Get out! Try the most effective locations to camp in Kern County | Bakersfield Life

As an avid camper myself, I’ve searched Kern County for a few of the county’s greatest campgrounds, all lower than 100 miles from central Bakersfield. Joyful tenting!

Inside Purple Rock Canyon State Park, which I think about to be the most effective “hidden gems” in Kern County, is the Ricardo Campground. The websites are nestled beneath the gorgeous rippling crimson rock gorges and boast unimaginable stargazing at night time. The sparse smattering of Joshua timber and shrubs leaves the campsites slightly uncovered, which will not be preferrred on crowded or windy nights or scorching afternoons.

The campground has 50 first-come, first-served websites open year-round at $25 per night time and provides vault bogs, faucet water, picnic tables, hearth rings and disabled accessibility. RVs and trailers 30 toes or shorter are welcome, though there aren’t any electrical hookups. Throughout the day, Purple Rock Canyon has many uniquely lovely hikes of varied lengths and difficulties. That is considered one of my favourite locations to hike in Kern County with gorgeous rock formations and lookouts that make you’re feeling such as you’re on one other planet. Purple Rock Canyon additionally has a full nature middle the place you may study in regards to the space’s crops and wildlife in addition to the Kawaiisu individuals who as soon as inhabited the realm.

Distance from Bakersfield metropolis middle: 82 miles

Reservations: No; first come, first served

RVs and trailers: Sure, as much as 30 toes in size; no hookups obtainable

Bogs: Sure, vault bogs

Pets: Allowed at campsite however not on trails

Disabled accessibility: Sure

Group websites obtainable: No

Web site options: Fireplace ring and picnic desk

For a much less secluded tenting expertise with entry to a great deal of facilities and recreation, I like to recommend the Buena Vista Aquatic Leisure Space. This campground sits proper in between three man-made lakes 25 miles southwest of Bakersfield.

If you’re simply dipping your toe into the world of tenting and do not wish to “tough it,” this lakeside campground has two concession buildings, two youngsters’s playgrounds, a basketball court docket, a soccer subject and three boat-launching websites. This campground can also be proper for anybody searching for a lake expertise together with boating, Jet Snowboarding or fishing.

This 112-site campground is good for RVs but additionally has loads of house for tents. One draw back to the elevated facilities is the upper worth per night time. Though the charges rely upon the season, electrical capabilities and site of the location, tent tenting ranges from $16 to $40 and RV websites vary from $150 to $220.

Distance from Bakersfield metropolis middle: 25 miles

Value: $16 to $40 for tents, $150 to $220 for RVs

Bogs: Sure, toilet pavilions

Pets: Sure, restrict two per campsite; should be leashed always

Disabled accessibility: Sure

Group websites obtainable: Out there from mid-October to mid-March

Web site options: Fireplace ring and picnic desk

Eight miles southwest of Tehachapi is a 490-acre park with 61 household campsites and two group services. This campground is ideal for anybody searching for trails, both for mountaineering or horseback driving. The Nuooah Nature Path is spattered with vistas, proof of Native American historical past and distinctive geological options. As well as, the realm has an equestrian driving path, though it needs to be famous that horses aren’t allowed on the campsite.

The campground is $18 a day per campsite and might accommodate as much as 10 folks with one automotive and one trailer. One of many group websites features a full camp with kitchen and cabins with bunk beds, electrical energy and heating that may accommodate as much as 100 folks. The second group website is a big campsite full with a picnic desk shelter, barbecue grills and pit bogs that may home 150 folks and 15 automobiles. Bug spray is a should at this campsite, particularly round daybreak and nightfall.

Distance from Bakersfield metropolis middle: 46 miles

Reservations: First come, first served

RVs and trailers: Sure, however no hookups; roads could also be tight

Bogs: Sure, vault bogs

Pets: Sure; should be leashed always

Disabled accessibility: No

Group websites obtainable: Sure

Web site options: Fireplace ring and picnic desk

Nestled amongst a few of the oldest and largest timber on this planet is a small campground with six tent websites and 6 yurts. Though this lovely Sequoia Nationwide Forest campground is simply throughout the Kern County line, it is just 81 miles from Bakersfield and properly definitely worth the drive. Because of the campground’s small measurement and proximity to the long-lasting Sequoia landmark Path of 100 Giants, spots are slightly aggressive with constant site visitors within the months the campground is open.

