A three-day-weekend journey over from Jawbone down into the Kern. We camped along the river (with many others) via a dirt road, got some cool wheeling and hiking, and ran into friends running Teacup.
September 2, 2023
Background
Kernville sits on the Kern River in the southern Sequoia National Forest, and the river is the reason: it’s serious whitewater, with runs that draw kayakers and rafters all season. Coming over from the Jawbone Canyon OHV country links the desert to the river canyon by dirt.
If you go
Kernville sits on the Kern River in the southern Sequoia National Forest, and coming ‘over from Jawbone’ means linking the Jawbone Canyon OHV country down into the river canyon — a fun dirt route in. The Kern is serious whitewater (Teacup is a committing Class V run), and the riverside dirt-road camping packs out on a holiday weekend. Check fire restrictions; this canyon goes under them often.
