Exploring the Kern River Drainage

The Kern River is the main draw to the Kern River Valley during the spring and summer months. However, there are many sites to visit and explore after a day or two on the river and that's exactly what I did this past week. After spending Tuesday on the Upper Kern River I grabbed my girlfriend, two sandwiches, and my camera and we began our trek to greater heights.

After passing Johnsondale Bridge the road begins a steep climb and follows South Creek to the small town of Johnsondale. Continuing up the road we reached an intersection that all of our guides here at Kern River Outfitters are familiar with: The Road to the Forks, which turns off to the right. We continued off to the left and after about 15 minutes we hit a four-way stop at the Western Divide Highway. We turned to the right and continued down the road toward the Trail of 100 Giants.

After another 15 minutes we reached the Dome Rock, which offered some spectacular views of the entire Kern River Valley and the Needle Rocks. What a great place to eat lunch too.We were trying to find the trail to the Needle Rocks but there is so much snow still up high that the side-roads were all closed. So, instead of hiking we went to the restaurant/bar in the small town of Ponderosa and enjoyed a tasty brew and a game of pool.

While visiting the Kern River Valley, be sure to check out some of the many side-adventures this great place has to offer. Our guides and staff are more than just raft guides, they know this area better than anyone and can help you have the trip of a lifetime, both on and off the river.

The reason we are going to have a great
season on the Kern River: lots of snow!

Make Plans Today: Call 1-800-323-4234

Memorial Weekend is fast approaching and if you don't already have plans to visit the Kern River now is the time to pick up the phone and give us a ring. We still have space available on a few of our most popular trips, but not for long.

Right now on the Kern River we are experiencing better than normal river flows and with that in mind many past guests are calling and saving their seats. So, if you don't have plans, give us a call. You can reach us at 1-800-323-4234 or office@KernRafting.com.

Dwight and Ernie

These unassuming hombres are the cornerstones of our transportation division here at Kern River Outfitters. Pictured here waiting for their guests to get suited up for their trips this morning, Dwight and Ernie (and Bob and Mike who are not in the photo) are responsible for safely transporting our guests, guides, and equipment to and from the river each and every day during the spring and summer months. They are not only great drivers, they're great guys too. We all feel lucky to have these fellas on board. Join us on the Upper, Lower, or Forks of the Kern this year and you'll get the added bonus of meeting these guys as well as the rest of our talented staff here at Kern River Outfitters.

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.

Extended Upper Kern Rafting Season

Due to a cooler than normal May, flows on the Upper Kern are going to be great until late July. Snow in the Kern River drainage is not melting as quickly as what would normally be expected. Yesterday's "high" of 58 degrees was a chilly surprise but what might be a sting of cold air today is a promise of great water flows in July.

The Upper Kern River is California's most accessible class II-V stretch of whitewater. For more than twenty miles the river offers up world-class whitewater and a beautiful river canyon all within a pitching-wedge from the road. With various access points, finding a river section suitable for just anyone is possible.

Our Upper Kern trips meet at our rafting center at 8:30 a.m. and return sometime between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. We serve a great lunch along the river and take you on many of the different sections of the Upper Kern. For more information about the Upper Kern, or to book your trip, call us at 1-800-323-4234.

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.

Everything is new here - except the guides

Things are exciting here at Kern River Outfitters' headquarters. Each day the nice UPS man drops off another shipment of something new for the 2010 season. First came the lifejackets and helmets. That's right: fresh, new, brightly colored, and high-floating jackets coupled with brand-spanking new helmets are now ready in the gear shed to hit the water.

Next came umbrellas for our Lower Camp. These shade-making machines are ready to be plopped into place. They were followed by new silverware, new table cloths, new t-shirts, and new throw-bags. Each day a new surprise.

At KRO, we believe the smallest details of every trip deserve attention. And that's why we start with new gear and equipment. No other outfitter knows service like we do here and that's precisely why our guests come back year after year.

The big new touch for 2010 is our Rafting Center: bigger, newer, and better than any river trip meeting location in California.

The only thing that's not new here at Kern River Outfitters are our guides. Our guides are the most experienced river men and women you will find anywhere. And that's the most important detail of your trip. Oh, and Jason has a new dog named Banjo. Come join us on the river - everything's new you know, well, except our guides.