Some lament the coming of the fall and winter seasons here in the Kern River Valley. Where’s all the speedboating, Jet Skiing and extreme summertime action?

Personally, I enjoy the coming of fall and winter in the valley. The lake becomes calm and still, and the river slows down from a scary roar to a scenic, bubbling stream. The afternoon sun slants through the trees, sparkling on the slowly moving river waters.
Ducks ply the still surface of Isabella Lake, making little V-shaped wakes.  You can park your motorhome or camper right on the waterline at Auxiliary Dam Campground. In the spring, if you park on the waterline the night before, you might in the morning find there’s water up to the middle of the wheel wells.  But not in fall and winter.  You can step outside your RV and you’re on your own private beach, shared only with the seagulls that frequent the lake.

The kids are in school, so the tourist load dwindles. That may be bad news for some of the businesses in the Kern River Valley, but it’s good news for those of us who look for a quieter life here.
Bakersfield has a motto — “Life As It Should Be.” Well, fall and winter in the Kern River Valley are Life As It Should Be.

For those who think there’s nothing to do in the valley during the fall and winter, think again.
It’s the perfect time to bring or rent a bicycle and ride through the streets of Kernville. The trees are all dropping their gold and rust-colored leaves, and it’s a scenic wonderland.
Or hike down by the river (either north of Kernville or south of Lake isabella.) If you fall in, it’s not a problem. Just stand up. The water only comes up to your ankles.

Go fishing. Some of the best fishing is in the fall and the winter – that’s a big secret but it’s true. The competition has mostly gone home, leaving the lake and river areas to those in the know.
As the lake (reservoir) gets lower, old treetops come up out of the water. Those trees were purposely left there when the dam was built in the early 1950s. On a calm fall morning, look at all the boats tied up to those trees. That’s where the best fishing is in the lake. Fish use those trees to hide.  

Big trout have just been stocked in the lake. That’s another (not very well-kept) secret. These trophy-sized trout are put in by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce during the fall. There are also lots of bass, crappie and catfish just waiting for you.

Or try the river areas for some real fishing action. There are fish hiding under those ledges and in the deep pools. Entice them into taking your lure or bait.

If you’re not into fishing, how about shopping? The Kern River Valley is full of unique little places with a great selection of items that would make wonderful gifts. Some of the places are not obvious, like the gift shop at the museum in Kernville or the gift shop at Kern Valley Hospital. I could name about a hundred retailers up here that have great gifts, but the ones I missed would complain, so I won’t. Do yourself a favor and look around in the shops and stores in the valley; you won’t have to fight the summer tourist crowd up here or the Christmas shopping crowds down in the city.

The sporting goods stores in the valley are slower during the fall and winter, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they don’t have good buys. Now’s the time to buy for the upcoming spring and summer seasons too.

Go to the movies at our own homey theater. If you like horseback riding, dirt bike tracks, taking scenic photos, bird watching, or just eating in local cafes and restaurants and enjoying the season, the fall and winter in the Kern River Valley are really the best times.