Kern River Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kern River Valley |
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Kern River Valley viewed from south
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| Floor elevation | 2,800 feet (850 m) |
| Length | 14 miles (23 km) East/West |
| Width | 10 miles (16 km) |
| Area | 110 square miles (280 km2) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sierra Nevada, Kern County, California |
| Population centers | Kernville, Lake Isabella, Weldon, Wofford Heights |
| Borders on | Greenhorn Mountains, Breckenridge Mountain, Piute Mountain, Scodie Mountains, Kern Plateau |
| Topo map | Kernville, Lake Isabella North, Lake Isabella South, Weldon |
| Traversed by | State Route 155, State Route 178 |
The Kern River Valley is a beautiful valley area located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains in Kern County, California. It's a place where two parts of the Kern River meet and where you can find a large lake called Lake Isabella.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Valley
For thousands of years, the Kern River Valley was home to Native American groups like the Tübatulabal and Kawaiisu people. You can still find signs of their ancient homes, like special rocks they used for grinding food and old rock paintings.
The first time European explorers came to the valley was in May 1834. A scout named Joseph R. Walker found a mountain pass here. He came back in December 1845 with John C. Frémont and a mapmaker named Edward Kern. While exploring, Edward Kern almost drowned in the fast-moving river. To thank him, Frémont named the river the Kern River.
Gold Rush and New Towns
In 1853, people found gold near the valley. This started the Kern River Gold Rush! Many people rushed to the area, and a town called Keyesville was founded.
Sadly, in 1863, a conflict happened where many Tübatulabal and Kawaiisu men were captured and killed by U.S. Army cavalry and local settlers. This was a very difficult time for the Native American people living there.
Around 1860, more gold was found in the northern part of the valley. This led to a new boom town called Whiskey Flat, which was later renamed Kernville in 1864. Other towns like Weldon (founded in 1871), Bodfish (1892), and Isabella (1893) also started to grow.
Exploring the Valley's Geography
The Kern River has two main parts, the north and south forks. They join together in the valley and then flow down to Bakersfield through a deep canyon.
Lake Isabella: A Big Feature
In 1953, a large dam was built. This created the huge Lake Isabella reservoir, which is now the most famous natural feature in the valley. A reservoir is like a giant lake made by people to store water. Because of the new lake, the original towns of Kernville and Isabella had to be moved to higher ground. Some old buildings were also carefully moved to their new spots by the lake.
The Kern River Valley is surrounded by different mountain ranges. To the northeast is the Kern Plateau. To the south, you'll find Breckenridge Mountain and Piute Mountain. The Scodie Mountains are to the east, and the Greenhorn Mountains are to the west. You can drive to and through the valley using State Route 155 and State Route 178.
Towns in the Valley
Here are some of the towns you can find in the Kern River Valley:
- Kernville
- Lake Isabella
- Weldon
- Wofford Heights
- Bodfish
- Mountain Mesa
- South Lake
- Riverkern
Fun Things to Do: Recreation
The Kern River Valley is a great place for tourism and outdoor adventures! People love to visit for its lake, rivers, and mountains.
Outdoor Activities
- Camping, Hunting, and Fishing: These are very popular activities here.
- Water Sports: You can go white water rafting on the river, or enjoy boating and other water sports on Lake Isabella.
- Winter Sports: In winter, when there's snow, you can enjoy snow sports in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Year-Round Fun: Mountain biking, rock climbing, and backpacking are possible all year. You can even rent equipment or hire guides to help you explore.
- Hot Springs: There are many natural hot springs near the top of Kern River Canyon. Early settlers loved these warm pools!
Much of the Kern River Valley, including the shore of Lake Isabella, is part of the Sequoia National Forest. There are many campgrounds around the lake and along the river where you can stay. The southernmost groves of giant Giant sequoia trees are about thirty miles northwest of the valley. These are some of the biggest trees in the world!
