Outstanding Rafting Conditions on the Lower Kern are Expected through August

Rafting conditions are expected to be outstanding for those looking to run Lower Kern two day trips through the month of August and even into September this year. The abundant snow pack placed in the Southern Sierra Nevada this past winter is providing a seemingly endless runoff this summer and the water flows on the Lower are expected to be in the range of 2000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through August. Keith Stephens, general manager of Kern River Outfitters mentions, “We could not have ordered more ideal water flow conditions for our guests this year. The Lower Kern is currently running at 2175cfs and the Upper is still presenting levels close to 2000cfs. We’re projecting to run our Lower Kern two day trips through September 13th this year with August being the prime time in terms of great water conditions. The Upper Kern should provide really fun flows through the middle of August which is almost unheard of most years. We are thrilled to be able to offer high quality rafting trips throughout this time frame and have Mother Nature to thank for the opportunity.” Feel free to give our reservations office a call for up-to-date water flow conditions and trip availability. 1-800-323-4234

Don't Miss the Extended Season on the Upper Kern this Summer

The Upper Kern River offers the perfect solution for those looking for a one day or partial day whitewater rafting trip this summer. The extended 2011 season will allow us to run outstanding trips on the Upper through the middle of August. With the huge peak flows just behind us, the water is clear, exhilarating, and spectacular. If you’re looking for a one day Class IV rafting trip complete with tons of fun rapids, a fabulous riverside lunch, and unbeatable scenery, the Upper Kern is an excellent choice. In addition to the full day trip, the Upper also offers a Class IV afternoon half day and two hour Class III Double Lickety Split trips for those with less time available but a yearning to sample the river. The minimum age for our Class IV trips is 9; the minimum age for the Double Lickety Split is 5. Feel free to call our reservations office at 1-800-323-4234 if you have any questions or would like to make a reservation.

Common Questions Answered about the three Stretches of the Kern River

Guests often ask us what the difference is between the Lower, Upper, and Forks of the Kern prior to making their reservation so we thought it might be nice to give a quick review of each of these fine stretches of river for you.

The Lower Kern is our premier two day overnight river trip. Guests on this trip are treated to more than ten Class 4 rapids and numerous Class 3 stretches over the course of the twenty mile run. Our private campsite, situated about ten miles into the trip, is a large riverside expanse complete with redwood sleeping decks, thick sleeping pads, and a gourmet kitchen where guides prepare some of the best meals you’ll ever eat. It’s the perfect place for groups of families and friends to relax and tell tall tales of the day’s adventure and anticipate the next day’s run. The Lower Kern is uniquely blessed with warm water in the summer and is one of California’s most sought after overnight river trips. The Lower will run through mid-September this year. The minimum age is 9 (12 during high water).

The Upper Kern is an outstanding one day river trip. This stretch of river offers guests unparalleled access to practically limitless Class 4 whitewater. For those looking for an even greater challenge, the Upper has a Class 5 stretch we call “Thunder Run”. The Thunder Run boasts challenging rapids the likes of “Sock ‘em Dog”, “Fender Bender”, “Squashed Paddler” and “The Flume” that are sure to quench the thirst of the most passionate whitewater boater. The Upper is even blessed with a two hour, Class 2 and 3 stretch we call the “Double Lickety Split”. One could not find a more diverse and popular stretch of river anywhere in the country. We expect to run the Upper Kern through mid-August this year. The minimum age on the Upper is 9 (12 during high water) and 16 on the Thunder Run. The Double Lickety Split’s minimum age is 5 (9 during high water).

The Forks of the Kern is a world-class, 20 mile stretch of Class 5 water that offers our guests access to some of the most challenging whitewater in the country. This trip begins in the Golden Trout Wilderness and runs through the designated “Wild and Scenic” stretch of the Kern River. We know of no more scenic, challenging, or rewarding river trip anywhere. Forks trips are usually three days in duration, however some starts are two day trips. We expect to run Forks trips through mid-August this year. The minimum age for the Forks of the Kern is 16.

If you have any questions about any of these trips, feel free to give our office a call at 1-800-323 4234.

Cool Video of the Lower Kern

Click here to check out this great video of the Lower Kern taken by our guide Mike Spradlin a few days ago. It's some pretty fun footage. The Lower Kern will be running through mid-September this year. If you have any questions about the Lower or any of the other stretches of river we run, feel free to give our office a call @ 1-800-323-4234.

Perseid Meteor Shower Offers Stunning Show for Lower Kern Overnight Guests

Guests on our Lower Kern overnight trips will be treated to a spectacular show when gazing at the stars overhead over the next couple of weeks. The Perseid Meteor Showers will be at their peak this evening and will offer stargazers a brilliant light show all through the night. The shooting stars are expected to light up the night sky once or twice a minute throughout the evening.

Although the peak is expected this evening, above average shooting star activity can be expected throughout the month of August. If you can't make it up to the river where the conditions are ideal, take a moment to step out tonight wherever you are and see if you can catch a glimpse of this event.

Better yet, join us for a Two Day trip on the Lower Kern this month and accent an outstanding river trip with one of Mother Natures most spectacular night sky shows.

For more information, give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234.

Kern Valley's "Bull Fire" Moving North; Rafting Trips Unaffected by Fire

The "Bull Fire" that started just over 48 hours ago in the Bull Run Creek drainage adjacent to the Upper Kern River has moved north and away from the towns of Kernville and Riverkern. Although the residents of these two communities seem to be safe from the immediate threat, the community of Fairview is now in the cross hairs of the fire. With a little luck, and a lot of hard work from the men and women fighting the fire, Fairview will be spared.

