From Lake Isabella down to Bako, along Hwy 178, numerous natural hot springs can be found in this canyon. Old Kern Canyon Road has plenty of primitive spots to camp along the road, way above the Kern River. This Southern Sierra Nevada scenic route, a 20 mi winding narrow paved road, is the old highway that leads up to Bodfish CA.

At least a dozen dispersed camp sites can be found along the Old Kern Cyn Rd, some spots with views over canyon, some hidden & shady, many spots are level & large – suitable for RVs. No facilities, no fees, just a flat, dispersed site. Campfire permits are required for fires outside of developed Campgrounds & fire restrictions are often high, so no fires are allowed much of the year. Most of the gates on the Lower Kern are now locked & only accessible by Forest Service personnel, ranchers or local rafting companies with permits.

The 2 developed Lower Kern Campgrounds are HOBO & SANDY FLAT, if you really need a picnic table & bathroom. You can reserve camps by clicking the links.

Miracle Hot Springs - next to Hobo Campground. This hot tub park is closed for repairs (indefinitely). On a visit in Oct 2008, I found the gates open to Miracle (while Hobo Campground was closed), a few portable bathrooms & trash bins, the hiking trail clear; 2 shallow pools partially filled. Maybe enough room to soak your butt, but not fully submerse yourself. Someone really needs to renovate this place!

Remington Hot Springs

The 3 hot springs listed below are Private Property, so don’t get shot:

Delonegha Hot Springs

Concrete tubs were built by homesteaders, later a hotel and boarding house were constructed. Stage coaches from the San Joaquin Valley took 2 days to get visitors to this area. The hotel closed in 1912, when more accessible areas of Democrat and Hobo were built. Remaining cement tubs run along a rock peninsula overlooking the Kern River; water temperatures average 112 degrees. This private property is fenced.

Scovern Hot Springs

Also known as the Hot Springs House. 1902 mud baths were being offered and the wooden tubs were replaced by galvanized tubs. A swimming pool and bath houses were added when the Scoverns bought the property in 1929. Bath house burned to the ground in 1971 and only a vacant lot remains. Steam can still be seen in the fields across from the springs, where water runs at 140 gallons a minute @ 115 degrees.

Democrat Hot Springs

The hotel and cottages were constructed to accommodate guests that came in stage coaches to dine and relax during the early 1900’s. Five springs on the property flow at 115 degrees into large soaking tubs and a swimming pool. Because of vandalism, this private property is gated and has a full time caretaker.

NEARBY TOWNS -

ALTA SIERRA CA

KERNVILLE CA

LAKE ISABELLA CA

WOFFORD HEIGHTS CA

MAP OF THE KERN RIVER -

Sequoia National Forest Map

lake in ca / calif lakes / lake elevation / geology lakes

hike in lakes

Wilderness lakes are as pure as it gets. No cattle, no roads nearby. Snow melt, cool days, good fishing, great mountain scenery, granite, fresh air & clean water. You have to really wanna reach them. You must physically WORK to get to these remote alpine wonderlands – hike, bike, or horseback. Most prefer to backpack in and stay a while. Why not? These puppies are ONLY ACCESSIBLE a few months outta the whole year. May as well enjoy them while you can. The rest of the time most of them are frozen solid or buried with tons of serious snow. Wilderness areas do not allow dogs or mountain bikes on trails, so plan accordingly.

California is lucky to have hundreds of lakes within protected wilderness areas. Almost all are gorgeous and have very limited access. While we haven’t yet been able to hike every Wilderness in Cali, we will leave you with the best links with could find & a way to buy some maps. Most Wilderness topo maps are printed on waterproof plastic these days. The most popular topographical maps sell out often, and can be outta stock or outta print for months, or even years. The less popular areas still have the old paper maps.

Ansel Adams Wilderness

• NFS Map is OUTTA PRINT

Bucks Lake Wilderness

• Bucks Lake Wilderness Map

Carson Iceberg Wilderness

• NatGeo Carson Iceberg Map
• NFS Carson Iceberg Wilderness Map

Desolation Wilderness

Granite Chief Wilderness

• Tom Harrison Desolation Map
• NFS Desolation Wilderness Map

Emigrant Wilderness

• Tom Harrison Emigrant Map
• NFS Emigrant Wilderness Map

Hoover Wilderness

• Tom Harrison Hoover Map
• NFS Hoover Wilderness Map

John Muir Wilderness

• John Muir Map Pack
• USDA John Muir Kings Cyn

Lassen National Park

• Lassen National Forest Map
• Lassen Topo Maps Atlas

Mokelumne Wilderness

• NFS Mokelumne Wilderness Map

Monarch Wilderness (Kings Cyn)

