What could be better than flying into a remote location and camping out under the stars? One great location for doing this in Southern California is Kern Valley. Nestled in a valley within the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, Kern’s small airport has it’s own campsite that is only accessible by airplane. The site is right next to the Kern River, which is popular for both fly fishing and river rafting.
The campsite is in excellent condition. There is running water, a “very rustic” outdoor shower and bathroom. There is plenty of wood nearby for making that evening campfire for your smores. If you happened to forget something, the airport’s cafe has a car your can rent to drive into town, about 3 miles away. The car is a bargain at $20/day. It’s not pretty to look at, but it gets the job done.
Flying into Kern Valley isn’t difficult, but there are a couple of things to watch out for. The valley is somewhat narrow, so your downwind pattern is a little close to some mountains. The 3,500 foot runway’s elevation is 2,600 feet, so pay attention to your density altitude during the warm summer months.
Kern Valley a fun place to fly into and a great place to camp. I'll be b.
-Bryan Keith, Skycombers member
The campsite is in excellent condition. There is running water, a “very rustic” outdoor shower and bathroom. There is plenty of wood nearby for making that evening campfire for your smores. If you happened to forget something, the airport’s cafe has a car your can rent to drive into town, about 3 miles away. The car is a bargain at $20/day. It’s not pretty to look at, but it gets the job done.
Flying into Kern Valley isn’t difficult, but there are a couple of things to watch out for. The valley is somewhat narrow, so your downwind pattern is a little close to some mountains. The 3,500 foot runway’s elevation is 2,600 feet, so pay attention to your density altitude during the warm summer months.
Kern Valley a fun place to fly into and a great place to camp. I'll be b.
-Bryan Keith, Skycombers member
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