Kern River County Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kern River County Park |
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|---|---|
| Type | Public Park |
| Location | Kern County, near Bakersfield, California |
| Area | 1,012 acres (4.10 km2) |
| Created | 1929 |
| Operated by | County of Kern |
| Status | Open all year |
Kern River County Park is a huge fun place located just north of Bakersfield, California. This park is about 1,012 acres (4.10 km2) big. It has a park, a zoo, a golf course, and many other cool things to do. You can easily get to the park using the Alfred Harrell Highway.
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Fun Things to Do at Kern River Park
Explore Hart Park
Hart Memorial Park, often called Hart Park, is the main part of Kern River County Park. It's also the oldest section, started way back in 1929! This park is 370 acres (1.5 km2) in size. It has two lakes where you can enjoy the water. There are also three canals and a large area for picnics. You can even reserve a spot for your group. If you like disc golf, there are two 18-hole courses to play on.
Visit the California Living Museum (CALM)
The California Living Museum, or CALM, is a special zoo and museum. It covers 14 acres (57,000 m2) and is home to about 80 different kinds of animals. You can also see many different types of plants here. These plants are arranged to show you the different natural areas found in Kern County. It's a great place to learn about local wildlife!
Enjoy Lake Ming Activities
Lake Ming is a popular spot for water fun. It's mostly used for motorboats, which are boats with engines. But sometimes, sailboats can use the lake too. The lake's surface is about 140 acres (0.57 km2) big. Around Lake Ming, you'll find large picnic areas with great views of the water. There's also a campground with 50 spots if you want to stay overnight.
Play at Kern River Golf Course
The Kern River Golf Course is an 18-hole public golf course. It's one of three golf courses owned by Kern County. This course is 6,458 yards long and is built on hilly land right next to the Kern River. There's also a big picnic area here that you can reserve for groups.
Other Cool Spots to Discover
Camp Okihi
Camp Okihi is a special camp mainly used by youth and school groups from Kern County. It's located north of the Kern River. Since there isn't a bridge across the river inside the park, the camp feels very private. The camp has two areas where groups of up to 100 people can camp. Each camping spot has 10 picnic tables, a fire pit, and four barbecues. There's also a building for crafts at the camp.
Soccer Fields
If you love soccer, there's a huge soccer field complex here. It has 20 soccer fields, and four of them have lights for playing at night. There's also plenty of parking available for everyone.
Bike Path Fun
All the different parts of Kern River County Park are connected by a bike path. This path starts at the eastern edge of Hart Park. It goes east through all the attractions and ends at the big picnic area near the Kern River Golf Course. This path is separate from the Kern River Bike Trail in Bakersfield. It also doesn't go directly to the golf course's main building, but goes around the north side.
