The 2012 Season Is On It's Way

The 2012 rafting season is just around the corner and it promises to be yet another outstanding year here on the Kern River. Our Whitewater School launches on April 14th and we expect to be running Forks and Upper Kern trips from April 28th through June 17th. The Lower Kern will kick in on Memorial Day weekend and is expected to run through August 19th, however the season on the Lower could be extended if releases from the Isabella Reservoir allow. Keep these booking windows in mind when planning your trip to take advantage of the best water levels the Kern River has to offer this year. If you have any questions about our trips or would like to check on availability, give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234.

Forks of the Kern Season is Now Open

Most years, our Forks of the Kern trips are just about wrapped up by July. This year, the Forks season isn’t even opening until July. The huge 2011 snow pack and early season high flows have allowed us to postpone these trips to take advantage of the long backslide of the peak runoff. What does that mean to our Class 5 enthusiasts? Simply put: the best Forks of the Kern season since 1998. Forks guest joining us in July and August can expect crystal clear water, toasty weather, and the same action and high adventure the Forks is world famous for. We have two and three day trips departing on July 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th and August 4th, 9th, and 14th. Don’t miss this once-in-a-decade opportunity to experience this pristine stretch of river at its best. Call our reservations office at 1-800-323-4234 for more details.

The Great 2011 Lower Camp Wash Out

The storms of 2011 have deposited one of the best snow packs in recent memory, but they left a bit of carnage in their wake. Pictured above is a wash out at our Lower Kern camp. Guide Gary "Firestarter" Thornbrugh gives a little scale to the ditch the torrent of water carved. Word has it that the road leading to the Forks of the Kern also suffered the same fate and won't be open until the first week of June, at best. Good news though: our camp road is being repaired as we type this. This little memory of the winter storms' fury will soon be smoothed over. It is now time to play on the melting snow for the next four or five months. Get ready to have some serious fun.

Forks of the Kern: July 10th, 11th, 12th

Pictured above is master guide Darby Vreven exiting from the "Thing" (the last hole in Carson Falls Rapid on the Forks). Darby is rowing a fully loaded gear boat on day three of the trip that came off the water last Sunday. It was absolutely glorious out there.

This season has seen almost unprecedented conditions on the Forks. With flows hovering around 2000cfs, the water conditions are as close to perfect as you will ever see, especially in July.

Chocked full of world class whitewater, Forks of the Kern is one of the nation's premier rafting trips. We have a trip slated to leave on Saturday, July 10th at 8:00am. This trip is one of our "Priority Dates" and features a reduced rate. Take a look at our interactive Forks of the Kern Map and get a tantalizing view of some of the scenery and rapids on this epic run.

If you would like more information, or would like to make a reservation for this trip of a lifetime, give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234 and we'll arrange your trip on this Wild and Scenic whitewater adventure.

Vanessa Herrera

Pictured above is a beaming Vanessa Herrera standing guard below Carson Falls on the Forks of the Kern.

Vanessa has been guiding with Kern River Outfitters since graduating from our guide training in 1998. A stand out during the course, she showed an innate aptitude for guiding and has long since become one of our top guides. After long seasons guiding on the Kern during the summer, Vanessa spent many off season traveling in Mexico, Costa Rica, and other far flung regions seeking out whitewater wherever she could find it. In recent years, she works as an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles during the winter. Vanessa's smile and pleasant demeanor brightens the days of all lucky enough to find her wielding a guide paddle in the back of their raft.

The Thunder Run

The Thunder Run is an exceptional Class Five 0ne-day trip on the Upper Kern. We ran one today and yesterday. The conditions are perfect: beautiful weather and exceptional water flows. Pictured above is our guide Scooter Carling and his raft of eager paddlers having the time of their lives dropping into Fender Bender Rapid. They were having as much fun as you could possibly fit into one day.

Here are a couple more shots taken of the proud crew as they exited the rapid:


The conditions for Class Five adventures on the Thunder Run and the Forks of the Kern could not be better. The melting 2010 snow pack will allow us to run many more of these trips over the next few weeks. We currently have six spaces available for our Thunder Run departing tomorrow morning at 8:30am. If you'd like to join us on one of these great trips, give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234 and we'll have you paddling before you know it.

