California whitewater - Kern River, Kern County 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.   Says matt Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.45999 Longitude: -118.7783 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.43289 Longitude: -118.85261 Says Susan If you're coming from Bakersfield it's not a long drive at all to the starting location, please print out a copy of the road map further down the page so you won’t get lost. If you've been out of state whitewater rafting and kayaking you might find the rivers here more demanding, so if you're not from around here don't forget that lots of rivers here are not for beginners. Some people prefer whitewater rafting and some kayaking, either way this is an area with not too many other rivers for that. The Mouth of canyon to Lake Ming section of Kern River in Kern County is 4.8 miles long and it is classified as a class II-IV section by American Whitewater. The scenic beauty of California and the sparkling of the sunlight on the water are reasons enough to come here and paddle. There are campgrounds quite near the river where you can camp. On this section you do get some distance, it's perfect for a one day trip. This river system is full of great paddling sections, the Mouth of canyon to Lake Ming section is just one of them. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem and if you make reservations in advance you're all set. A bit of exercise and a chance to spend some time outdoors will have you coming back for more. Briefly about the general area: The warmest time of the year at Kern River arrives with high temperatures in the 90's with overnight lows in the 60's. For the period of the winter highs are in the 50's, and nighttime lows throughout the wintertime for Kern River tend to be in the 30's. Kern River gets very little rainfall; all through the month of February you get the most rain around here, and the driest month is July. Kern River, Mouth of canyon to Lake Ming road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: II-IV Length: 4.8 miles    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.45999 Longitude: -118.7783 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 35.43289 Longitude: -118.85261 Paddler input for Kern River, California: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Kern River, California Local climate location: BAKERSFIELD WSO AP 18 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river. Best Western Hill House, Bakersfield 14 miles away Discover this full-service Bakersfield, California hotel providing convenient access to key area attractions including the Bakersfield Speedway, the Rabo Bank Arena and Yosemite National Park. Welco... Bakersfield Marriott, Bakersfield 14 miles away The newly-renovated Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center is located in the heart of beautiful Downtown Bakersfield. Connected to the Rabobank Arena, this hotel in Bakersfield is the city's fi... Holiday Inn Select Bakersfield-Convention Center,, Bakersfield 14 miles away We are proud to announce the start of our restaurant & lounge renovation ending 10/31/08-with it we will be able to provide the highest quality standards for our guests. The Holiday Inn Select is loc...   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 California Whitewater 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.       These outdoors activities are available near Kern River.   Whitewater Near Kern River: Kern River, Kern County , 7 miles away, Class V+ - 12 miles long (Democrat Hot Springs to mouth of canyon) Kern River, Kern County , 16 miles away, Class III-V - 11.5 miles long (Sandy Flat to Democrat Hot Springs) Kern River, Kern County , 23 miles away, Class II-III - 7 miles long (Lake Isabella to Sandy Flat)   Ski Areas Near Kern River: Shirley Meadow, California , 23 miles away, 600 vertical feet Mt Waterman, California , 94 miles away, 1300 vertical feet Mountain High, California , 98 miles away, 1600 vertical feet Ski Sunrise, California , 98 miles away, 816 vertical feet Sierra Summit, California , 103 miles away, 1600 vertical feet Mt. Baldy, California , 106 miles away, 2100 vertical feet Mammoth Mountain, California , 124 miles away, 3100 vertical feet June Mountain, California , 132 miles away, 2590 vertical feet Badger Pass, California , 138 miles away, 800 vertical feet Snow Valley, California , 141 miles away, 1041 vertical feet   Hotels Near Kern River: Best Western Hill House, Bakersfield , 14 miles away Bakersfield Marriott, Bakersfield , 14 miles away Holiday Inn Select Bakersfield-Convention Center,, Bakersfield , 14 miles away GuestHouse Inn Bakersfield, Bakersfield , 15 miles away Hampton Inn Bakersfield-Airport, Bakersfield , 16 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Kern River: Lower Richbar Campground, Kern County, 5 miles away Orange Grove RV Park, Bakersfield, 7 miles away Bakersfield Trav-l-park, Bakersfield, 8 miles away   National Parks Near Kern River: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Three Rivers - CA , 56 miles away Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks - CA , 70 miles away   Golf Courses Near Kern River: Rio Bravo Country Club, Bakersfield , 3 miles away   Lakes Near Kern River