I live here in Bakersfield for almost two years the fishing sucks even way up here in the kern…read moreriver I fished all the way up from the bridge all the way down from the river no fish I used flies and everything else and nothing. but the scenery is beautiful and dangerous at the same time really rocky if you want to catch fish try the kings river and upper kings there's lots of life in that river and wild life everywhere all year round up there take the 99 hwy to the 180 hwy it's a drive but worth it

LOVED IT ! Awesome spot right on the Kern River on your way to johnsondale and the trail of 100…read moreGiants

Really enjoy this park very clean restrooms the park area is nice they have clean basketball…read morecourts, the play ground has a workout area but the play ground is for little kids probably out grown my kids. River area nice and calming

This place is beautiful, well kept, clean and very relaxing. Great for families, fishing & fun!read more

Not going to lie, this hike unexpectedly really beat me up. I intended to do the entire loop but…read morewas just so exhausted/overwhelmed when I woke up that I ended up turning back, although I took a different way back. I only made it to Lake 3 but to be fair, it started heavily pouring with intermittent thunder and lightning. The elevation gain destroyed me with my 20+ pound backpack, but I eventually made it to Lake 3 where I joined 2 other girls who basically adopted my clueless self. It is beautiful but perhaps would have been better without the cloudy skies. Overall, I would do this trip again but with more training!!

The Cottonwood Lakes are a series of 5 lakes in the high Eastern Sierra Nevada at about 11,000'…read moreelevation where you can catch California golden trout. This is a great place to camp out if you are looking for a place to acclimate before doing a high altitude hike such as Whitney. For convenience, you can just camp out at the trailhead which is at 10,000'. It takes about an hour to get from the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead to the Whitney Portal. I arrived here on July 3rd in the afternoon and spent one night and the following day fishing and hiking the area as a warmup to Whitney, which I was hiking on July 5th. Ultimately, I did not have any altitude sickness issues beyond a very mild headache which I could treat with ibuprofen. From the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead, the Cottonwood Lakes are about 5.5 miles away, so 11 miles roundtrip. Cottonwood Lake #3 is the largest of the five, and I ended up catching all my trout here. However, I didn't spend much time, if any, at the other lakes due to time constraints. I caught 4 trout in about an hour and a half. It's a very beautiful area, with large open meadows and lots of wildlife. I saw a deer and a pair of coyote while hiking to the lakes. There are also hordes of mosquitos so be sure to bring powerful mosquito repellant. Cottonwood Lakes can also be the midpoint in a hike to Mt. Langley, but that's another review.

Oh how I completely love the Kern River!! I have been going for 24 years. It has never been as…read morebeautiful and full as it is now. One of my dearest friends is a seasoned river rafter. When we go river rafting, we mainly stay @ Headquarters or Sandy Flat Campground. This past weekend, we stayed at Sandy Flat. It was amazing. It is right off the river. The river was full and had power. I will add official stats by this weekend. My favorite group of runs is called The Jungle. (I will fact check this). I think that a great run was called Dilly. It is a class 4!! OMGoodness, it was wild & fun. Once more rafters arrived we went on another run. I will get the official names. One is named ... something Deli. Anyways, EPIC FUN. I forgot my wetsuit. I just went on June 3rd. The water was C O L D. Our guide, Doug, told us NOT to bring our phones. I wish I would have remembered my Go - Pro. We were lucky that the 178 reopened for the drive home. It was 93 degrees. I was mesmerized by the river. I couldn't stop watching it on the drive home.

The Kern River is beautiful…read more This review is based on a first timers camping visit. Coming up here from San Diego we didn't really know what to expect other than we might have an opportunity to tube down the river. So everyone in our group brought river tubes. That was our first miscalculation. Aperently tubing depends on the season, recent weather conditions, and various natural events that really narrow the scope of when you can tube safety. Also consider how you plan to get back up to your campsite after you tube down the river a few miles.. Ideally you rent tubes from a company that also shuttles you back up the river. If you don't want to rent tubs someone in your group has to pick you up and drive you back, which is a pain. There is no cell service and no uber... The Kern River is best suited for kayaking and rafting. There are many companies in kernville that offer those services. Camping. If you're looking to camp along the river during the summer you need to think about booking in January. During our stay mid-June, the entire river was booked solid.. We stayed at Sandy Flats campgroup which had a small beach area by the river. Litter bugs. One of the most discouraging things to see along the river was the amount of trash that people leave behind. The number one item? Used diapers.. If you can manage to visit midweek, and be prepared to use a kayak/rafting company you will have an epic time. Note - Sequoia National Park is about an hours drive away. Makes for a great day trip.

Super fun hike went after the rainy season and it was incredibly beautiful wildflowers everywhere…read morenot too many people on the trail a few dogs a few bikers lots of rushing water down in the valley very beautiful

Nice trail. Be wary of the psycho dude that owns the large log cabin style home near the parking…read morearea.

