Whitewater Rafting Southern California | Kern River Rafting Trips | Sierra South Mountain Sports

Lower Kern River Full Day Class II-III Rafting | Sierra South

Flood maps identify problem areas in Kern County, Bakersfield

Kern River – A River with a Wild Past Indigenous Roots (Before 1770s) Long before maps and dams, the Yokuts and Tubatulabal tribes lived along the Kern River. The river was their lifeline—providing fish, fresh water, trade routes, and spiritual meaning. Seasonal flooding replenished the land, making it rich for hunting and gathering. Spanish & Mexican Era (1770s–1848) Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to document the area, though settlement remained minimal. The river marked the edge of