The hook
The Kern River drops out of the high Sierra in one of the wildest whitewater runs in the country, and the old mining town of Kernville sits right on the bank of it.
01Why it's worth it
The Kern is a Wild and Scenic river that starts up near Mount Whitney and pours southwest through the Sequoia forest, and the 21 miles below Lake Isabella's dam are serious whitewater. Rafters rank it among the best runs in California: the Upper Kern is continuous boulder-garden rapids, and the Forks of the Kern, deep in the wilderness above, is considered one of the great Class V trips anywhere. It carries a darker nickname too, the "Killer Kern," earned honestly, because the cold, fast water drowns people most years and the signs along the road keep a running count. The base for all of it is Kernville, a small former gold-mining town with outfitters, fly-fishing, and a walkable historic center, and the southern gateway to Sequoia country. Come for a guided trip on the river and stay for the mountains around it.
02How to experience it
It's about four and a half hours from the Bay, up the valley and into the Kern canyon. Go with a licensed outfitter for the whitewater; this is not a river to freelance, and it deserves respect even from the bank. Spring and early summer bring the biggest flows and the pushiest water; late summer is gentler and warmer. Pair it with the southern Sierra sequoia groves for a mountain weekend.