A fairly easy hike on the way in but expect a moderate adventure on the way back out. Good campsites that I saw. 3.5mi, Create Recommended Route or 13597 m Up Drive almost .7 miles and park … The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. 99 across from Ant Canyon, and proceeds north following the Rincon fault to the Forks of the Kern River. 1,831' Up NOT OKAY! This is about an injury or accident Whitney. The flow of the Little Kern is slow at this time of the year so the crossing is simple. Kern Canyon Trail is close to Lake Isabella and about 15 minutes south of Kernville. This featured hike is basically a 30+ mile out-and-back from the Johnsondale Bridge to the "Forks of the Kern" -- 15+ miles each way. Steep trail leads down to the granite gorge where Little Kern River meets the main Kern River; Rattlesnake Creek & Ninemile Creek also join the Kern River in this 10 mile stretch. It just makes it that much tougher to see the neglect. 1110.11 m Up 3,802' Up Please explain. Kern Falls to the Little Kern - 10 miles, 55 fpm, class II-III with occasional IVs and one class V Below the Little Kern, you can continue with the Forks of Kern run, or hike your boats up an easy 2 mile trail to a dirt road. 558.05 m Up From Keyesville: The Keyesville entrance is located just north of the town of Lake Isabella. Little Kern River Bridge Hike. The headwaters of the Kern is fed by snowmelt from Mt. 44,610' Up 1.62 m Down, 13.4 mi 339.5 km Decent trail. Locals describe the Forks of the Kern in two ways: It’s either 80 rapids in quick succession or one really, really long one. The Main Kern and the Little Kern combine to make what boaters now refer to as the Forks of the Kern. We did the roughly 2 mile hike and 1000 foot climb out in just under one hour. The hike out is tough. Lots of beaver action in the area so lots of lagoons and marshes to fish. Forks of the Kern The Forks of the Kern, that is what. I donate all proceeds from the downloads of this guidance to CalTrout. • I look forward to doing that hike again! You wil take this road almost all the way to the end which is Jerkey Trailhead Campground. The way down is pretty easy, the way up is some work. 2) With 140+ pounds gone, I had previously been thinking awfully small. 41.3 km Starts approximately 10 miles north of Kernville on State Mtn. See Forks of the Kern for details. Jordan Peak Lookout Loop. In the summer and fall time you can cross the Small Kern. 5' Down Found a campsite along the Kern 3.5 miles from TH, decided that was enough hiking with packs for today! 131 trails on an interactive map of the trail network. Filmed by: Michael Wier and L.Clark Tate Music by: The Whys Shade is fairly minimal throughout the ascent so it's easier to come out in the early morning or later in the day when the sun has less impact. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and And it’s physical….very physical. 9,091' Down We spent most of the 3rd day fishing and hiking all along the river - about a 12.5 mile hike. Not many people fishing this far up the Kern because of its isolated location. Big Meadow, S. Kern Plateau, Domelands. Redrock Meadows / Templeton Mountain Loop, Lewis Camp Trail to the Little Kern River [CLOSED], Quaking Aspen Campground Loop Trail [CLOSED], Jordan Hot Springs Via Casa Vieja Trail [CLOSED], Slate Mountain via Windy Gap Trail [CLOSED], Forks of the Kern Trail to Painters Camp [CLOSED], Dome Rock View via Forest Route 21S63 [CLOSED], Lewis Camp Trail to Trout Meadows [CLOSED]. Length 20.8 miElevation gain 1938 ftRoute type Out & back This is an upside-down hike with the steepest sections being the first few miles of the hike: good news for the hike in but a tough hurdle on the hike out so be sure to pack plenty of water for the hike out. Directions Hiking near the Forks of the Kern in the summer of 2018, I realized two things: 1) I was already physically able to get to those high mountain meadows below Mt. Great quiet trail. 505.67 m Down, 5.0 mi 1,659' Up 1158.57 m Down, 210.9 mi About 7 miles down, we reached the Forks of the Kern, where the Little Kern meets the North Fork. Write them down. At the forks there are many signs of litter and junk leftover from recent others. Pictures, sketches, and descriptions of my hiking adventures. 06 September 2014. Going in is a breeze, but the hike out is a challenge. See park page for more information. Leave early in the morning or later in the evening. Forks of the Kern Trail [CLOSED] is a 5.6 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Springville, California that features a river and is rated as moderate. As of September 2020, trails in this area are closed due to wildfire. • Forks of the Kern Trail [CLOSED] is a 5.6 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Springville, California that features a river and is rated as moderate. Trail Number: 33E20. 