S6E1: Keyesville On The Kern | Lake Isabella CA

We took our first trip of the new year into the mountains outside of Bakersfield California. I was looking for a new area to explore since the roads in our local forest are closed at the first hint of rain. The same is true in the forest around Kernville but it’s inaccessible because of snow. The local Ranger District recommended the Keyesville area which is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management.
Keysville is a historic mining area that offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Set in rolling terrain amidst a blue oak and foothill pine woodland, Keysville is dissected by the lower Kern River. A little exploration can turn up a wealth of historic resources, including a variety of mining structures and features, a historic fort, and the famous Walker Cabin. Keysville offers commercial and noncommercial white-water rafting opportunities as well as fishing, recreational gold panning, and dispersed camping. A network of over seventy miles of trails provides for mountain biking, equestrian, and motorized recreation use.