The better half and I finally made it out to the Kern River this last week for some much needed R&R and a healthy dose of trees, rivers and fresh air.
Drove up the 395 and through Walker Pass on the 178. Really nice drive through the pass and lots of good spots to stop and climb stuff off the side of the road but not sure how much is on private property and accessible. Some nice property in that area. We arrived at Lake Isabella around 11 am, soaked in some scenery and headed up the road towards Limestone Campground.

Lake Isabella looking east from the 155

We arrived at Limestone Campground and set up in some shade and started relaxing. We really like this campground a lot, discovered it about 4 years ago on a road trip. It is about ½ hour north of Kernville but seems to be the one with the most shaded camping areas when you drive up along the Sierra Hwy. There is an awesome Limestone Cliff right above the campground with some bat caves and what looks like some great hard climbing. When I looked with the binoculars I saw a rope hanging down halfway down the face, not sure if anyone has climbed it. There is also a nice Limestone tower above that which looks like it has some climbs. We set up camp and I had to do the traditional hang out on the river with the innertube and a cocktail.

Camp set up and now a relaxing drink in the river 

We met a really cool guy named Greg who was a retired Chemistry and Physics teacher. He had been camping there a few decades and filled us in on some great info about the area. He also had a traveling hot shower set up he let us use while he was there. It is pretty awesome to take a nice shower in that setting.
Greg’s Dads best friend was the brother of Louis Zamperini, the ww2 survivor who had the movie “Unbroken” made about his experience in the Japanese POW camps.
He told us a great story about how Louis Zamperini had camped there one year with them and saw that lime stone cliff and couldn’t help himself but repel into it to check it out. He was doing a body belay and had to take a controlled fall since a bat scared the sh#t out of him. From their viewpoint he said it looked like he was going to die but he caught himself in time. Thought it was pretty cool that after all that stuff he went through it didn’t quell his taste for adventure.
The Limestone cliffs and caves above the campground that Zamperini rapelled, more limestone in the back, looks like a good steep hike to get to the stuff. The rock looked really good from what I could see through the binoculars.


Greg’s killer shower. Apparently the Rangers were cool with it since it met all the fire codes. Pulls the water from the river and heats it up. Uses all biodegradable soap, shampoo etc..


Greg and my wife Elizabeth

More pics of the river in and around the campground. Lots of good fishing spots.

If you go to campsite #8 and walk down the hill you will arrive here at this awesome swimming area.
The river slows down here at a sharp turn and you can innertube about 500 yards and swim in this area.

Watch out for the alligator in the water!!

Rock walls and more scenery around the area.

Capitol Rock

This wall is north east of Capitol Rock on the north side of Hwy 99. Didn’t see a name on this on any guide but looks like some climbs on this too.

Looking north towards the Needles

Looking down into Kern River Cyn. from Mtn Hwy. 99.
You can see the limestone cave right above the campground in the way back

The temps never got below 94 during midday and the humidity was around 30% si did not get much climbing in except for messing around on some bouldering stuff.

This little area is right before Corral Creek Resort if you are driving north
All overhanging, I couldn’t do crap on this, just stretched out the limbs.

Got on some other fun stuff right below Kernville Slabs


We camped for 3 night and then finished of the trip with a couple days at Durwood Creekside Lodge about 1 mile north of the Johnsondale Bridge.
The place was in a really great setting next to a river/stream called South Creek, but it could use some work and from what the manager told me a new owner acquired it about 1 year ago and is planning in getting it fixed up. The prior owners had not kept up with the maintenance. The place has a lot of potential, hope they get it fixed up. They had to move us from our 1st down stairs roombecause the old wood floors sqeaked so bad when people walked above us. It is an old cool house but needs work done to it to keep it alive.

Pics of lodge and breakfast which was really tasty

Creek in front of the lodge and also a little swimming pool and mini waterfall about 300 yards up a trail from the lodge. Some good fishing spots here too.

Right out front of the lodge

Haven’t fished in 25+ years and my 1st catch was a stick, and not even a good size stick at that, you can barely see it. Geez :(

I also did a catch and release on a mini rainbow trout though ;)

Swimming pool and waterfall area up the trail from the lodge

My smart ass almost broke my ankle here trying to boulder, I fell off after this move since my feet were too wet, I just had that itch to climb something. It is not very far up but when I landed my foot went right in between some rocks. Stupid move on my part for sure, my wife would have been real pleased.

Monday we saw the eclipse through some welding glasses and then took a trip to Trail of a Hundred Giants for a stroll through the big trees and for some cooler weather.

Had to get my climbing fix again on some big old tree roots

We had a great time and would suggest this area for a fun trip, although I think we will try for end of May next time. Weather should be cooler and not so many bugs. The bugs did mainly come out in the morning and early evening.
Due to the heat and my wife’s recent surgery we could not really do any hikes so we did not get to Alder Creek slide or to the Brush Creek pools. There are many other good hikes in this area as well. Didn't make it to the 7 Tea cups either unfortunately.
Driving back we drove south along the 178 and the lower Kern south of Lake Isabella. This area also looked really cool for climbing and hanging out along the river. Lots of rolling hills with oak trees around. Looks like a lot of unclimbed cliffs with a lot of potential up there.