Kern
county,
Mouth of canyon to Lake Ming section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.
CLASS II-IV 4.8 miles
I'm not sure the above coordinates are correct. I've guided the Kern for 7years. The takeout location is close enough but the putin coordinates are just wrong. Those coordinates would put you in the middle of some class VI rapids (IE unrunable) There are actually two putin locations. 1. LAT 35.439250 LON -118.802450 This put in is impossible to get to without trespassing. So you need special permission. It's located right below the Rio Bravo Hydroelectric Dam. This section is actually a class IV followed by two class V's. I've done the entire Kern, it's
definitely V. You can only do this extra section during very high water years because the Power plant diverts most of the water along this stretch. 2. LAT 35.429084 LON 118.825602 Also, on private property with no public access. Only Search and Rescue, Kayak Olympic Team, and
River's End Rafting have access to this putin. There is also a public access point on racheria rd. There is a little trail to get there just past the gated community gates. I believe there is still a sign. It's not a long hike. That point gives you 5 miles of very fun class II and III rapids, swimming areas, rope swings, etc. Be aware that many people have died along this section of the river because they were not wearing a life jacket. It's better to do this section with a professional guide because of all the potential hazards such as trees and brush.
Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.43289 Longitude: -118.85261 Says Susan
The wonderful Kern County scenery and the water flowing gracefully down Kern River
will make you feel great. The Mouth of canyon to Lake Ming section of Kern River is 4.8 miles long and is rated by American Whitewater as a class II-IV section. If you're coming from Bakersfield it's not a long drive at all to the starting location, as you can see on the road map
further down. The Mouth of canyon to Lake Ming stretch is one of many paddling stretches in this river system. Getting a good workout and just being out on the river for a while are great reasons to come. This section is long enough to enjoy a good non stop paddle, you can easily
run it on an afternoon. Not too many hotels nearby, you'll have to drive a bit to get to one, but if you don’t have reservations you might end up sleeping in your car. The campgrounds here at Kern River are pretty good. The rivers for whitewater rafting and kayaking here in California
are often tougher than in other states, so better not forget that many runs in this state are not easy. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking there are not so many other good places for that around here.
Briefly about the general area: High temperatures at Kern
River during the warmest time of the year are in the 90's while nighttime lows are usually in the 60's. The wintertime comes with highs in the 50's, and night lows throughout the wintertime for Kern River tend to be in the 30's. At Kern River you don’t see much rainfall; February is the wettest month with most rain, and July is the month with the least moisture.
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All California Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in California.Books about whitewater paddling on Kern River, California List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Kern River, California.Find a whitewater outfitter in CaliforniaWhitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.Outdoors Recreation Near Bakersfield, California Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Bakersfield, California, the metro area neareast to Kern River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
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