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Keysville Special Recreation Management Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Keysville Special Recreation Management Area

The Keysville Special Recreation Management Area is located near the town of Lake Isabella, not far from Bakersfield, Sequoia National Forest, and Sequoia National Park. The area was once used for mining, and visitors can still spot old mining structures, including Walker Cabin. The area is bisected by the Kern River, which offers excellent rafting, fishing, and boating opportunities and creates a habitat for many bird and animal species. Some visitors also pan for gold.

Many BLM sites like the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area are designated to protect historic locations and artifacts. These areas of public land are also designated to preserve natural spaces and protect wildlife and plants. To find BLM sites, search for “BLM camping near me.”

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Keysville Peak Trail

This trail in the special recreation management area offers stunning views, and it is quiet and secluded.

Length: 2.3 miles

Intensity: Moderate

White Rock Trail

This short trail in the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area offers beautiful views and, because it’s relatively remote, provides wonderful opportunities to spot wildlife.

Length: 0.9 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Kern River Trail

Popular for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, this trail follows the river and is also ideal for bird-watching.

Length: 6.2 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Isabella Lake Trail

This gentle trail in Sequoia National Forest offers beautiful views of the lake, and it is pet-friendly.

Length: 1.2 miles

Intensity: Easy

Lower Keysville Loop Hike

This trail offers some challenging uphill sections but provides excellent views of the landscape.

Length: 4.1 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Fishing and Boating

The Kern River is a great location for fishing, boating, and rafting. Anglers can often catch rainbow trout. Trout are also a common catch in nearby Lake Isabella. Anglers can catch and keep up to five trout per day.

Climbing

The Lower Kern Canyon offers several excellent rock-climbing opportunities. The area known as The Mouth provides seven traditional, sport, top rope, and bouldering routes. The Roadside Crag, which is a 40-foot granite slab, offers four traditional, sport, and top rope routes. There are also several nearby areas that offer fantastic bouldering options.

Wildlife Viewing

Visitors can often spot wild animals right in the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area. Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest are also fantastic wildlife-spotting areas. Animals native to the area include skunks, gophers, black bears, foxes, bobcats, quail, snakes, woodpeckers, newts, and lizards.

Picnicking

The Lower Richbar Picnic Site in Sequoia National Forest is a great option for picnicking and day use. The site offers picnic tables and restrooms. Lake Ming near Bakersfield is also a fantastic place for a picnic. There are picnic tables and grills along the lake’s edge, and the area also offers playgrounds, drinking fountains, and restrooms.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

Excellent regular and BLM RV camping can be found throughout the area around the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area. Haven RV Park offers shaded spaces and full hookups, and it can accommodate RVs up to 60 feet long. Paradise Cove Campground in Sequoia National Forest is another fantastic option. Although the amenities in the campground are limited, the views are gorgeous. Lake Isabella RV Resort is also a good choice and offers full hookups, a pool, showers, and barbecue pits.

Free Camping

Bureau of Land Management free camping is available right at the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area. Visitors can set up a dispersed site and are allowed to stay for up to two weeks. The Hanning Flat Dispersed Area in Sequoia National Forest is another excellent choice. This free camping area is located on the shores of Lake Isabella, and it is open all year.

RV Rentals Near Keysville Special Recreation Management Area Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Keysville Special Recreation Management Area BLM trip

There are north and south entrances for the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area. The south entrance is for camping use and also provides river access. The north entrance also provides camping options and has a space for OHV staging. This entrance also offers access to the area’s trails. The trails in the area are multi-use. Motorized riders will need to give way to all other trail users, and mountain bikers should yield to pedestrians and horseback riders.

Although the Kern River is great for fishing and provides beautiful views, swimming is discouraged. The river is extremely fast and deep, and the calm water or the surface can be deceptive. Always be very careful when hiking or fishing around the river’s edge. If you plan to boat, kayak, canoe, or raft along the river, always wear a lifejacket.

Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace and tread lightly guidelines ask visitors to throw away all trash or, if there are no trash cans readily available, pack out trash and dispose of it properly later. When enjoying a natural area, stay on trails as much as possible. This limits your footprint on plants and the landscape. Bureau of Land Management campgrounds can also be protected by practicing fire safety and taking precautions when using a fire pit, ring, or barbecue grill. Keep all fires controlled, and make sure the fire coals are cold when you’re ready to leave the area. Stay up to date on any fire bans or regulations in the area.

Keysville Special Recreation Management Area Location

From Lake Isabella, head toward the junction of CA-178 and CA-155. Take Exit 155 for CA-155. Continue for about 0.6 miles. The south entrance for the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area is on the left or west side of the road, just before you cross the Kern River. The north entrance is also on the left and is just past the river, about another 0.4 miles past the south entrance.

Ready to visit Keysville Special Recreation Management Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.

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Keysville Special Recreation Management Area

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Keysville Peak Trail

White Rock Trail

Kern River Trail

Isabella Lake Trail

Lower Keysville Loop Hike

Fishing and Boating

Climbing

Wildlife Viewing

Picnicking

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

Free Camping

RV Rentals Near Keysville Special Recreation Management Area Plan your next adventure

Planning your Keysville Special Recreation Management Area BLM trip

Leave No Trace

Keysville Special Recreation Management Area Location

Nearby BLM Locations

See All BLM Campsites by State

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