Reservations may be made on-line or by cellphone from three days to 6 months prematurely from late Could to early October. If the campground is open outdoors these occasions (relying on climate), the tenting websites are first come, first served. The yurts, that are all wheelchair-accessible, are on the country facet however include one twin mattress, one full mattress and one queen mattress. A yurt is $100 per night time and is suited to a most of 5 visitors.

The tent websites, most of which may accommodate small RVs or trailers, are $32 per night time and $34 per night time on vacation weekends. That could be a small worth to pay to be amongst majestic towering redwoods and strolling distance from the Path of 100 Giants, which is a 1.3-mile paved path that winds by greater than 800 redwoods, 125 of which measure greater than 10 toes in diameter, many growing old as much as 1,500 years outdated. The campsite additionally sits instantly subsequent to an idyllic meadow with lengthy inexperienced grass and seasonal wildflowers. Extra hikes to waterfalls and lovely outlooks are additionally prevalent within the space.

Distance from Bakersfield metropolis middle: 81 miles

Value: $32 to $34 for websites, $100 for yurts

RVs and trailers: Sure, however no hookups

Bogs: Sure, vault bogs

Pets: Sure; should be leashed always

Disabled accessibility: Sure

Group websites obtainable: No

Web site options: Fireplace ring and picnic desk

Though this campground provides shut proximity to Bakersfield and is surrounded by lush cottonwoods and sycamores proper on a good looking winding part of the Kern River, none of those are the largest promoting level of this campground for me. Sandy Flat Campground is considered one of two campgrounds that sit instantly subsequent to Miracle Scorching Springs.

Simply over a mile downstream, this glorious string of swimming pools open to the general public ranges from lukewarm to Jacuzzi-level heat. Although the swimming pools are nestled on the base of a hill and surrounded by giant timber, it sadly shouldn’t be a well-kept secret, which means competitors for the largest and warmest swimming pools might depart you ready all day. The good thing about tenting close by can be the early morning or late night entry to the springs, which might assist guarantee locking down your decide of the swimming pools.

Within the warmth of the day when the new springs are too crowded or appear unappetizing, the shut proximity to the river and prime fishing location in addition to close by mountaineering provide choices for the entire household. Sandy Flat Campground has 35 household websites, six being walk-up websites, all with entry to ingesting water and vault bogs. No hookups can be found at this campground. Every website is $32 per night time and is open April 1 to Nov. 30. 

Distance from Bakersfield metropolis middle: 39 miles

Reservations: 29 websites on reservation system; six websites are first come, first served

RVs and trailers: Sure, however no hookups

Bogs: Sure, vault bogs

Pets: Sure; should be leashed always

Disabled accessibility: Some areas

Group websites obtainable: No

Web site options: Fireplace ring and picnic desk

Nearly an hour south of Bakersfield within the Los Padres Nationwide Forest, you’ll discover this 72-site campground nestled amongst pine timber. About 14 miles west of Frazier Park and 11 miles east of Pine Mountain Membership, this 7,400-foot elevation campground provides a adequate escape from the summer season warmth of the valley’s basin.

This campground has websites that may accommodate trailers and RVs as much as 35 toes in size. Fifty-four of the websites are on the reservation system with the remaining 18 working on a first-come, first-served foundation. The household websites are $20 per night time, which is a steal contemplating day use within the space is $10. The campground additionally has two group websites that may home 60 and 80 folks. There aren’t any hookups and no ingesting water, so be sure you carry all of the water you want.

Though this campground is pretty giant and tends to be busy, the realm is sprawling sufficient and dense with mature pine timber making most websites really feel secluded. Along with the recent air and pine tree scent, this space has many lovely vistas and close by hikes.

Distance from Bakersfield metropolis middle: 60 miles

Reservations: 54 websites on reservation system; 18 websites are first come, first served

RVs and trailers: Sure, as much as 35 toes in size, however no hookups

Bogs: Sure, vault bogs

Disabled accessibility: Some areas

Group websites obtainable: Sure

Web site options: Fireplace ring (though burning is topic to restrictions) and picnic desk