What to Bring on a Rafting Trip

People joining us on our overnight Lower Kern rafting trips often ask us what they should bring with them.  We recommend:

- a sleeping bag or bedding 

- small flashlight

- swimsuit or shorts

- sunscreen and lip protection

- sneakers or river sandals with secure straps to wear in the boat

- dry sneakers for camp

- sunglasses with a strap

- jacket or sweatshirt

- water bottle

- towel

- hat or visor 

Optional items would include:

- guitar or other musical instruments

- games

- fishing rod and license. 

The Kern River Valley is hot and dry in the summer months. A light change of clothes and a sweatshirt are usually sufficient for camp. Tents are normally not necessary for comfortable sleeping but you are welcome to bring one.

We expect to have a great 2009 Lower Kern season, with trips beginning in late May and extending into the middle of August.  

We look forward to seeing you on the river.

The BEST of California Rafting

When it comes to California rafting trips, the Lower Kern River is a tough place to beat. This year in particular, the Lower Kern River will be the best place in all of California to find plenty of water, great rapids, and a superb value for your vacation dollars.

The Lower Kern River is fed by Lake Isabella, a reservoir surrounded by the towns of Kernville, Wofford Heights, and, of course, the town of Lake Isabella itself. As of April 18, the reservoir is storing roughly 156,482 acre-feet of water. The Lower Kern River rafting “season” is determined by the amount of water held in Lake Isabella and at what rate it is released (which is referred to in Cubic Feet per Second).

If 156,482 sounds like a big number, that’s because it is. A recent water forecast projected that the reservoir will see an additional 270,000 acre-feet, which brings big smiles to our faces here at KRO headquarters. With that much water, we are hopeful that our Lower Kern River rafting season will last until the third week of August, which would be an excellent season of rafting for us.

California rivers that rely solely on snow melt are going to have shorter seasons than normal because they won’t have the stored-up water to release consistently throughout the summer. These two factors; the Lower Kern River with plenty of water stored and other California rivers with short run-offs combine to make the Lower Kern the obvious destination for river rafting trips in 2009.

The Chinese “Year of the Ox” began February 4th but here in the Kern Valley we’re switching over to “Year of the Lower Kern” in May.

Gone Green

The Kern River rafting season is gearing up, we all have dreams of California whitewater dancing in our heads, and the Upper Kern and Lower Kern are promising another great season.  

Meanwhile, our famous green bag continues to travel the globe.  Here it is about to board the Aluminum Overcast, a WWII B17 Flying Fortress bomber, one of only 16 left in existence.  Very cool.

Forbes Magazine Lists Kern River As One Of The Ten Best Rivers In the Country

Forbes Magazine recently ran an article on the ten best places to go whitewater rafting in the country and the Kern River made the top of the list.

If you’d like to see the notation click here.

Kern River rafting has never been more popular and the 2009 season is expected to be another great year. Southern California rafting enthusiasts have always held the Kern in high regard as one of the best places to enjoy a California rafting trip.

If your looking to run the Lower, Upper, or Forks of the Kern we are ready to help put your trip together. Just give us a call at 1-800-323-4234 and we will have you in a raft enjoying the Kern whitewater in no time.

We Have a Winner

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the Kern River Outfitters Winter River Poetry Contest is:

DEANNA FARNELL

Winter River

Snowcapped mountains, blue skies above,

Soft colors of winter that we do love

Beauty, peace, so simply strong,

Relax, enjoy the wondrous song.

Mountain river sounds of rain,

Running wild cannot be tamed.

Beauty whirling to and fro,

Secret whispers we want to know.

Mother Nature at her peak,

Soft hands reaching, find and seek.

A rare gift for those who see,

The real treasures surrounding thee.

Water circling everywhere,

A touch of beauty oh so rare.

Be kind to nature and you will be,

Rewarded greatly, come and see.

Listen closely and you will hear,

The sounds of Spring are drawing near.

Deanna wins a $100 credit towards a 2009 Kern River rafting trip.  

Congratulations, Deanna.

More winter scenes on the beautiful Upper Kern

2009 Guide Training is Fast Approaching

Kern River Outfitters 2009 Guide Training is scheduled to launch on April 18th and run consecutively through April 23rd this year. With California rafting summer outings becoming more and more popular every year, increasing numbers of intrepid folks look to our guide training course to either improve their existing skills, or develop new ones from scratch. If you have an inclination to become a competent Southern California rafting guide, you still have an opportunity to sign up. In short order, you’ll be rafting the Kern River in style. Learn about Kern River rafting on the Lower Kern, Upper Kern and Forks of the Kern with the best in the business. Give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234 if you have any questions or would like more information.

Spring has Sprung in the Kern River Valley

The Kern River Valley hosts one of the most beautiful wildflower shows every year.  Thanks to the heavy rainfall we received in late February, all sorts of wildflowers are beginning to pop up all over the surrounding hills.  A prime viewing location for these flowers is the scenic drive up the Kern River canyon on highway 178 heading east out of Bakersfield.  Several of the Kern River Outfitters' staff members have been hiking and mountain biking the popular Kern Canyon trail to see the hills covered in almost every color of the rainbow.  California Poppies, Goldfields, Indian Paintbrush, Baby Blue Eyes, Fiddlenecks, and Lupine have made their way into thousands of acres along the banks and mountainsides of the Upper and Lower Kern River.  The mass spectacle of the wildflowers is a sure sign that the southern Californian whitewater rafting season on the Kern River will be one for the books.  As the low elevation snow starts to melt with the upcoming warm weather, be sure to check out a second wildflower show in the high sierra gateway to the Forks of the Kern.