Kern River Preserve

I loved this preserve that you could easily pass by while blinking. Great little nature trail. Perfect to take small kids (approx 1.5 mile loop). Nice pamphlet with markers that give wonderful tidbits about the different areas and local habitats! We will be back the next time we are in the area.

We came here a couple years ago — randomly found it while we were driving to Lake Isabella area. Parked outside of the cow pastures and walked in towards the visitor center.
The door to the small visitor center was unlocked, so we just walked in — wandered around and signed our name in the guest book. :) To be honest, it was a bit eerie, since there was no one there except us!
Then, we went behind the visitor center, to walk along the circular trail — saw and heard many birds chirping. Again, a bit scary since we were the only ones there on the path and all we heard was birds and our footsteps! Who knew what other animals could have been lurking in the bushes, right?! haha :)

Great place to hike around. I brought my 11-​year old son here and we had a great time. Very quiet and peaceful.

You know those nature sound CDs meant to soothe your fraying nerves? I’m not talking about the new-​age stuff churned out on synthesizers by frizzy-​haired German-​Swiss guys in burlap clothing. No, I’m talking about recordings of nature: ocean waves, rainstorms, etc.
Well, if you want to visit a place that could easily be the source of the ‘birds in a forest’ recording, the Kern River Preserve will be your destination. Not that the birds will like the publicity, but the Preserve may just be the bird hideout for the entire State of California. From the entrance at Highway 178 — one of the great scenic drives in the state — drive slowly on the short dirt road that bisects a pasture of cows munching on the landscape.
Once you’ve parked your car, walking the relatively short circular trail behind the visitor’s center will expose you to tens of thousands of birds calling out in a collective symphony of joy. At least it seems like joy. (If it’s a political debate, there may be a revolution brewing.) The problem is that you can’t immediately see most of these birds who hide in a tangle of trees and the thick brush. The key is to stand your ground patiently and wait for the birds to get used to you. The birds will chirp away at your stress and calm you down to their wavelength because you’re in their paradise and they don’t want you to ruin their vibe. You’ll see rabbits, and you may see deer, bobcats and other animals, too; but, the birds are the stars here. The folks at the Preserve have even provided feeders and nesting boxes along the trail to encourage apartment living.
All of the bird calls here may have affected other animals, too. As I drove out on the dirt road, one of the cows had a very bird-​like moo sound. As I eyed the cow suspiciously, it sheepishly turned away. Uh-​huh, caught you. I’ve heard plenty of cows in my life and this cow was definitely a wannabe to the airy neighborhood down the road. You don’t believe me? Visit the Kern River Preserve and find out for yourself.