This is probably my favorite place to come and chill and fish with the family. It only costs $7 to…read moreenter, and there are a lot of places to park and set your canopy and chairs and fish poles at. It is so peaceful just sitting there. There are catfish, bass, trout, carp, blue gill, ect, and it's rare you won't catch. There are squirrels who will come close if you throw food on the floor. There are bathrooms close by. Just bring your own TP and sanitizer. There are trash cans. There are rangers who will drive around, so make sure you have your license on you. Kids under 16 years old fish for free! Bring bug spray and snacks. Hours go by so fast......hours your family can spend talking, laughing, taking selfies, getting bites, and catching fish.

We camp here every year we love it calm and chill spot haven't had any issues well the first year…read morewe got a ticket for driving on the grass to unload our car we were unaware but never any issues after that

Today, I wanted to take my granddaughter to feed the ducks. When we pulled up, there were three elk…read moreright in front of us. We just sat in the car and looked at them for a while. This park is so beautiful, and then to have the treat of the elk right in front of us was amazing. It is so awesome how they just live among the people here in the community. Nobody bothers them, and they don't bother anyone. It's a beautiful thing. They are so majestic. I literally could've sat there for hours just watching them, but my granddaughter wanted to feed the ducks. Unfortunately, there weren't really any to feed. Another thing I wanna mention is the bathrooms here are so clean, not something you always find at a park. This is a great place to go to have a picnic and spend some family time. My granddaughter was already asking me when we can go back. 9/28/25

What a great way to get out and walk and enjoy your time and see the beautiful nature and Gods…read morecreation Thankful for sometimes we can see the Elk right near the water and that's always a blessing to enjoy their beauty! The dog park is nearby so even your special furry pets can experience a off the leash secure environment to romp both for small and for large dogs individual areas. Enjoy your time!!

This is the perfect place to go for a run or bike ride. The…read morepath is very long (I still don't even know how many miles!) and there are lots of side trails to explore. There isn't much shade and the views don't change too much even with longer distances, but it sure is a great place to exercise outdoors in Bako. So far, I've spotted coyote, rabbits, and road runners while riding my bike. People on the path are friendly and courteous to others when sharing the road. There are some unhoused encampments along the side of the Parkway, but with so many people on the trail cycling, skating, running, and walking, it always feels very safe.

I cycle all over the USA and some other countries, so last Sunday thankfully I was able to travel…read moreto Bakersfield to cycle the 20 mile (40 mile RT) paved Kern River Parkway Bike Trail I heard so much about. First I just have to say that the other cyclists I met on the trail here was so friendly that I thought that I was in Louisiana. What I mean is that when I am cycling in Irvine, Newport Beach or Santa Monica where I ride most of the time, less than 5% of other cyclists will say hello to you and less than 5% of other cyclists will respond if you say hello to them. But in Bakersfield, at least 75% of the cyclists that I past on the path said hello to me!! I could not believe it! I did not know what was going on? I was not used to that hospitality. What do they put in the water in Bakersfield? Maybe they all knew I was not from the City so they were being friendly--they probably all knew one another? It was a weird contrasting experience to life in LA. Anyway--I can write a book about my day on the Trail but will keep it concise: I parked at the River Walk Park which is located at 11298 Stockdale Hwy, 93311 (for those not from the city). Or you can can park at the outdoor shopping mall next door that has lot's of restaurants and a Target. (Don't park in front of any stores to bike ride--park in the middle or back.) From here, I first road the Trail West 9 miles to the end point. It's a lonely desolate stretch--I have never ridden anywhere where I was so alone for miles with no roads or cars. You can ride as fast as you want over here and bother no one. Every so often I came across someone. I did see a few single men and women riding alone that made me feel better. Then I returned to the River Walk Park--had lunch at the car from my cooler and then traveled East on the Path to the end. The East section passes bike stores, exit Coffee Road (which comes up right away) for Trader Joe's or Sully's Convenience Store or Starcrooks. You pass many parks and lakes and some restrooms. I saw on the East section of the path along the Kern River an Ecological Disaster with tons of garbage all over the river bed, graffiti, and homeless camping for endless miles. Some of the homeless were so entrenched that they had well developed tents, backyards, dogs, and even hanging clothes up to dry as if they have been living there for a long time. There were certain sections that were either scary or disconcerting riding the path alone. I felt like I needed to bring a handgun for protection to do this ride. As nice as it was having 20 miles of no car, well paved bike path in each direction, I am not sure I would do this ride again alone--I would if I returned with a riding partner. I gave the path 5 stars out of respect for Bakersfield years ago taking the planning time and resources to build a great bike and walking trail for the public. But what I saw going on along at least 8 miles of that path was an absolute disgrace that if was in charge of this city I would not tolerate for a second. I would fight every legal battle to return that River bed and it's adjacent areas to the condition it was 20 years ago. You do not have a right to set up residence in a public area. What I saw will cost tax payers Billions of Dollars in environmental cleanup. And yes, here is LA this is a problem too. Overall it was a Great day in Bakersfield--I can tell some of the best people in California live here.

