Upper Kern Photos

One of our customers from this last summer recently published a video on YouTube with pictures from their Upper Kern rafting trip. If you have some pictures or video online from this summer with Kern River Outfitters let us know so we can post them here! Happy boating and enjoy the photos...



-Team KRO

Guides rafting in November

Two Kern River Outfitters guides, Chip and Ursula, just completed a 2-day river trip on Southern Oregon's Illinois river. They sent us this video of their trip and a rapid called Green Wall. Looks like a lot of fun with typical fall Oregon weather. Enjoy!



-Team KRO

Forks of the Kern Guide Trip Summary

Kern River Outfitters completed its annual guide training trip on the Forks of the Kern this past week. The trip had its usual mixture of beauty and adrenaline and many lessons were well received by all of our guide staff. The trip is a great refresher for our Forks guides and also an excellent learning tool for training Forks guides or just any of our guides who want to see big water.

Oops. Catching some air on class V Carson Falls, Forks of the Kern:




The Forks season will be short this year, but we hope to get up there at least a couple of times before we switch our focus to the Lower Kern for the duration of the summer. So... if you want to do a Forks trip reserve your spot ASAP!

-Posted by Luth

It's beginning to feel a lot like... rafting season!

We are just a week away from our season-opening trip on the class V Forks of the Kern and we are just itching to get on the water. Our guides are starting to filter back into Kernville to get ready for the upcoming season. Like a kid before Christmas, everyone at Kern River Outfitters is just trying to fill the time with productive chores: checking equipment, buying rolls of duct tape (a guide's best friend), and, of course, telling each other river stories from seasons in the past.

Below: Dropping into class V Carson Falls on the Forks of the Kern

Now is a great time to book a "Forks" trip with KRO. Our first Forks trip launches May 6 and from then on we launch every five days. On May 16th, May 31st, June 5th and June 15th our prices have been reduced to $798. Call us at 1-800-323-4234 to book your Forks trip today. We all hope you can join us for another exciting season on the Kern.

Kern Trips featured in LA Family Magazine

Check out the great article by Mark Smith that ran last week in the Los Angeles Family Magazine. Mark joined us last summer on a Lower Kern River trip. His article can be read here.

With recent storms, the Kern River snow pack is improving daily and we're looking forward to another fun season of rafting on the jewel of the Sierra, the Kern River. Visit our website at KernRafting.com for information about all of our trips.

See you on the river.
The Staff at Kern River Outfitters

Kern River Wildlife Refuge

When you come up to enjoy your Kern River rafting trip this summer, try to include a visit to the Kern Wildlife Refuge in your plans. On the South Fork of Kern River drainage, I always try to enjoy a hike through the refuge when I'm in the area visiting. The amount of wildlife, especially bird life, is amazing. Early in the morning is the best time to visit the refuge. The Kern River is a remarkable resource and we like to share all that it has to offer with our guests.
Jim Ritter

We have a Winner

It is official. Kern River Outfitters has selected Firestone Walker Fine Ales to team up with for this years Pub and Grub trip. Firestone Walker has produced some of the most highly decorated beers in the country.

Our vast expertise at running outstanding whitewater trips coupled with an ability to produce a world class feast will most certainly make for the perfect match of fine quality, icy cold beverages and a Lower Kern trip.

We launch on Thursday, July 12. Check out the Firestone website at www.firestonewalker.com, wet your cyber palate, and call 1-800-323-4234 to reserve your spot on this classic Two Day Lower Kern adventure.

BTW. Recent intelligence has identified the Beer Cave in Wofford Heights as a source for Firestone Walker's fine libations.

Lost and Found

Treasure Found at Lower Camp. If any of our guests or guides lost a gold ring at Lower Camp last year, we have good news. We found it. You can call our reservations office at 800-323-4234 to describe and claim it.

It seems that we end up with a lot of lost and found items by the end of the season. This year we will post them here, and invite the rest of you to do the same. Although the local thrift stores will be missing out, we would like to see belongings returned to their rightful owners. After all, gear aint cheap.

KernRafting.com Rafting Center renovation plans

For those of you who have been rafting with us on the Kern River, you've enjoyed our comfortable Rafting Center in Wofford Heights, CA. The center serves as our base of operations and meeting place for our guests, for all of our Kern River trips. At the conclusion of our 2007 season, we plan to renovate and update our Rafting Center for your comfort. If you have any ideas about what improvements we should make during this renovation, please let me know. Post your suggestions here at our blog, or send me an email to: Jim@RogueRiverTrips.com Thanks very much. Jim Ritter

The "Pub and Grub"

Introducing... "Pub and Grub". What do you think of this for a 2007 theme trip: A two day Lower Kern trip along the lines of a wine pairing trip dedicated to the fine art of brewing quality micro beer? This might be one of the best ideas the Kern’s seen in some time.

After a full day on the water, what could be better than arriving at camp and spending the evening being educated on the nuances of micro beer by a pro? Complete with a couple reps from the brewery, icy cold samples, and a specially prepared barbeque?

I suspect this trip is bound to become a Kern tradition.

Any guides request working this trip?


Posted by Luth

Simplifying Our Discount Policies

Last season, one of things we heard about was how confusing our discount schedule was. Well, we are fixing it. We have been listening to your comments and suggestions and have found that many of you who make reservations that qualify for a group discount end up needing to add a person or two to the roster by the time your trip launches.

Our old group discount did not allow additions to your initial group
reservation at a discounted rate. For 2007, we have simplified the process and made adding the inevitable extra person to your group reservation a seamless task and it allows add-ons to take part in your group discount as well!

It is simple: Groups of 12 or more booking any Lower or Upper Kern trip (excluding Saturday starts) are eligible for a 15% discount on the reservation. The only requirement is that your deposit and/or balance due be received via one check or credit card. If you have an additional person or two that would like to join your group anytime after your initial booking, we'd be happy to add them AND apply the 15% group discount afforded your initial reservation. We hope this new system addresses your concerns and makes booking your group and adding that additional person a much simpler affair.

We also changed our rates for families. In an effort to make it easier for families with kids to join us on all sections of the Kern at a reduced rate this year, we are offering a 10% Youth Discount" this season. This reduction in trip fare is applicable to kids aged 16 and under and can be applied to any trip we offer (excluding Saturday starts). Kern River Outfitters has always prided itself on running fun, wholesome trips that suite families with youngsters, and we hope this youth discount also meets with your approval. Keep in mind that families with groups of 12 or more can upgrade to our 15% group discount on the entire entourage.

Give us a call @ 1-800-323-4234 if you have a group planning a Kern trip this year. I am certain we have a plan that will help you organize a great trip. Posted by Luther Stephens.