Explore the best rated trails in Arvin, CA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Taft Rails to Trails and Kern River Parkway Trail. With more than 2 trails covering 31 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The Kern River Parkway Trail spans the east–west length of Bakersfield along the Kern River, a waterway that drains the Sierra Nevada range but is often dry by the time it reaches the inland city....
Taft Rails to Trails is a short pathway across the small city that is situated on the southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley. The trail occupies a corridor formerly home to the Sunset Railroad,...
Taft Rails to Trails is a short pathway across the small city that is situated on the southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley. The trail occupies a corridor formerly home to the Sunset Railroad,...
The Kern River Parkway Trail spans the east–west length of Bakersfield along the Kern River, a waterway that drains the Sierra Nevada range but is often dry by the time it reaches the inland city....
The Kern River Parkway Trail spans the east–west length of Bakersfield along the Kern River, a waterway that drains the Sierra Nevada range but is often dry by the time it reaches the inland city....
Taft Rails to Trails is a short pathway across the small city that is situated on the southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley. The trail occupies a corridor formerly home to the Sunset Railroad,...
I have been using it for the past three years almost every weekend. I enter the trail off of Mohawk being that I live near by. Going East the landscape is more varied in comparison to going west. Each side has its own type of beauty. The trail is mostly asphalt and very well maintained. I really like the fact that there is no place on the trail for cars to cross so you do not need to stop for traffic. You can ride non-stop the whole 22 miles.
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Parking: The Park at River Walk & Kern River Parkway park
Trail Condition: Excellent wide asphalt pathway. Well maintained.
Signage: No directional route signage. We did have to stop at one location and review our map. Otherwise route is mostly obvious. There is plenty of “rules” signage. Would be a nice improvement to provide directional route signage.
Comments: We rode this in two sections. First starting at the “Park at the River” and riding south to the trail end. This portion of the trail enters the open space/ground water banking area outside of town. The wide trail gets away from traffic and city noise. We spotted roadrunners, a coyote, and lots of other birds and animals along the trail. Every so far are some benches and at one time had some sort of emergency phone system but they are in the process of removing. A number of other cyclists were encountered on the trail, most offered a wave or friendly hi. Back in the urban part of the trail a number of walkers were also on the trail. Obviously a popular trail.
Section two started at Kern River Parkway park and traveled north. Trail remained mostly in good condition. Since this section goes through the main part of the city the scenery is as can be expected with housing, traffic, and shelters in the trees along the river bed. Once passed through the urban setting the trail is a little bit more “country” but isn’t nearly as long as the southern end of the trail. Plenty of folks out enjoying a sunny Saturday afternoon on the trail.
Highly recommend the southern portion of the trail.
This is a very well maintained bike trail. The western section is very rural for the last 8 or 10 miles - not terribly scenic but there are tons of rabbits, ground squirrels, roadrunners and hawks to entertain you. It is an easy, flat ride. We parked at Yokuts Park and rode west to the end. Next time, we'd like to ride the eastern end of the trail.
I have been doing this trail since I moved to Bakersfield 24 years ago. Mostly flat, and in the summer it is very hot. The city keeps the trail clean. There are emergency call phones about every mile. There is water in the developed areas, but if you go to the west there is no water on the west end 8 mile stretch. If you have the desire, you can bike from about I-5 in the valley, all the way to Lake Ming, about 28 miles one-way.
Started at Chester in BF and rode west. Nice flat trail. Plenty of benches and water fountains along the way. It goes by Cal state BF, and the Brighthouse amphitheater. Once you get past Allen ave, you go into the great wide open called the "Bakersfield 2800" It's 2800 acres of watershed/flood control that I assume is controlled by the state. No water. No toilets. No food for about 10 miles. They have a signed gate that gives you fair warning about this area. You will be in the middle of nowhere. In June, the rattlesnakes come out of hibernation and sun themselves on the warm asphalt. Be on the lookout! You may also encounter foxes, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, roadrunners and red tailed hawks. The trail finally ends up at Enos lane just north of I-5. Still, in the middle of nowhere.
I started at oak park and rode East toward the Sierras. Nice paved trail with signage and call boxes! Once you get past China Grade Loop, there are 3 parks for you to meander through. Alfred Harrell Highway was not fun to traverse coming back. Once the trail ends at lake Ming, you can hear the cars in the distance on highway 178, but there is no way to get there! You end up in a boy scout campground next to a fenced off golf course. Without a map, IDK how to get to 178 from there.
I rode this trail 5/1/15 to gain 10 miles of Latitude in my quest to cross America (Canada to Mexico) on Rail Trails only. However, it's not possible to connect rail trails themsleves east-west or north - south so I have dropped the "rail" out of the equation---especially because the Kern River Trail is not a Rail Trail. But it behaves like one with reasonable elevation change like rail trails. I did not see any homeless folks as stated in one of the reviews. The trail bed is smooth and fast. I found the eastern half of the trail as interesting/beautiful as the western half. A southwest wind wrecks havoc with average speed if you ride like I did (east-west). There wasn't a drop of water in the Kern River flood plain. It got to 95 degrees but dry air made it tolerable. Take plenty of water
I came over from Ridgecrest and rode about 14 miles of this a couple weeks ago, from the parking area off manor street west to about 2 miles from the I5. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the trail, it is asphalt. At one time it was concrete, you will see the remains of that scraped over to the side into the kern river drainage along the way. What makes the trail fun is that it is essentially flat as a board the entire way so really anyone can enjoy it on a bike from novices on up. The trail can be more 'hilly' towards the eastern end. I have gone out east as far as china grade loop on another occasion but then you have to start using some high speed roads with cars and bailed on that outing. The latest outing i rode on a mtn bike and quickly discovered that for the most part knobby bikes can ride just a few yards off to the side on some nice hard packed dirt. But the trail really shines for roadies i presume. There were some great places to stop and get real food and drink for example there was a shopping area like river walk park to take a break etc. It was very enjoyable and got a good workout as well...highly recommend it
Lots of different scenery for a Easterner such as myself to see. We took pieces of this trail and connected them to the Round the Mountain trail and Panorama Drive sections to coble together a convenient ride. Trail is well kept and the uphills are manageable. Lots of interesting historical relevance of this trail. Well maintained and some good straightaways.
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