Kern

7) Mouth of Canyon to Rancheria Road(Rio Bravo / Boy Scout)

Difficulty	IV
Length	2.8 mi
Avg Gradient	51 fpm
Reach Info Last Updated	August 12, 2025

River Description

The Kern is class 4 boulder slalom immediately below the mouth of the canyon and past the diversion dam. The Rio Bravo Slalom races were held here every year in the 1970's and 1980's, as it was a wonderful race course. The owner of the Rio Bravo ranched hoped to hold the Olympic competition here during the Los Angeles Olympics. It would have been a tremendous boost to Kern river running. However, the Los Angeles Olympic committee, or USA Olympics decided to drop kayak slalom that year in favor of syncronized swimming. Subsequent Olympics reinstated kayak slalom and it has become a permanent Olympic sport. The loss was a big disappointment at the time.

Now, the Rio Bravo power project diverts up to 1200 cfs out of the river bed. FLows from Isabella will have to be quite a bit higher than that to provide good flows for boating. Even before this diversion, parts of this section were thick with trees. Tree hazards and strainers are probably worse now with lower regular flows.

Put in:

There is a large parking area on the side of the highway across from the PG&E power plant at the mouth of the canyon. Hike down the bluff on rough trails to the river.

Take out:

There is a river access parking area on the southwest side of Rancheria Road bridge. Float under the bridge and immediately look for landing spots on river left.

Mile by Mile Guide:

0 mile- To put in park at mouth of canyon there is a trail that leads down to river above the Dam. Paddle down towards dam crossing to river right take out on right bank and portage dam.

0-1 mile-Continuous rock garden that can get more difficult at higher flows Class III-IV

1.1Boy Scout Rapid IV There is a big hole to avoid at the bottom

1.5 Fairly steep rock garden unnamed rapid III+IVStay left as the water kind of splits into two channels but the one on river left is the obvious choice

1.7 The river splits into t

...

River Features

Put in

Distance: 0 mi

Access Point

There is a fisherman's trail from the parking area down to the river.

Portage at Dam

Distance: 0.2 mi

Portage

Paddle across the small reservoir to the far side (river right) to portage the dam. It is an easy walk around the dam.

Rock Garden

Class: III+Distance: 0.3 mi

Other

A continuous rock garden rapid starts immediately upon launching below the dam. The beginning of the rapid is the steepest and most congested. This rapid can get more difficult at higher flows. Class III-IV

Boy Scout Rapid

Class: IVDistance: 1.1 mi

Other

There is a big hole to avoid at the bottom.

Fairly Steep Rock Garden

Class: III+Distance: 1.5 mi

Other

The river bends to the left and picks up speed above an island.Stay left as the water splits into two channels around this long island. The channel on river left is the obvious choice. The rapid is a fairly steep rock garden.

Channel Split

Distance: 1.7 mi

Other

At the end of the long island above the river splits into three channels. Two go straight downstream to the left. However, you want to turn sharply back river right and the river will seem to turn as though it is going back up stream. This small channel cuts between the bottom of the upper island and the top of the lower island. It puts you on the right side of the lower island. The left side channels are brushy and obstructed.

Boulder Rapid

Class: IVDistance: 1.9 mi

Other

Long, steep, unnamed rapid littered with boulders that will make for a challenging rapid at higher flows. This rapid is steepest at the bottom.

Powerhouse

Class: IIDistance: 2 mi

Other

The river bends to the right and enters an easy chute. About 1/3 of the way through the rapid diversion water from the powerhouse will enter back into river from the left.

Learning Curve

Class: IIDistance: 2.1 mi

Other

This is a small rapid often used as a good teaching location for new kayakers.

Cottonwood Rapid

Class: IIDistance: 2.5 mi

Other

2.5 Cottonwood Rapid Class II

2.6 small rapids with not much difficulty

Island Rapid

Class: II+Distance: 2.7 mi

Other

The river slits into two sections around a small island before coming back together. There are some surf waves and holes in here, including the Mt. Whitney Wave.