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
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.
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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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