Forks of the Kern River Video

The Forks of the Kern, the crown-jewel of wilderness class V, was where 17 Kern River Outfitters' guides and staff found themselves on Tuesday and Wednesday. Each year we hold a staff training trip on the Forks and this year the two-day trip was an absolute blast. We took two paddle boats and three oar boats, had clean lines, and got to see one of the most beautiful sections of river that we know of.

Mike Spradlin shot video, edited it, and then recorded his own music to put together this sweet clip of runs at West Wall (aka Confusion) and Carson Falls.

Ladies and Gentleman, the First Thunder Run of the Year is Now in Progress

They're off and running. The first Class V Thunder Run of the season is shown leaving the grounds and heading out for a day of rafting under crystal skies and warm weather. With the Upper Kern River running in excess of 2,600cfs, these folks are in for a fabulous day of playing on the river. If you would like more information on the Thunder Run or any of the trips we will be offering this summer, feel free to give our helpful office staff a call at 1-800-323-4234. We're happy to answer any questions you might have and help you plan your visit to the Kern River. You too could soon be having as much fun as these folks heading up to the river in anticipation of a day filled with fun and adventure.

Forks Road Currently Closed Due to Big Snow

Access to the trail head for the Forks of the Kern will be delayed this year. Due to the high volume of snow this winter and spring (the storms still haven't released their grasp on the Southern Sierra), Lloyd Meadow Road is still closed and will remain so for up to two weeks. The photo above shows a portion of the occluded road. Word on the street is that there are drifts as high as 8 feet high blocking access. We suppose this is a small price to pay for a promising season ahead. We'll keep you posted as to the road's condition and expected opening day.

After The Storm

The recent spate of storms have left us wondering where spring went, but we can't help but be excited about the still growing snow pack. At over 109% of normal, we are looking forward to a long, fun Upper, Forks, and Lower Kern season ahead of us. Yesterday, the Kern River Valley was hammered by yet another big winter storm, but this morning, the glory of the Spring of 2010 was evident everywhere. An epic season is in the wings.

The 2010 Snow Pack is Building

The high country in the Southern Sierra took a pounding last week as three moisture laden storms slammed into the areas comprising the Kern River snow pack. These photos were provide by Dwight and Trudy Pascoe. In the summertime, Dwight is one of our key drivers. In the winter, he drives a snowplow keeping the roads passable around the Kern Valley. His work has been cut out for him this winter and we expect he'll be busy moving snow until the spring.

These past storms and the systems promised to come this winter should make for yet another stellar season rafting the Kern River. We are all hunkered down and waiting for a spring run off that will again prove that Kern River rafting is the best part of a summer vacation.

We will keep you posted as the storms roll in.

Until then, stay warm and keep your paddles crossed for summer fun in 2010.

Fall on the Kern River

After a long season, even the Kern River requires a rest from the annual whitewater run off that allows us to play all spring and summer. The river mellows, the cottonwoods, alders, and willows all swap their green foliage for bright colors and eventually relinquish their leaves altogether in preparation for a long winter nap. A brief time of reflection and regeneration in preparation for the Spring of 2010. Kern River rafting is California rafting at it's best. We suppose the river deserves some down time, as do we all. Kern River Outfitters wishes all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving and we look forward to seeing all of you next spring, when the river and Kern River Outfitters, renewed, will again provide the most exciting whitewater action in California.

Forks of the Kern Rafting

Our Forks of the Kern staff training trip got off the water May 14th. We spent three days on the river and had the chance to explore some amazing side hikes along the way. We are offering this incredible trip on June 5, 10, 15, and 20th. The Forks is considered the best wilderness class V rafting trip in the United States.

In describing our Forks of the Kern River rafting trip, Outside Magazine said, "The serious heart in throat moments come mid-run at the back-to-back Class V Vortex/Gauntlet doubleheader: a ten-foot slide followed by unscoutable drops that roll on for a seeming eternity."

Here's a short video of our training trip, which includes footage of Vortex, Confusion, and Carson Falls.



Check out our Forks of the Kern Rafting page for additional information.