The Upper Kern River runs south from the high Sierra Nevada through Sequoia National Forest before emptying into Lake Isabella. The canyon it carves — steep-walled and wild — is one of California's premier whitewater destinations, drawing kayakers and rafters throughout spring and early summer when snowmelt swells the river.
The stretch above the lake includes sections rated up to Class V, with several outfitters operating guided raft trips from the Kernville area. Later in summer the water drops and the canyon becomes a quieter place for camping, fishing, and walking the back roads that thread through the mountains.
Kernville, on the north end of Lake Isabella, is the main base. Campgrounds are plentiful along both the river and the lakeshore.