01
Best overall pick
Wind Wolves Preserve
South Of Taft Along Ca-166 • Large Conservation Preserve With Creekside And Canyon Trails • Best Overall Hike Near Taft
A sprawling preserve with well-marked trails, year-round wildlife, and some of the most varied terrain within a short drive of Taft.
Wind Wolves is where many Taft locals go when they want a full day on dirt without a long road trip. You can keep things easy on the flat Meadow and Tule Elk loops or follow San Emigdio Canyon upstream for a longer outing with seasonal water, shaded stretches, and wide-open views back toward the valley. Come early in spring for wildflowers and cooler temperatures, and always pack extra water and sun protection because the open sections can feel hotter than the forecast suggests.
02
Best for easy views
Soda Lake Area, Carrizo Plain National Monument
Carrizo Plain, West Of Taft • Salt-Flat Boardwalks And Short Hill Walks • Best Mellow Outing With Big Scenery
Short boardwalk and overlook paths give you huge sky, shimmering Soda Lake views, and, in good years, legendary wildflower color.
The Soda Lake boardwalk and overlook trails turn a drive out to Carrizo Plain into an easy, high-reward stroll. The walking is gentle but the landscape feels surprisingly remote, with wide horizons, bird life on the flats, and, in strong bloom years, carpets of color rolling up the surrounding hillsides. There is little shade or water, so treat it like a desert outing and plan your visit for the cooler hours of the day.
03
Best long ridge hike
Caliente Ridge Trail
Caliente Range Above Carrizo Plain • Remote Ridge Trail With Expansive Valley And Mountain Views • Best For Strong Hikers Seeking Solitude
A rolling ridge route that trades effort for big-sky panoramas over Carrizo Plain, the Temblor Range, and distant ranges on clear days.
If you want something more committing than a boardwalk, Caliente Ridge offers miles of up-and-down singletrack and old road along a high, windy spine. The views reach across Soda Lake to the Temblor Range and back toward the San Joaquin Valley, and the higher elevation can feel noticeably cooler than Taft on hot days. Road conditions to the trailhead can be rough after storms, and there is no water on route, so this one is best for prepared hikers comfortable with remote, exposed terrain.
04
Best history-and-nature combo
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Trails
Grapevine / Tejon Pass Area • Oak-Studded Hills With Short Interpretive Trails • Best Family-Friendly Half-Day
Easy loops through old oaks and historic army buildings make this a relaxed hike when you want scenery without a deep backcountry commitment.
Fort Tejon pairs short hillside walks with a well-preserved 19th-century Army post, making it a good choice when you are hiking with mixed-ability groups. Trails wind through grassy, oak-dotted slopes with enough elevation gain for light exercise, and you can dip into the shaded parade grounds and exhibits when the sun is high. Weather at the pass can swing from hot to surprisingly chilly or even snowy in winter, so check conditions before you leave Taft.
05
Best close-to-town dirt trails
Panorama Vista Preserve
Along The Kern River In Northeast Bakersfield • Urban-Edge Preserve With River Bluffs And Singletrack • Best After-Work Or Short-Window Hike
A network of mellow dirt paths atop the bluff lets you stretch your legs, catch sunset over the Kern River, and still be back in Taft for dinner.
When you want real dirt but do not have time for a full-day outing, Panorama Vista is an easy compromise. The crisscrossing trails along the bluff offer quick ups and downs, views toward the river corridor, and enough route options to turn a 30-minute leg-stretcher into a solid workout. It is popular with runners and dog walkers and has very little shade, so it feels best in the cooler months or in the last hour of light.