Camping on/near the Kern River in Cali

[Mblova]

Me and about 7 other buddies are looking into tent camping in Cali. We have specifically focused on the south end of the Kern river in the middle of May. We thought about big sur but that was ruled out. We'd spend 2 nights camping and hiking around. There might be some debauchery since this is for a friends B-party.
Any recs for the area?

 

[TheDutchman]

I camped on Kern by Isabella during a Death Valley motorcycle trip. Pretty cool to be right by the river, but not really any recs other than floating and fishing. Hiking was pretty non-existant, so we made up for it in debauchery.

If you can swing it, I would HIGHLY recommend Big Sur over the Kern! Beautiful views of the ocean, swimming holes, hiking, Jade Cove is kind of fun, abalone diving, overall a better time in my opinion!

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[yerfdog]

If you stick to the main campgrounds along the highway it WILL be crowded on any weekend in summer. For your purposes that may be irrelevant, just don't expect a real wilderness type experience. Aside from the aforementioned floating and fishing, if you feel like driving another 30-40 minutes north into the national forest, there are several easily accessible giant sequoia groves.

 

[privateer]

What are you guys looking to do?

Go hiking? Party? Camp in a campground? Backpack?

 

[Mblova]

Originally Posted by yerfdog

If you stick to the main campgrounds along the highway it WILL be crowded on any weekend in summer. For your purposes that may be irrelevant, just don't expect a real wilderness type experience. Aside from the aforementioned floating and fishing, if you feel like driving another 30-40 minutes north into the national forest, there are several easily accessible giant sequoia groves.

We aren't trying to do a true wilderness type thing but we do want to do some hiking/backpacking with camping. We actually don't mind fishing/floating along the river. As for camping in a campground, if that is the only place available to throw a tent down, then its fine. I think we'd appreciate it more if we could just hike around and find a spot to pitch a tent and chill out. Not much partying really, just spending some time together.

Originally Posted by privateer

What are you guys looking to do?

Go hiking? Party? Camp in a campground? Backpack?

This is what we have checked out so far:
http://www.reserveamerica.com/campin...5&parkId=71587

 

[fffffut]

probably not a good idea to get in the river in a lot of parts

 

[yerfdog]

Originally Posted by Mblova

We aren't trying to do a true wilderness type thing but we do want to do some hiking/backpacking with camping. We actually don't mind fishing/floating along the river. As for camping in a campground, if that is the only place available to throw a tent down, then its fine. I think we'd appreciate it more if we could just hike around and find a spot to pitch a tent and chill out. Not much partying really, just spending some time together.




This is what we have checked out so far:
http://www.reserveamerica.com/campin...5&parkId=71587

Never been to that campground, but I'm pretty sure it's right next to or very close to some giant sequoia groves. It's not real near the Kern river though, not sure if you noticed (check out the regional map).

You could definitely do some overnights in the national forest around there. I think you can dispersed camp basically anywhere in Sequoia NF as long as it's not in a pocket of private property. You could also do some overnights going north along the river past where the highway leaves the river. The only place around there that you need a permit for overnights is inside Golden Trout Wilderness, once you get pretty far north along the Kern, and I think those are free.

 

[yerfdog]

Originally Posted by fffffut

probably not a good idea to get in the river in a lot of parts

Yeah, I think you might be supposed to get a permit for river use too, forgot about that. Definitely want to be sure you're not floating right into a rapids, as that's what that section of river is known for.

 

[FLMountainMan]

A wise woman told me she'd never swim Kern River again. Have to go with her advice. Good luck though.

 

[Manton]

My father used to have a ranch on the Kern River. I never swam in it. Very swift and dangerous in a lot of places.

Hart Park is beautiful but overrun by ganstas.

 

[Mblova]

Thanks for the recs. Will look into the mentioned areas.