Enjoy the wilderness areas of the nearby Sequoias. The Sequoia National Park & Kern River area gets the most visitors, but the backwoods of Sequoia National Forest nearby get suprisingly overlooked by many.
The National Forest lands in this area are full of old logging roads, a lush variety of pines, flowing creeks & waterfalls. You will find plenty of remote forest for your privacy needs. Grab a hammock or just a blanket & head for that shady cedar grove. Nap in a scenic meadow after a picnic. Bring the mountain bikes for exploring. Most of all, just get away & relax.
Beautiful small Sierra lake surrounded by pine trees &
mountains.
Located off Hwy. 180 approx. 60 miles east of Fresno,
in the North portion of the Sequoia National Forest between Kings
Cyn & Sequoia National Parks.
Fishing
Boating (no motors)
Kayak
Sail
Lake Isabella
Large reservoir where the Kern River detours. Rolling hills
of oak trees with communities surrounding.
Located off Hwy. 158 approx. 30 miles east of Bakerfield,
in the South portion of the Sequoia
National Forest
.
Fishing
Boating
Jet Ski
Sail
Windsurf
Backcountry Lakes
Lots of small Sierra lakes are within the Sequoia & Kings
Cyn. National Park, Most can be reached by backpacking or horse
back. Get good backcountry maps to
get a better idea of where these are located.
Kern River
The wild & scenic Kern River carves out this oak lined
canyon. The winding roads travels from Lake Isabella north along
the river which is lined with camping. Lots to do around these
here parts!
When you are headed to the Sequoias - they are located on the western side of the Sierra Nevada range, running parallel to the smoggy Central Valley. Drive at night & beat the 100 degree heat. Take off after work &
after the traffic dies down Friday night. Get good directions
to where your destination & take your time. The
drive north is only a few hours from Los Angeles.
From L.A. ---- 3.5 hrs.- S. Sequoia National Forest : Kern River
I-5 N; Hwy.99, exit Bakersfield, Hwy. 178
to Lake Isabella; exit Hwy. 155 to Wofford Heights & then
up to Kernville
From L.A. ---- 4.5 hrs.- Sequoia & Kings Cyn. National Park; N. Sequoia
National Forest
north entrance- I-5 N; Hwy.99, exit Visalia
Hwy.198 & take a right then a left onto Hwy.63 N, @ Hwy.
180 go east to Kings
/ Sequoia National
Park
entrance
Area surrounding the Sequoia & Kings National Parks. Granite
faces, cedar forest near the raging rivers, this Sierra wonderland
offers it all. From rugged backpacker high country to primitive
car camping. Horse corral camps & small family style campgrounds.
Explore the backroads & live a little.
Area surrounding the Sequoia & Kings Cyn. National Parks.
A wide variety of outdoor activities is awaiting you.
From the rolling hills of oaks near the Kern River in the
Southern section to the granite, cedar forest near the Parks
boundaries of the North, this forest offers a variety of terrain.
This area allows primitive car camping
without a campground as long as you obtain a free campfire permit. Plenty of small dirt back roads meander through the remote pine forest
Home of the largest living things on earth. These ancient
trees are located in groves throughout the park.
Dense lush forest filled with ferns & pines, as well
as a variety of other types of trees, make this area a campers
& hikers dream. See raging waterfalls, flowing creeks &
rivers, the crystal cave, & go horseback riding all in one
weekend.
Quite different than its neighbor, the Sequoia National Park,
this drier rugged canyon has a lot of oak terrain as well as some
pines & cedars. It is a dead end road & perfect for backpackers
who want to have easy access to the backcountry. Matter of fact,
most of this park is just that, wilderness. One one highway enters
the park & doesn't loop around to any other destinations.
Ancient Sequoia, the largest living trees on earth, are burning in wildfires and falling over from severe winds. From the Kern River to Yosemite National Park, we are witnessing epic changes in our cherished Sequoia groves. Giants that have stood the test of time, for thousands of years - right here on the West Coast - are now vulnerable to our changing weather patterns. The droughts, the bark beetles, more lightning, bigger fires, and stronger winds. Coastal redwoods and Joshua trees have also been impacted by recent wildfires. If you haven't already, go see and experience these monumental trees, while they are still around.
#totalescape
Rural California Directory: Now that you've found this independent California resource, you can discover more local destinations online. Find your own rural place, a homestead way up in the hills. Or discover that perfect spot for summer vacation, a hidden Sequoia grove, the best waterfall ever, the secret alpine fishing lake or maybe, just a bike rental shop in the forest. We list it here, all outdoors, all local. Travel the back roads of the west, on the cheap. Camp year round, without the fees, from Baja to Shasta. Find secluded spots. Historic, independent inns to remote yurt resorts, yoga weekends to primitive hot springs, RV resorts, or dispersed camp sites. Hiking trails, kayaking lakes, fishing streams, gold mines and ghost towns, and all the topographic maps to go with.
We're still here, thousands of pages and decades later. Way outside the city limits, beyond the county line. No wifi, no smart meters, no gaming addictions, no traffic lights, no city noise. Rural living in California still exist. Hike on the weekends, bike to work, boating mid-week, we have you covered for destinations. Find a new creekside camp spot, a waterfall, trailhead or an ancient lava cave. Total Escape - Two whole decades online. Not quite obsolete.
Craving the Wild? Before the tweets, the constant memes and paralysis of our current culture, DanaMite started this travel web site way back in 1996. Catchy phrases like, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) did not yet exist.
Total Escape features abundant real photos of real places. Secluded destinations, camping and lodging, examining the best back roads, side routes, the topo maps (to get you out there). Locals-only travel tips, gear reviews, festivals and events. This unique travel site is updated every month, for the past 24 years!
Juicy content specific only to California. Focusing on outdoor destinations, small towns and budget-minded travel since 1996, we've recreated the weekend getaway - without the crowds. Escape the matrix, the city life, the traffic jams and learn how to avoid the tourist traps. Drive on past the factory outlet malls and the water slides, we've got much more to show you. Way out there, on the back roads, and in the backcountry.
Wilderness in California - more nature, less people.
