Kern River Valley

Overview

The Kern River Valley in the Southern Sierra Nevada is a hub of many different year-round activities including rock climbing (check out the Needles and Dome Rock), hiking, fishing, camping, birding, hot springs soaking, spelunking, horseback riding, mountain biking, OHV riding, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, river rafting, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, jet skiing, golfing... just to name a few. Basically, if it's an outdoor sport, you can probably find a place to do it around here!

The small towns of Lake Isabella and Kernville and other surrounding small communities offer much in the way of lodging, gas, restaurants, groceries, outdoor supplies, etc. This page will hopefully give you a good idea of what to find here.

This logistical center is in a logical place along Hwy 178 (Walker's Pass) between the Eastern Sierra and the Springville/CA Hot Springs centers. So if you're driving from the eastern Sierra to the western or vice versa, hope this info helps you out!

Getting There

The main thouroughfare for this area is Hwy 178. You can reach 178 from the west side near Bakersfield (on Hwy 99) or from the east side near Inyokern (on Hwy 14).

From Hwy 178 you can travel north on Hwy 155 then County Road M-99 (Sierra Way) to reach Kernville. This route basically skirts around the western edge of Lake Isabella. M-99 continues north to eventually reach the Sherman Pass Road (J-41) or the Parker Pass Road (M-50). These roads will take you to further mountainous regions of the Sequoia National Forest.

Link to Mapquest Map of the Lake Isabella/Kernville area

Link to Sequoia National Forest Online Map

Red Tape

The Southern Sierra Page has excellent information regarding red tape. Basically, get yourself a good map of the area... I recommend purchasing the Sequoia National Forest Map or viewing it/printing it online. The rules for camping, hiking, etc. will vary slightly depending on if you're on National Forest land or BLM land. Most of the land surrounding this area to the north, south, and west is Forest Service. Most land to the east is BLM.

Camping & Lodging

There are many campgrounds surrounding Lake Isabella and along the upper and lower parts of the Kern River. Please visit the Kern River Page for more info.

Or, click here for a handy map of the campgrounds around the lake.

I've stayed at the Auxilary Dam campground and it is nice, if you want to fish or go boating. Not many trees there, but they do have showers and sometimes this camping area is free.

Please visit www.recreation.gov to make reservations for these or any other Forest Service Campground.

Dispersed camping is also allowed in many surrounding areas. Make sure you have a campfire permit, bring water, and pack out what you pack in! Contact the Lake Isabella or Kernville Ranger Stations for more info.

There is a KOA near Weldon east of Lake Isabella. I've stayed here as well. There are trees and it's not too far from the Kern River Audubon Preserve which is nice. The bathrooms were in need of a remodel and weren't so nice.

KOA Campground
15627 Highway 178
Weldon CA 93283 (760) 378-2001

Here are some lodging options:

Kernville

Betty B’s Justin Tyme Vacation Rentals
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-4677

Durrwood Creekside Lodge Bed & Breakfast
100 Mtn. 99 (20 Miles North of Kernville) (760) 376-2719

Fairview Mountain Cabins
Mtn 99, 15 Miles N. of Kernville
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-4770

Falling Waters River Resort
15729 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (888) 376-2242

Hi Ho Mobile Home Park & Lodge
11901 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2671

Kern Lodge
67 Valley View Dr
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2223

Kern River Cabin
30 Frontier Trails South
Kernville CA 93238 (858) 484-8374

Kern River Golden Trout Resort
PO Box 235
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6033

Kern River Inn Bed & Breakfast
119 Kern River Dr
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6750

Kern River Vacation Rentals
170 Tobias
Kernville CA 93238 (805) 460-9515

Kernville Inn
11042 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2206

McCambridge Lodge Motel
13525 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2288

McNally's Lodge
15 miles Northeast of Kernville (760) 376-2430

Pinecone Inn
13383 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6669

River View Lodge
2 Sirretta
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6019

Sequoia Lodge
16123 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2535

Sierra Gateway Cottages
13512, 13514, 13516 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2533

Valley View Motel
12041 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-1196

Western Motel
132 Buena Vista Dr
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-3222

Whispering Pines Lodge
13745 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-3733

Lake Isabella

Lake Isabella Motel
400 Highway 155
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2800

Lake Isabella RV Resort
11936 Highway 178
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (800) 787-9920

Lakeview Motel
12090 Highway 178
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-8250

Paradise Cove Lodge
10700 Hwy 178
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2719

Roy's Vacation Cabin
5332 Yankee Canyon Rd
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 350-9674

Wofford Heights

Alta Sierra Mountain Cabin
10619 Conifier Lane
Alta Sierra CA 93285 (805) 460-9515

Barewood Motel
7013 Wofford Heights Bl
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (760) 376-1910

Lakeshore Lodge
7013 Wofford Heights Bl
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (760) 376-1910