Jennie Lakes Wilderness

• NFS Monarch / Jennie Lakes Wilderness Map

Thousand Lakes Wilderness

• Ishi, Carribou, 1000 Lakes Wilderness Map

Trinity Alps Wilderness

• NFS Map is OUTTA PRINT

Yosemite National Park

• Yosemite High Country Map
• Tuolumne Meadows Hiking Map

Forget the hike!
If you are seeking a remote mountain lake that you can drive to, you will need to search for one that has the fewest people. A 4WD vehicle will help you exit the tourist traps, thru plenty of the back roads we feature. Always steer clear of crowded, holiday weekends.  See the CA LAKE LIST here!

A few regions more with pristine lakes, but not dubbed Wilderness:

• Lakes Basin California
• Aspendell California
• Tahoe Lakes
• Lake Mammoth CA
• June Lake CA
• Lassen National Forest
• Medicine Lake
• Tahoe National Forest
• Inyo National Forest
• Castle Crags State Park

High Sierra Nevada / Eastern Sierra

Rugged Sierra Nevada high country. The highest peaks in the Sierra Nevada mountains can be found inside this Wilderness. Many peaks are well above 13,000 feet. Granite, glaciated basins, big snow, alpine lakes, meadows, wildflowers, streams, creeks, cliffs, jagged peaks. Mount Whitney stands as the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

Eastern access via steep granite, off Hwy 395 (Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine)
Western access backpacking thru Kings Canyon National Park, Hwy 180
or Sequoia National Park, Hwy 198 (Mineral King, Three Rivers)
or Sierra National Forest, Hwy 168 (Lake Edison, Florence Lake, Courtright Reservoir)
North access via backcountry Yosemite National Park, Hwy 120
or Mammoth Area towns (Lee Vining, June Lake, Mammoth City)

Hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Trails open to equestrian and foot traffic only. Trailhead quotas limit the amount of day hikers and backpackers that an access the Wilderness daily. Wilderness permit required: Inyo National Forest Permits

Mammoth Mountain Lakes / Eastern Sierra Fishing

Sure splendor for fishing, most of the time. Lake fishing, stream fishing, river fishing. Fishing the Eastern Sierra area, near Mammoth Lakes, California can be very rewarding. You may have read about places like these in the sports magazines, seen them on a television program, or imagined them in a fishing vacation day dream. Summers can be crowded, so pick you lake and camp carefully. Weather can change quickly, so come prepared. Autumn fishing w/ the golden aspens is totally superb!

Most of these Eastern Sierra lakes are accessible by car, others by foot. Look at the photos, pick a destination and get a good map of the area, so you can explore everything around too.

Mammoth Lakes Area

Lakes – Mammoth City

• Lake Barrett
• Convict Lake
• Crystal Lake
• Lake George
• Horseshoe Lake
• Laurel Lakes
• Lake Mary
• Sotcher Lake
• Stark Weather Lake
• TJ Lake
• Twin Lakes

Creeks -

• Boundary Creek
• Cold Water Creek
• Convict Creek
• Crater Creek
• Deadman Creek
• Glass Creek
• Laurel Creek
• Reds Creek

Rivers -

• Owens River
• San Joaquin River

June Lake Loop

Lakes -

• Agnew Lake
• Fern Lake
• Gull Lake
• Grant Lake
• June Lake
• Parker Lake
• Silver Lake
• Walker Lake

Creeks -

• Alger Creek
• Fern Creek
• Rush Creek
• Reverse Creek
• Yost Creek

Mammoth Maps

Inyo National Forest Map
Inyo Topo Atlas
Ansel Adams Wilderness
John Muir Wilderness Map Set
Mammoth High Country Map
Mammoth Lakes Map / Mono Divide

lake, hike, mountain bike, off-road, ski, snowmobile

Tahoe Trail Maps / Tahoe National Forest

Wanna find every waterfall or every creek to fish? This is the place that will help you find them. Easily, with good old fashion printed maps. Hard copies, some waterproof & tear resistant, most with topographical data and all roads, trails, campgrounds and parks. Whether or not you water ski or cross country ski, these maps will save your ass – when you are way back there in the boonies. Tahoe Rubicon Trail connects the gold country to the lake via granite wilderness sky ways above 7000′ elevation, but a real 4×4 and overnights are required. The back roads and trails are endless in these parts of the Central Sierra Nevada mountains.

• Tahoe Rim Trail Map
• Lake Tahoe Basin Map
• Lake Tahoe Topo Atlas
• Tahoe National Forest Map