3,801' Down It's disturbing to me that people go to a beautiful place like the Forks and have to leave their trash. About 2 miled before Jerkey Meadow, take a right onto 20S67 (dirt road but well maintained) Take 20S67 approximately 2 miles to the parking lot at the very end. I didnt see more than 5 or 6 folks the entire weekend. 10420.2 m Down. My quest is to find an alternative to the Forks of the Kern Trail and the Upper Kern River. We saw many species of birds and a few small harmless reptiles. There are no really steep sections and the descent/climb are pretty gradual with plenty of flatter sections to rest while still gaining ground. The trail descends roughly 1000 feet with a handful of switchbacks. Pack as light as possible. It also allows for relatively quick access to both the upper Wild & Scenic Kern River and the Wild & Scenic Little Kern River. The Fork of the Kern is a reverse hike; meaning you go downhill when you are heavy (full with food) and back up the 800 feet of the canyon when you hike out. The designation of the North and South Forks Kern, the Kings, and the Merced by Congress that year represents the single largest expansion of the federal system in California since 1981. The initial descent and final ascent are not for the faint of heart. Lucky for us, most of those Memorial Day revelers are way to drunk and or lazy to hike in to any part of the Forks of the Kern, leaving the unspoiled grandeur only to those who boat their way in. 1,659' Down The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. It gets pretty packed in the summer with kayakers, but nothing like some of the other trails I've been on. • This section of the North Fork is situated far enough up (and within the Golden Trout Wilderness) to support a truer population of native Kern River rainbow trout than what exists further downstream (i.e., below Durrwood Creek). You will see the trailhead at the eastern end of the parking lot. (The pack station is about 17 miles in, just past a Boy Scout camp.) We couldnt of asked for a better fishing spot. Once you get there though the trail down to the river is not terribly steep but moderate is the perfect rating for it. The trail is easily marked and the descent is fairly gradual with a handful of switchbacks. At the trailhead, we hike 3 miles down to The Island and meet the rest of the guides. We arrive on a Wednesday and hardly saw a soul. The trail drops down to the Kern River immediately out of the trailhead, crossing the Little Kern River. 2771.03 m Down, 13.3 mi I have never seen anything like this in a "Wilderness" area. There is no shade. The trail that follows the north bank from the cable crossing starts switchbacking steeply uphill, ... Drive about 19 miles until you see the “Forks of Kern 4” sign, then turn right onto a dirt road and proceed 2 miles to the trailhead. we have gotten the river from Kernville to Johnsondale bridge free of trash. At the bottom, the confluence of the Little Kern and Kern Rivers was flowing pretty strong. Forks of the Kern, Class IV-V The 2 day Forks of the Kern is the most difficult and remote run we offer, and one of the premier wilderness whitewater rafting trips in the USA. The drive out there can be a pain as it is tucked away. There are many outdoor activities to take part in when visiting the Kern River Valley in addition to your whitewater rafting or kayaking trip. Something else? I wish I could give this trail a better review. White water kayakers use this trail to bring their kayaks to the put in point on the Kern River. Even experienced rafters should consider hiring a professional outfitter for their first trip down. Lots of mosquitos and military jets flying overhead at camp which sounded like a loud boom every now and then. 5. It was a bit of a challenge to keep horses, cook food, and all the other required activities for four days at a dry trail head, but a we found some tanks to haul water up there and we had water left over. The … Both the Little Kern River and the Kern River were flowing big so we couldn’t cross but we were able to follow them south past the confluence. The Trip Leader gives a Safety Talk, and the guides each give their own Paddling Talk. This trail provides a lovely out-and-back day run to the confluence of the Kern River and the Little Kern or to venture deeper up the west bank of the Kern. The Forks is part of the federally protected Wild and Scenic Rivers system and it is most definitely wild, scenic, and remote. Spam? This trail provides a lovely out-and-back day hike to the confluence of the Kern River and the Little Kern or to venture deeper up the west bank of the Kern. This river is no joke. The hike back up took about an hour at a medium pace. The Fork of the Kerns Trail leaves from Forks of the Kern Trailhead in Lloyd Meadow. Whitney that begin the Kern River trickle. Taking Road 22S82, one can reach the trailheads that have access to the Little Kern River. