Kern River

America Outdoors outfitters offer whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and camping on and along the Kern River ( a Wild and Scenic River comprised of 150 miles) in Sequoia National Forest.

This river includes both the North and South Forks of the Kern. The South Fork descends through deep gorges with large granite outcroppings and domes interspersed with open meadows. It is habitat for the golden trout, the state fish of California. The upper 47.5 miles of the North Fork flow through Sequoia National Park and the Golden Trout Wilderness, a scenic area with a wide variety of recreational opportunities, as well as cultural and historical features.

There are three main areas for whitewater rafting on the Kern River: Forks Run, Upper Kern Run and Lower Kern Run.

• FORKS RUN is whitewater paradise. Designated by Congress in 1987, as a National Wild and Scenic River, this section of the Kern River pirouettes through some of the finest raftable whitewater in North America. The Forks is a nearly continuous series of class IV and V rapids and waterfalls.  Some key facts to this area include:
  • Difficulty: Class V (expert)
  • Put-in: Forks of the Kern
  • Take-out: Johnsondale Bridge, Brush Creek or Willow Point
  • Length: approximately 17 miles
  • Gradient: 60 feet per mile
  • Run Levels: 1,000-4,000 cubic feet per second
• The UPPER KERN RUN is a popular section of the river due to the continuous exhilarating whitewater with boulder gardens, pounding rapids and gradients exceeding 30 feet per mile. There are four sections in this area: Limestone, Fairview, Goldledge and Camp 3.
• Limestone
• Class: III & IV (Medium to Difficult).  Varies according to water level.
• Run Length: 2.7 miles
• Fairview
• Class: III & IV (Medium to Difficult)
• Run Length: 4.8 miles
• Goldledge
• Class: III, IV & V (Medium to Expert)
• Run Length: 10 miles
• Camp 3
• Class: II, III & IV (Easy to Difficult)
• Run Length: 3.5 miles
• The LOWER KERN RUN is the final section of the Kern River.  The first 19 miles of the Lower Kern provide thrilling rapids for river runners each summer. At normal flows, BLM launch sites to Sandy Flat is mostly class II water, with a few short class III rapids. Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach is class III and IV rapids with class II sections interspersed. One class V+ rapid, Royal Flush, is found in this section where boaters must portage using the developed trail on the right bank. Below Democrat provides numerous class V+ rapids, with a short area of class II and III near Richbar.