Packrafting the Kern River
Just 2 hours away from Los Angeles, California is a small little hidden gem of world class whitewater.
The Kern River just outside Bakersfield is home to some amazing sections of whitewater from class II to class V+. The Kern River is known for beautiful granite canyon walls and chilly Sierra Nevada water which is very refreshing on a hot day. There are several easy access runs as well as some that require hiking in, making it great for whatever type of paddling you want to do.
Last winter when I was down in LA I paddled the East Fork of the San Gabriel River with my friend Mike. I went down again in May and hit him up to go paddle something again. Since whitewater in Los Angeles is pretty much non existent, he threw out heading up to Kern. I used to guide rock climbing and hiking trips up there but had never paddled it except for a guided raft trip like 15 years ago.
So we deiced to head out Saturday morning and we met up at Lake Isabella, got our gear ready and planned our day out. Mike brought his Nirvana Self-Bailing and I brought my Rodeo Self-Bailing packraft. It was so nice to have some warm temps and not have to be in a drysuit too! We both wore some thin neoprene pants and long sleeve sun shirts.
First up was the Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park aka Powerhouse Run. I did 2 laps on this several years ago on a guided trip, all I remember was it was pretty short and the guide swam once and then I swam the second time. So I was hungry for redemption.
Unfortunately the flows were a little low at 800 cfs so it wasn't as wild as I remembered. But the great part is that since it was so low, it didn't look like there was a way to get a normal raft down it, so the packraft was the perfect craft for the day.
We got back to the car and then drove up to get the other shuttle vehicle and then headed down stream to the our second run the Slippery Rock to Miracle aka Jungle Run. This section is just below the dam that forms Lake Isabella. Lake Isabella is also a nice little hidden gem if you are looking for a spot to paddle around around on a hot summer day.
We dropped a car off at Miracle hot springs and then head back up to Lake Isabella to the Slippery Rock put in. The flows here below the dam were a little higher at around 900 cfs. We blew up our boats again and then launched again for round 2.
This is a really really fun section. Its about 8 miles long and took us around 2 hours to paddle. It starts off in a tight little granite gorge with a class 3 rapid.
We paddled downstream for a few more solid class 3's through giant granite boulders.
We got to the take out, tossed our boats in my car and headed back to the put in so Mike could grab his car and we could both head home after a solid day of paddling whitewater on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
Other things to do around Kern:
Rock Climbing: Theres tons of rock climbing spots, my favorite is the Kernville Slabs. Theres tons of routes from 5.5 to 5.11 both sport and trad.
Hot Springs: There are 2 hot springs on the lower Kern River. Remington Hot Springs and Miracle Hot Springs. Great for hanging out after paddling. Warning-clothing is optional so you might see some naked hippies.
Lake Isabella: A medium sized lake great for packrafting, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing with a few lake side campgrounds.
Kern River Brewing: A great spot to grab a beer and food after a great day on the river. The Brown Claw Brown Porter and Class V Stout are my favorite beers there.
Final Take
If you’ve got a packraft and a free day, the Kern River should be high on your list. It’s one of the rare places in Southern California where you can sneak up into a beautiful granite canyon and get away from the city. It's perfect to lap multiple sections, explore remote runs, or step up into some harder whitewater.
-Tristan