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. Like a shorter version of the Grand Canyon. 9,101' Up Hiking to The Forks of the Kern. The trail is in perfect condition. If you’re a hiker, the great thing about a trip on the Forks of the Kern is that a short hike is automatically guaranteed with each … Lloyd Meadows sits roughly two miles above the launching point for the Forks of the Kern. I really like privacy and off the beaten path type stuff so id go again and again and again. There was evidence of motorcycle traffic on the far side of the river on an old trail system. Just wanted to add that Kern River Conservancy and Keepers of the Kern are putting more effort in keeping that part of the river clean. Hot and arid with little shade in the summer months but the views and river is amazing. This is a pretty easy trail that leads to great fly fishing in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Trash from decades of misuse can be found everywhere, some more that 30 years old. Yucca Point Trail – Sequoia National Forest October 15-17, 2020 I have been on a quest since the SQF complex fire burnt the Forks of the Kern trail and burnt ~30 miles up the upper Kern river. It can get hot here in the summer, so bring plenty of water! Also included in the download is my most recent forks backpacking list. The "Forks" represents the confluence of the Little Kern River with the North Fork of the Kern. • Little tough on way out but great trail to continue to kern flat. Kind of terrifying. In describing our Forks of the Kern 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 … We were the only two people down there so it was a really nice place to get away from it all and purely relax. 505.69 m Up • This well established trail switchbacks its way to the river, offering new perspectives on the impressive landscape you will be immersed in. Aside from the negligent human impact, the scenery was great, the rivers are beautiful. 21.5 km T he Kern River is one of the few river systems in the Sierra Nevada that flows in a north/south orientation. The hike offers great views of the back side of the Needles and the Kern River Valley. • GETTING EQUIPMENT TO RIVER: For most whitewater enthusiasts,getting equipment down the 3-mile trail to the Forks put-in will require the useof pack horses or mules. Forks of the Kern Trail to Painters Camp [CLOSED] is a 20.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Johnsondale, California that features a river and is rated as difficult. I'm going to come back to stay a few nights to explore much more of it. Cons: Hot in summer, garbage everywhere. Wishon Trail. There is no bridge crossing the Little Kern, and extreme caution should be used. Updated April 27, 2020: An extensive and detailed guidance and directions document on how to successfully find & Hike and fly fish the Upper Kern River by way of The Forks of the Kern Trail. This is a beautiful trail from start to finish. 557.44 m Down, 25.6 mi At the fork in the road take a right onto Lloyd Meadows Road (22S82). Pros: Beautiful Scenery, water present, good campsites. Hiked this trail with some friends, set up camp by the river and had a wonderful time fly fishing. Giant Sequoias, abundant wildlife, and illuminated Granite faces make this more than the typical shuttle. Forks of the Kern trailhead gets you on this trail, which winds along her banks as the Kern carves canyons and meadows on her way to being dammed at Lake Isabella. Freeman Creek Sequoias Hike. A day hike into the Forks of the Kern on August 24, 2015. From Hwy 155, go west on Keyesville Road. As you hike down the final mile, the North Fork comes into clear view. This evaluation is our Swim and Run test. