Kern River
Drops south out of the high Sierra through deep canyons to Kernville and Lake Isabella, then tumbles southwest through a steep canyon to Bakersfield, where canals draw off most of its water in the San Joaquin Valley.
Course of the river, simplified. Map data from Natural Earth (public domain).
Weather at the Kern River (National Weather Service) ↗
River facts
| Length | About 164 miles |
|---|---|
| Source | Kings-Kern Divide, Sequoia National Park, near Mount Whitney |
| Mouth | Buena Vista Lake Bed, San Joaquin Valley (rarely reached) |
| State | California |
Isabella Dam forms Lake Isabella.
Boat ramps, launches and bait shops
Detailed ramp, bait shop and lock-and-dam listings for the Kern River are coming soon. Until then, these searches open Google Maps along the river:
Fishing regulations
Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:
- California: California Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗
Facts from Kern River (Wikipedia) ↗