Wind Wolves Preserve

The Wind Wolves Preserve is beautiful and well preserved (ha.ha.). There is not much shade so hiking in the cooler seasons would be preferable. My friends and I took a short trail that ended up with not much elevation loss/gain, and so decided to go off-trail and take a barely beaten-down path up the side of the mountain (read: necessary to crawl up the mountain). We followed this path for quite some time along the bluffs, found a way down the cliff and on to a nice trail running along the creekbed back to the area where our truck was parked. There was actually still water in the creek. We spent about three hours there on Saturday.

I definitely hope to explore the preserve more. Though the whole thing is not open to the public, there are many trails and this fall and winter will be the perfect time. There will be more defined explanations of the various trails as I explore them!

Maps are available at the gatehouse where you can sign in as well. They show the various trails available for hiking, biking, etc. There's camping there too and from atop the bluffs it looked like a super-nice campground. I was impressed by the whole preserve and how well kept-up it seems.

Directions:

From Bakersfield, there are two ways: take 99 South until you reach Hwy 166, the Maricopa turnoff, and take that West until you reach the sign for the preserve. The preserve is on the South side of the highway. The other way would be to take Gosford (or the 99) down to Taft Hwy, turn right to go West, and follow the signs (in Old River) to turn left to head South to 166, where you would turn right (West) and the WindWolves Preserve is just a few minutes down the road. Dirt road access.

Update: Some new photos of Windwolves that I took February 15th. It's not always this green, but is definitely beautiful year-round.

Mill Creek

I did not hike this weekend, as I was out of town having mucho fun in LA, so I will share one of my favorite rambles from the past - Mill Creek.

The Mill Creek Trail starts winding along the hill above Old Kern Canyon Road, and then makes a fairly straight shot back into the mountains, following the canyon that Mill Creek comes out of. It meanders for a while, crossing the creek (or creekbed) several times before turning into a more strenuous climb up towards the ridge, at the end using several switchbacks to peak over the ridge into more grassy terrain that begins to look more like the area surrounding Brekenridge road. This is a great hike to do with little kids as the beginning parts are not too tough.

This is a gorgeous hike with adequate shade. In the spring it has several weeks of wildflowers, including a Lupine-looking flower all along the trail. In the summer it is dry grass but has a fair amount of shade. I've also walked up to the creek here in early June to see hundreds of Monarch butterflies congregating. Beautiful.

Fun Facts:

Directions: head out of Bakersfield on the 178 through the canyon. Once the road widens out into a four-lane highway, stay to the right and take the turnoff for Old Kern Canyon Road. Follow this windy road a few mintues until you reach the Mill Creek Trailhead, located on the right. Be on the lookout, as I have passed it before (while talking), but the sign is easy to spot. This takes about 45 minutes to get to from Bakersfield.

Hike Time: As long as you make it. The trailhead says the trail ends at Brekenridge Road, about 7 miles. I usually make this about a 2.5 hour easy hike or a 2 hour accelerated hike, stopping at the flat rock for a break and then heading back.

Sunday Peak

WOW. What a gorgeous view. The hike is lovely too. Unfortunately my camera was out of battery, so there are no photos. I will have to use my words.

The trail is easily marked and distinct. Though a sunny day (September 13th), it was only about 75 degrees when we started out about 10:30 that morning, and the perfect weather continued throughout the day. Even spurts of fairly level ground are combined with uphill grades to make the hike both challenging (or at least good exercise) and enjoyable. We were able to stop several times to enjoy the forest and the view through the trees. I believe the trail climbs up to the saddle between Portuguese Peak (to the North) and Sunday Peak. It follows this for a while before turning up the West side of Sunday Peak to the top.

From the peak you can see in all directions, as this is the highest point in the Greenhorn Mountains. The North Fork of the Kern is easily visible, as are several high mountains near the Mineral King range to the Northeast. The San Joaquin Valley was hazy on our day (as it is nearly every day), but to the East the views are absolutely gorgeous.

At the summit are several large rocks, perfect for picnics, a nap or relaxing time. Don't wait til just before you're ready to go to read the registers in the box, they are highly entertaining. Make up your own story.



Fun Facts:

To get there head east through the canyon (178) til you reach the Kernville turnoff- 155. Follow the 155 a ways until you make a left in Wofford Heights to continue on the 155. Follow this up the very windy road (11% upgrade with hairpin turns) until you reach the sandshed opposite the Rancheria Road turnoff. Turn right and head up the dirt service road for a long, long time until you see the sign for Sunday Peak Trailhead. Parking area is on the left. There is a big sign along the road and another just west up the hill where the trailhead begins. All in all it took us about 1.5 - 1.75 hours from Bakersfield.

Hike time: 1 hour and 30-45 minutes up, 45 minutes down. You'll want time at the top too, to enjoy the view.

Water: none. Bring your own.

Distance: trailhead says 1.5 miles to the top, so 3 miles roundtrip. You climb about 1000 feet to the summit at 8295ft.

Yup, this one's a keeper.

The Beginning...

I like to hike every weekend, and am based out of Bakersfield. There's a lot surrounding this area, but not many real paths or concise guides... they always assume you're from farther north or from southern california. I've spent some time researching trails from various sources and spend my weekends checking them out. Some end in amazing hikes and others get lost in cow crap. Literally, I lost one trail on a hill where the cows like to hang out... and never found the rest. It ended there.

I hike for fun, for exercise, and for beautiful scenery. This blog will be updated weekly with my hikes. The weekends I don't get to hike, I'll add a hike from prior experience. This is for others, and for personal incentive to get out and explore new trails instead of just using the same old ones. Happy hiking.