Modern Vacation Rental
50 Donalda Ct
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (805) 568-0677

Mount-n-Lake Motel
311 E. Evans Rd
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (760) 376-2307

Sierra Vista Motel
6617 Wofford Heights Bl
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (760) 376-2250

Stoney's Mountain Cabin
1625 Mooncrest Dr
Wofford Heights CA 93285 - 9680 (805) 444-4789

Restaurants

Of these I recommend Dam Korner for a good old-fashioned diner breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've also been to Don Perico's and they make yummy salsa :)

Airport Cafe
Kern Valley Airport
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2852

Alta Sierra Cookshack
10720 Pine Dr
Alta Sierra CA 93285 (760) 376-8808

Broken Oar Restaurant
125 Buena Vista
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2411

Cane Brake Cafe
29325 Highway 178
Onyx CA 93255 (760) 378-9999

Cheryl's Diner
11030 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6131

Cheyenne's Stage Stop
16110 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2902

Chilly Willie's
11117 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-4559

Dam Korner #1
6303 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-8770

Dari Delite
6206 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2563

Don Perico
5500 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-1811

El Jacalito Mexican Grill
11301 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-8613

El Portal Mexican Grill
12598 Mt Mesa Rd
Mt Mesa CA 93240 (760) 379-2779

Green Dragon Pizza
8458 Entrada Bl
Southlake CA 93240 (760) 378-3000

The Grill
6106 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-3663

Hunan Wok
5640 Lake Isabella Bl # A-4
Lake Isabella, CA 93240 (760) 379-8588

Kern River Brewing Company
13415 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2337

Lok's Garden
5117 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2718

Los Palomo's
4107 Lake Isabella Bl
Bodfish CA 93205 (760) 379-5343

Marge's Cafe
10 Big Blue Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-8822

McNally's
Fairview CA (760) 376-2430

My Place
6206 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2563

Nelda's Diner
5128 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-8448

Pam's 50's Diner
12408 Mt Mesa Rd
Mt Mesa CA 93240 (760) 379-4833

Paprika's
13423 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6858

Paradise Cove
10700 Highway 178
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2719

Peacock Inn
21 Sierra Dr
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-3937

Pizza Barn
11401 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-1856

Pizza Factory
5640 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-5605

R Ranch
301 Stone
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-1103

Riverside Cafe
11 Kern River Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-3246

Shady Lane Bar and Grill
6107 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-3232

Subway Sandwiches
5520 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-4681

That's Italian
9 Big Blue Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6020

White Water Cafe
11457 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-6823

Grocery Stores & Gas Stations

Of these I've been to the Isabella Supermarket and Vons. Both are nice and offer all the usual groceries and supplies for sale.

Bodfish Market
3933 Lake Isabella Bl
Bodfish CA 93205 (760) 379-2941

Country Korner Market
10 Miller
Bodfish CA 93205 (760) 379-5151

Isabella Supermarket
6120 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-8222

James Sierra Gateway Market
14600 Highway 178
Southlake CA 93240 (760) 378-3333

James Sierra Gateway Market
13432 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2424

Mt Mesa Market
12324 Mt Mesa Rd
Mt Mesa CA 93240 (760) 379-2867

Primo's Liquor & Deli
13531 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2555

Riverkern General Store
16130 Sierra Way
Riverkern CA (760) 376-6565

Vons
5610 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-4461
Wofford Heights Market
6801 Wofford Heights Bl
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (760) 376-2322

Gas Stations

Crossroads Shell
6209 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-8170

James Sierra Gateway Market
13432 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2424

KV Bottle Shop
5200 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-8498

Kern Valley Shell
5510 Lake Isabella Bl
Lake Isabella CA 93240 (760) 379-2805

Mt Mesa Shell
12400 Highway 178
Mt Mesa CA 93240 (760) 379-3747

Onyx Emporium Chevron
23822 Highway 178
Onyx CA 93255 (760) 378-2151

Primo's Liquor
13531 Sierra Way
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-2555

Riverside One-Stop
10800 Kernville Rd
Kernville CA 93238 (760) 376-1688

Scottie's Quick Stop
6701 Wofford Heights Bl
Wofford Heights CA 93285 (760) 376-2525

Weather & Webcams

Kern River Valley Weather Averages

NWS Weather Forecast for Kernville

Link to Southern Sierra Webcams

External Links

Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce

Kern River Valley Canyon Connection

Sequoia National Forest

For more info, please contact

Kern River Ranger District - Kernville Office
105 Whitney Road
P.O. Box 9
Kernville, CA 93238
760-376-3781
FAX 760-376-3795
TDD Available
Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Kern River Ranger District - Lake Isabella Office
4875 Ponderosa Drive
P.O. Box 3810
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
760-379-5646
Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 567
6048 Lake Isabella Bl
Suite B
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
(760) 379-5236
or toll free (866) KRV4FUN

Images

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