This park has it all, the fishing, an amphitheater, water fountain for pictures, ducks, kids zone,…read morebike path. If you need that family time or a little romantic walk this is the place to go.

The Park at River Walk is a lively place for people to have picnics, enjoy a walk/run, admire the…read morewildlife, or head to the Dignity Amphitheater for events. My best friend and I took a break from studying so that we can go for a walk here. Honestly, this park is so nice and I wouldn't mind laying out a blanket on the grass and reading under a tree. It was a refreshing place to relax our minds. I loved seeing the ducks and geese wading in the water. For the most part, the park is kept clean but it makes me sad to see garbage accumulate where the animals swim.

Just an FYI for 7/15/25: The lake has experienced a large die off of fish due to the high…read moretemperatures both outside and in water. The lake has lost its oxygen, which has caused this situation. They are in the process of removing the fish off shoreline. The lake is closed for swimming and boating today. Will update if more time is needed. 7/15/25

The residents of Bear Valley Springs are fortunate to have Four Island Lake in their own backyard…read more Terrific place to relax or for some family fun. There are some picnic tables, and you can barbecue. Nice little playground for the kids. There are rules regarding fishing and boating. Make sure to follow those rules. I really enjoyed the brief time we spent here. Maybe it was because we were the only ones there, but I found Four Island Lake to be quite beautiful and calming.

Nice place, very peaceful. We have Some homeless sleeping but harmless. Great view and a great…read moreplace to enjoy a book. Or chill.

This park for me has a feeling of nostalgia. My grandma used to take me here when I was a toddler…read moreto play and visit the ducks. Going back as an adult it's definitely changed , some for the better and some just unfortunate. I love the addition of the fountains and I love how it was relaxing and quiet for park . I love how you can see the museum's garden and I love how the play-area isn't very close to the street so kiddos don't get hurt . I had no idea it was a historic landmark so that was fun to read about . Ill be honest , the unfortunate I spoke of is all the litter in the water and around the park. I enjoyed my time here, I'll visit again .

Jester today was a wonderful guide. He was super friendly and knew the river well. As always, the…read moreentire group is so professional and Dale the bus driver offered some cool stories and music for the ride. Kyle helped the other raft but went over all of the information we needed. He was also super nice. We only raft with this outfit when in Kernville. It is always a great time with wonderful people. Highly recommend!!!

We had the best full day rafting with our awesome guide Joe! My whole family went - kids age 12,…read morefather in law age 65 - and we all had a blast. Rafting, swimming, rock jumping, a great picnic lunch. It was perfect.

Went out with my family today at heart Park. Highly recommend the workers were very professional…read moreand helpful. Go check em out!

My family And I came out to Hart park on late Saturday morning. We rented a paddle boat and had an…read moreabsolute blast!! Staff are just a delight and we're very safe,and the prices are great. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great time and don't wanna spend a lot of money. If I could give 10 stars I would

This is an amazing park! It was so green and plenty of space for people to get their own spot. I…read morewent in the afternoon, so it was hot! There were a lot of ducks in the lake. I plan to come back another time to enjoy the scenery in the morning.

Amazing trail running with a stunning poppy field we happened to stumble across. Great for people…read morewho just want to take a nice stroll as well. There are bathrooms near the bottom of the trail and within the park if you need them. My only complaint was that the gun range nearby can be really loud, though people aren't always there. I'll definitely be back for the incline and the views.

Stayed here Late September for a night on our way to Yosemite. We called ahead to reserve our…read morelocation. There are squirrels everywhere but I loved that. If that might be an issue for you and pets be careful. There are holes everywhere and in most campsites. Employees for the most part were nice. Campsites were clean. Trash bins close by at every site. There are fire bins with grate at every campsite. Does smell a little bit like cow. Especially at night. There are plenty of bugs. come prepared! Bring Bug Repellent! Bug repellent scents etc. we were fine. They left us alone. There are 4 ducks that I think were someone's pet then dumped here bcuz they go right up to you. 2 nicely took food out of my hands. Be nice to them! Can fish. Bring everything. All in all 9/10 campsite.

On a short notice, this part was very accommodating and wonderful to visit. Very friendly…read moreaffordable and kept really clean. Was able to get some R&R for the weekend, the only thing I would say is for camp host or recreational facility management to enforce extremely loud stereos after 10.