and the reach below the dam the Lower Kern. The level of difficulty in these sections ranges from class I to class V+ or VI. The Upper and Lower Kern are easily accessed from a road that follows the River. Class V wilderness runs extend upstream of the Upper Kern for another 50 miles.