Although this fire has caused some logistical changes, it hasn't caused any problems for folks running our Lower Kern trips. The water is better than ever on the Lower Kern and folks are having a blast on the river. The smoke caused by the first day of the fire has already cleared from the Kern Valley.

Here are some photographs of the amazing men, women and machines that offer lightening quick response when fire threatens. Our hats are off to all of them.

Line up of fire trucks in Kernville

"Sky Crane" helicopter scoping the scene

Water Bomber pulling up after a drop

Helicopter making the drop

Bridget and crew having a great time today on the Lower Kern River

Casa Colina's Annual Lower Kern Trip

Every year, Kern River Outfitters hosts a group of rafters from Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center on our Two Day Lower Kern trip. Guide Kristen Finstad is pictured above coming through Possum Rapid with a boatload of grinning guests from last year's Casa Colina trip. Anne Johnson, founder and director of Casa Colina's Outdoor Adventures program, organizes this group every year. This inspiring group makes up one of the most rewarding trips we run every year. Today is day two of their 2010 Lower Kern trip. We'll post photos of this year's trip when they come off the water this afternoon.

Kern River Outfitters Teams up with U.S. Forest Service and California Land Management for River Clean Up Day on Saturday, June 12th

Kern River Outfitters has teamed up with California Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service for the 2010 Upper Kern River Clean Up Day scheduled for Saturday, June 12th at 9:00am. Participants meet at Corral Creek along the Upper Kern and will spend a few of hours helping beautify the Upper Kern River. A BBQ lunch at Headquarters Campground will follow the clean up. This is a great opportunity to do something good for the Kern River and have some fun to boot. If you would like more information, please call Debbie Campbell at 1-760-376-1815. You can also call our office at 1-800-323-4234.

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 Resurrection of the Rafting Center

Those of you who rafted with us the afternoon of July 23rd, 2009 might remember this harrowing site. While all of you were out playing on the river, the Rafting Center was experiencing it's own little adventure via a motorhome, a vehicle in tow, and a set of defective brakes. Although causing quite an obstacle to overcome for the balance of the 2009 season, the good news is that no one was injured and it provided an undeniable motivation to remodel the building for the upcoming rafting season. Plans are being finalized as we type for a new and improved Kern Rafting Center to accompany the big water we expect this summer.


Stay tuned for details of our new and improved Rafting Center. With the promise of a bountiful snow pack, the 2010 season is sure to be one of the best years for running the Kern River with Kern River Outfitters, Southern California rafting at it's finest.

Upper Kern River Clean Up Day

Kern River Outfitters is proud to team with the Sequoia National Forest, California Land Management and other great sponsors in this years Upper Kern River Clean Up Day slated for Saturday, June 13th. If you are interested in lending a hand to help keep the Upper Kern River corridor litter free, feel free to join us at the Corral Creek Day Use Area at 9:00am on the 13th.

Trash bags and a hearty lunch will be supplied. For more information, contact Cheryl Bauer with the Forest Service at 760-376-3781 ext. 630 or Debbie Campbell with the CLM at 760-376 1815 for more information.

Let us all pitch in to keep the Kern River the pristine Southern California Rafting destination for everyone to enjoy.

The Fifty First Annual Whiskey Flat Celebration on the Kern River

This past weekend the Kern River Valley celebrated the fifty first anniversary of Whiskey Flat Days. Friday, February thirteenth, presented a less than ideal weather scenario with a veritable blizzard descending on the Kern River Valley. By noon, the snow was accumulating rapidly throughout the entire region. The following Saturday morning however, the sun rescued the event from the frigid grasp of the hovering winter storm and the scenery was spectacular.

A parade of participants in period costumes filled the streets of Kernville. Gunslingers, stagecoaches, and mountain men brought the old west to life complete with staged shoot-outs and an old fashioned western jail set up to house the bad guys.

If you have ever wondered whether there are fun things to do in the Kern River Valley in the whitewater rafting off-season, this annual event surely answers that question. Here at Kern River Outfitters, we think the Kern River offers the best California rafting available. We are grateful Mother Nature provided a brief respite from the latest winter storm for the event, but we are ecstatic that she is busy laying the base for yet another wonderful summer filled with endless Kern River rafting opportunities.

Here are a few photos of the fun event complete with our Kern Rafting Center bracing for the onslaught of snow this past Friday morning.



















The Rafting Center Bracing for the Storm Friday Morning
















Whiskey Flat Days Banner Proudly Flying Over the Event


















The Stagecoach is On Time
















Mountain Guys Looking for Easy Game
















Smokey Bear Keeping an Eye on Things

Lower Kern Camp Bliss

Two day Kern River rafting trips are a wonderful bundle of adventure, fun, and great food wrapped up in the plush warmth of our Lower Kern Camp. There is no better place to watch a summer evening unfold and enjoy the warmth of a campfire surrounded by great friends sharing tall tales of the day just experienced rafting the Kern River.

On August 11th and 12th the sky opened up and offered an extra special treat. It just so happened to be the peak of the Perseid Meteor Showers . On any given evening spent alongside the Lower Kern, shooting stars and satellites abound in the heavens but this time of the year the stars can seem to rain from the sky.

Our Lower Kern campsite is designed to provide a truly blissful ending to a magical day and the perfect setting for the anticipation of the next day spent having the time of your life running the warm rapids of the Lower Kern River.

The Raging of the Lower Kern...

Its August here in the Kern River Valley and the water levels have been excellent indeed.  We at KRO are all stoked to be paddling on just about 1500 cfs on the Lower Kern, which makes for an epic 2-day trip with plenty of whitewater excitement.  The late summer weather makes it perfect to cool down with a river trip and enjoy spectacular scenery while going downstream. Our guides have been taking some on-water photos of our lower trips in places where the standard rapid photographer cant get to.  So check them out and we hope to see you out here soon...