About
Kernville Awaits. . .
Located just a few short hours north of Los Angeles is the quaint town of Kernville in the Kern River Valley. An area rich in Native American and Gold Rush history where you’ll find an outdoor enthusiast’s perfect getaway. An ideal place to escape the city and unwind in nature.
Surrounded by stunning southern Sierra Nevada Mountain peaks and wilderness, Kernville is your home base for exploring miles of trails and waters.
There’s bountiful opportunities for the hiker, fly fisher, rafter, kayaker, rock climber, mountain biker, birder and overall nature lover. Kernville includes the convenience of restaurants, shops, markets, adventure outfitters and a world-class brewery. Check our Local Event Calendar for your stay!
An all-around great place for friends and family to make lasting memories together!
Take Me to the River
Driving from Los Angeles/Orange County you have two options to get to Kernville, both around 3 hours.
The Mojave Route from LA
Take 5N to 14N to 178W and then right on Sierra Highway towards Kernville. This route offers lovely desert scenery & beautiful mountainscapes as you transition from the Mojave Desert to the Southern Sierras. You’ll drive through Red Rock Canyon & the Desert Conservation Area in Walker’s Pass. This route is also a great option if the Grapevine at the 5 is closed or hazardous due to snow in winter.
Bakersfield Route from LA
Take 5N to 99N to 178E towards Lake Isabella & then north on the 155 to Kernville. This road takes you through the Kern River Canyon, which is very picturesque with dramatic views of the Kern River. This is the shortest route. Be aware that this is a 2 lane, wind-y road for about 15 miles through the narrow canyon, so if anyone in your group gets car sick, plan ahead to make some stops at some of the pullouts. Also, there are “commuters” on this part of the road that are trying to get through quickly, so be mindful of pulling over when it’s safe to do so at one of the turnouts to let them pass. They’ll appreciate it!
Driving from San Bernardino/San Diego
Like from Los Angeles/Orange, you also have 2 options to get to Kernville: Via the 5N to Bakersfield then 178E or the 395 to 178 west through Mojave. It really depends on traffic & road conditions or your comfort level with a canyon highway or simply which kind of scenery you’d like to experience. Both options can result in similar travel times, but the 5 to Bakersfield offers more options of fuel & food stops.
Driving from San Francisco/Bay Area
The best option from points north of Bakersfield is to take highway 99S to Bakersfield and then the 178E to Lake Isabella, 155 to Kernville.
Adventures for All Seasons
WINTER
The Kern River Valley is a cozy place to spend some winter days. Temperatures can be mild, so you can still do lots of hiking and have the trails to yourself. Although it can snow in town, it’s uncommon for snow to stay too long. There is a small ski resort, Alta Sierra, just 25 minutes from Kernville. Depending on winter snows it can be open on certain weekends for skiing, snowboarding or kid’s tubing. You can drive up to the area for some free roadside snowplay.
SPRING
Spring is a lovely time to visit the Kern River Valley. By late April, trees burst into a leafy green. Depending on the winter rains, wildflower blooms will peak around this time. By late May the mountain roads to the high country and the Trail of 100 Giants open up. In good water years the Kern River is typically running high and cold in late spring and rafting and kayaking are starting up by May. Fly fishing can be very good in spring before the high water runoff starts.
SUMMER
Summer is peak tourism season in the Kern River Valley. Many activities to enjoy and areas to explore. June and July are great for white water rafting trips and kayaking. As water flows drop throughout the summer, tubing and swimming become more popular. You’ll find great fly fishing in the high country mountain streams. You can also boat on Isabella Lake or take a daytrip drive to Trail of 100 Giants.
FALL
Fall is really a special time in the Kern River Valley. Dry fly fishing is just about the best it can get by October. You’ll really be able to see the seasons change as spectacular fall color starts to peak in November and nights start to get crisp. Mountain roads are usually open until the first snows, so you can still do plenty of high country exploring under a clear blue sky.
About Carol & Rod
Howdy! We’re the Owners of The Kern River House – Carol and Rod Cervera. Rod is a Los Angeles native and Carol hails from upstate New York. We’re now full-time residents in beautiful Kernville, California. Here’s our journey:
During many family summer trips to East Coast lakes & rivers, we realized how much we enjoyed this quieter type of travel. The search began to find our own little piece of the outdoors in the majestic, romantic West. We found it in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains!
We first discovered Kernville through our interests in fly fishing & hiking. As many have before us, we soon fell in love with this river hideaway and all of the outdoor adventures!
Since then, we’ve sought to provide special places to stay that reflect our appreciation for local design, history and landscape while providing a comfy, well-appointed basecamp for those familiar with the area or newly discovering it. We’re so excited to share it all with you!
