Kern River Travel Guide | California Travel Tips

California travel guide Veronica Hill shares a tour of the Kern River in this episode of "California Travel Tips."

In this Kern River Travel Guide, we'll visit the scenic Sequoia National Forest, about an hour's drive from Bakersfield and three hours from LA.

The Kern River Valley serves up plenty of outdoor action. You can go boating on Isabella Lake, go fishing along the upper or lower Kern, or join a rafting tour on more than 50 miles of river. There are approximately six Kern River tours to choose from — each offering guided half-day, 1-day and overnight 2-3 days Kern rafting excursions.

If you choose to go whitewater rafting on your own, always wear a life jacket when you're in the water. The Kern River rapids can be very dangerous, especially during the spring snowmelt.

The Kern River Fish Hatchery (14400 Sierra Way) is a fun place to take the kids. After feeding the native rainbow trout, take a peek inside the natural history museum where you can check out fishing memorabilia or get a souvenir fishing license. The hatchery releases more than 250,000 fish a year, including more than 1,000 trophy trout each week.

Fly fishing lessons are available through Kern River Flyfishing (11301 Kernville Road; 866-347-4876). If you're lucky, you'll catch one of the river's native golden, brown or rainbow trout. Large mouth bass are also plentiful.

The Audubon Society Kern River Preserve (760-378-2531) is a birdwatcher's paradise, drawing more than 200 species of birds along the South Fork. Free birdwatching events are offered monthly.

At Giant Sequoia National Monument, you can hike the Trail of 100 Giants. The monument has a collection of more than 268 giant sequoias, considered the largest trees on Earth. Nearby, off 22S82 road, you'll find the 150-foot Peppermint Falls, which is accessible by the trailhead .3 miles past Peppermint Creek Campground.

On your way back to the Kern River, stop by the famous McNally's Fairview Lodge (760-376-2430) for a burger, or head into Kernville for some house-made root beer floats or Isabella Blonde ale at the Kern River Brewing Company (13415 Sierra Highway; 760-376-2337). We really enjoyed their house-made waffle fries and Santa Fe Egg Rolls, served with a spicy chipotle dip. Just past Isabella Lake, you'll find delicious deli sandwiches and snacks inside the historic Onyx Store — a fixture since 1851.

Though there are several inns and hotels to choose from, I recommend camping on the Kern River. We had a great time at Camp James — a gated family campground with pristine sites, great fishing spots and a fun lazy river for the kids.

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