A true local store that has everything you need for a great day on the river. The shop manager was…read morewelcoming and gave us a few tips. The had plenty of options at good prices and had an assortment of clinics to try. Now, if you are looking to get into the places the local fish then you'll need a guide. Look no further than Rob Buhler! My son wanted to learn to fly fish for his birthday and I hadn't picked up a rod for 20 years. Rob gave us a fantastic, practical four hour lesson on the river. He took his time teaching fundamentals and made every cast fun. Rob was incredibly knowledgeable about the river, fish, fauna, and the geological history of the area. In addition, he was huge on safety and environmental protection which was a massive positive. Don't think twice about asking for Rob the next time you're in the Kernville area and need a pro. He was so committed to the craft and gave off the vibe of the cool uncle everyone wants to have around. A real gift to the area and we're so glad the shop has folks like him on staff.

Guy's 2-Day Nymphing Clinic. December 2025 I went to the Kern River to spend the weekend fly…read morefishing. My first stop was to the Kern River Fly Shop to get some advice about flies and pick up a few that were working at that time and for the area I intended to fish. While in the shop I opted to sign up for the mailing list to help get reacquainted with the sport. Twenty plus years ago I considered myself a fair fly fisher. Over the years I spent less and less time on the water so when I visited last December, unsurprisingly, I was seriously out of practice. I spent time practicing my cast but needed help in an area I have always struggled with, nymph fishing. The shop sends out emails about various clinics so I signed up for the two day clinic and it was worth it. Guy started by going over the basics including key knots to set up our nymph leaders then building them for ourselves and before lunch we were out testing them out. After lunch more knowledge shared and more fishing. The class was small, five of us, and I felt he spent time with each us zeroing in on what each of us needed both in the water and out. We all walked away with a booklet he provided with key info including the knots, leaders, entomology of the area, and more. We also were provided the leaders and some other goodies and most importantly for me, a MUCH better understanding of nymph casting techniques, the skills to identify the right fly and an added bonus some great placed to fish on the Kern. Last but surely not least, Guy is really personable. He is easy to get along with, has a great sense of humor and most importantly adept at communicating what he knows. I walked away with a full tool kit of skills and am now considering his surf clinic. I live not far from the beach and had never considered saltwater fly fishing, but I am now. A final goodie I got to share with family and friends, a video he posted (with my expressed permission): https://youtube.com/shorts/4Xxio-4EoD0?si=65rLSPFaFBBP1jX6

Capt JT was a fantastic guide. I came from MN to take my son and 2 grandsons on their first pacific…read morecharter fish. The youngest is 4 and Capt JT was so awesome with both boys. We saw a lot of fish we have never seen before and had a very memorable day. Thank you Capt JT for helping us make amazing memories together.

There's not enough that can be said about fishing with Capt. JT!…read more1st, just out of the harbor you'll know you're safe and on the way to an incredible experience. Then, relax while your knowledgeable captain cruises you along out to the islands. Your choice or his for what you're targeting, but you'll enjoy the day either way. This was our 3rd trip with Capt. JT and there will be many more.

What a beautiful area with lots to do. The lake is ready for all of your outdoor adventures: paddle…read moreboarding, kayaking, boating, inner tubes, sand volleyball, swimming and fishing. They offer both greenery and sand. A few metal toy structures to play on. Bathrooms available. Come enjoy the beauty of the water and islands. Enjoy some serenity.

Just an FYI for 7/15/25: The lake has experienced a large die off of fish due to the high…read moretemperatures both outside and in water. The lake has lost its oxygen, which has caused this situation. They are in the process of removing the fish off shoreline. The lake is closed for swimming and boating today. Will update if more time is needed. 7/15/25

We had such a blast on the lake thanks to French Gulch Marina. From start to finish, the experience…read morewas exactly what we hoped for. The staff, especially Deborah, Hailey, and Deagan, were so friendly and welcoming. They made sure we felt completely comfortable before heading out on the water. We brought our dog along and he absolutely loved being on the boat! The 8-person pontoon we rented was easy to handle and ran perfectly. While it did have normal signs of wear and age, it was still very comfortable and reliable, which is really what matters. The marina has plenty of parking, and their general store is fully stocked with snacks, drinks, ice, sunblock, and more, which came in handy. We also really appreciated that there were no hidden fees. Everything was exactly as listed on their website, and they even pump the gas in front of you when you return so you can see exactly what you used. If you're looking for a hassle-free way to explore the lake, this is it. Bring a Bluetooth speaker to make the day even more fun. We recommend calling ahead to reserve, since they book up fast. We can't say enough about our experience and will absolutely be back again and again. Thanks for helping us create such wonderful memories.

The staff was very friendly my bf and i appreciated how nice and smooth it was to rent jet skis for…read moreand hour. Keep up the great work Deborah we appreciate you and will be back.

It is like a heaven, if you spend the night there is even better. You should see the moonrise when…read moreit comes out behind the mountain you feel like it is very close to you. Good for fishing, hiking, camping, horse riding, hunting more and more. Good place to spend the weekend.

Sometimes I forget that I grew up on an old cattle ranch. There are a set of twin lakes (more like…read moreponds) that are @ the end of my street. Growing up my bros and I would go biking, fishing, or exploring around these lakes. There is a cute tackle shop that is ran by the family that owns it & there are cute fishing huts that are good for fishing in or hide and ghost seek.