01
Best bluff views in town
Panorama Vista Preserve & Bakersfield Bluffs
Northeast Bakersfield Bluffs • Arid Bluffland Preserve With River Overlooks • Closest True Hike To Benton Park
A network of dusty singletrack along the bluffs with wide Kern River views and easy after-work access from east Bakersfield.
From the top of the bluffs you get one of the clearest looks at how the Kern River cuts through the city, especially at sunrise or just before dusk. The preserve’s crisscrossing trails let you choose anything from a quick leg-stretcher to a longer loop that dips toward the river. Expect little shade and a local crowd of runners, dog walkers, and mountain bikers who treat this as their in-town training ground.
02
Classic Kern River weekend
Hart Memorial Park & Lake Ming Trails
Kern River Canyon Foothills • Lakeside Park With Dirt Singletrack Into The Hills • Best Mix Of Picnic Spot And Hike
Gentle lakefront strolls meet steeper hill trails, making Hart Park a go-to for families who want both a hike and a place to hang out.
Start with an easy walk along the water and then peel off onto one of the dirt paths that climb into the surrounding hills for views back toward Bakersfield. The climbs are short but can be surprisingly steep, so you can get a real workout in a compact loop. Post-hike, the picnic tables, shade trees, and nearby Lake Ming make it an easy place to linger with friends or kids.
03
Easiest car-free outing
Kern River Parkway Trail
Kern River Greenbelt Through Central Bakersfield • Paved Multi-Use Path With Access To Dirt Side Trails • Best Urban Escape On Foot Or Bike
A long, mostly flat path that threads along the Kern River, ideal for relaxed walks, runs, and bike rides right from the city grid.
Sections of the parkway trail near downtown and Beach Park are an easy reach from Benton Park, so you can be on the river in minutes. While the main path is paved, unpaved side routes lead closer to the water and into more natural stretches of riparian habitat. It’s less about summit views and more about having a simple, car-free way to log miles under cottonwoods and willows.
04
Most dramatic spring landscape
Wind Wolves Preserve – San Emigdio Canyon
San Emigdio Mountains South Of Bakersfield • Expansive Private Preserve With Wide Canyon Trails • Best Spring Wildflower Hike
A broad canyon walk through rolling grasslands that often explode with color in a good wildflower year.
About an hour’s drive from Benton Park, Wind Wolves feels far wilder than its distance suggests. The San Emigdio Canyon Trail follows a gentle grade between steep hillsides, with side paths that climb to big views over the preserve. In spring, carpets of lupine and poppies turn the slopes into a patchwork of color, while cooler months offer quiet, wide-open walking with frequent wildlife sightings.
05
Best day trip into the mountains
Trail of 100 Giants
Western Sierra Nevada Above Kern River • High-Country Forest Loop Among Giant Sequoias • Iconic Sequoia Grove Excursion
A short, mostly easy loop weaving through a dense stand of giant sequoias, perfect when you want a big payoff without a strenuous climb.
This trail in Giant Sequoia National Monument turns a drive up from Bakersfield into a memorable mountain day. Boardwalks and well-graded paths wind between massive trees, some as wide as a small house, with plenty of stopping points for photos and quiet breaks. Pair it with a picnic or a stop at turnouts along the Kern River road and it becomes a full, satisfying escape from the valley heat.