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. The hike tothe launch point is a 3-mile long, narrow, rocky trail which descends steeply tothe Kern River. And research these trails online before you go. Great trout and great backpacking. It almost seems like a mockery to describe it as such. • The river was flowing pretty fast and it was high when we went in June and it was freezing. Good moderate trail. Hiking and fishing the Forks of The Kern trail near Johnsondale, CA. This trail is awsome its an easy hike going down to the river it can have quite a few people there but you can get to a place where you can be by yourself if you dont mind doing a little cross country and on a hot day if the river is low enough go for a swim. 21.3 km I have never witnessed a greater cumulative disrespect for a "Wilderness" area in all my life. After completing the evaluation, we board the bus and drive to the Forks of the Kern trailhead. Multiple groups that exceeded the 15 person limit were encountered. A river trail follows the banks of the N. Fork of the Kern River for dozens, maybe hundreds, of miles deep into the north sierra. A joy downhill but never forget gravity, because it will never forget you! The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Fishing was excellent. Views were amazing and worth the 5 hour drive from south county. 34,187' Down 16.0 km Every bend in the river of a fly fisherman's dream. A very beautiful area worth the time. • There are great fishing and swimming holes about 3.6-3.7 miles in along the Kern River. The Forks of the Kern is a difficult wilderness run and there is not much of an opportunity to hike out due to the rugged country. Great place to go back packing. Slate Mountain & Summit Trail. Human excrement littered the trail, the closest to the trail was 18 inches away. I'm biased of this beautiful place, and it will always be home! Definitely will come back. I have backpacked all over the country. 1158.82 m Up Congress added the North Fork to the federal system in 1987. • This hike is not for the faint of heart. Kern County mountain bike trail map. 1,829' Down The Forks of the Kern Trailhead is one of the primary gateways for hiking countless miles in Golden Trout Wilderness. The hike back out was much easier than I anticipated. Lots and lots of bugs, plenty of back country campsites. Guides and guests hike the 2.5 miles to put-in carrying their own gear. This trip offers continuous Class IV-V whitewater for 17 miles with big rapids like Upper … Trail. There are many places to relax by the river and enjoy the wildlife. Beautiful hike along the river. • 8.0 km This area will contain Little Kern Goldens.The confluence of the Little Kern and the Upper Kern is known as "the Forks of the Kern" and has had a reputation for excellent fishing. Boats are rigged and ready to go. Great trail to get to some wild trout. Was great for a day trip. Commercially, the only way to see the Forks of the Kern trip is a Two Day. I hiked it with a friend in May 2010 and it is not very demanding at all. Land Manager: USFS - Sequoia National Forest Office, 9.9 mi Pretty trail with a nice river as the reward. The trail ascends and descends in elevation, in and out of drainages, passing through flats of Jeffrey and digger pine, cedar and chaparral. Left on Saturday morning and saw heaps of groups, fishers, campers, scouts etc. Privately, the vast majority of users opt for shorter trips, typically a day trip, commonly referred to as a “bullet run.” With a put-in that requires a 2 mile hike and no road support for 15 miles, the Forks is not for the faint of heart. Kern Hot Springs requires a backpacking trip. From Kernville take Sierra Way/ Mountain Route 99 to Johnsondale. This trail provides a lovely out-and-back day hike to the confluence of the Kern River and the Little Kern or to venture deeper up the west bank of the Kern. • We camped at Limestone which I don't really recommend. Summit to Bear Creek Trail (biking) Camp Nelson Trail. You'll want to be surrounded with competent people and carry the right safety equipment. It includes the "Kern River Upper Trail" 33E30 and the "Rincon Trail" 33E23. Length 5.6 miElevation gain 1220 ftRoute type Out & back. There is a small developed campground called “Forks of the Kern”. • If you like camping off the grid and backwoods backpacking, you'll love this trail. But coming back up to your vehicle can be a bit strenious as its all up hill. The Kern Sierra Unit celebrated National Trail Day by meeting up at the Forks of the Kern Trailhead on June 4th for a four day work project. Remember those numbers. There is plenty of parking in the parking area and there are restrooms. 3,642' Up Here, we passed several day hikers and rafters getting ready for a super low flow 4-day trip down the Kern River to the Johnsondale bridge. Being a jerk / offensive? The Upper Kern has had a reputation for holding many large trout over 20". Please Add Your Thoughts! In the spring and fall the temperature can vary 60° from night to day so bring appropriate gear. 2773.89 m Up Sirretta Peak Hike & Sirretta High Route. Do not overload yourself with unnecessary weight.