About Kern National Wildlife Refuge
For thousands of years, California's Central Valley has provided habitat for millions of waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland dependent species. The southern portion of the Central Valley, known as the San Joaquin Valley, once contained numerous lakes and marshes comprising over 800,000 acres of natural wetlands, the largest freshwater marsh in the western United States. Kern NWR is managed as part of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.Other refuges in the Kern NWR Complex include the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge and the Tulare Wildlife Management Area. The refuge complex headquarters is located at 10811 Corcoran Road, Delano, California 93215.
How to Get There
Traveling North or South from I-5, take exit 278 for CA-46E towards Wasco. Drive for 4.5 miles then turn left onto Corcoran Rd. In 10 miles, the Refuge Headquarters will be on your left. If you are traveling on CA-99 North, take exit 56 towards Glennville/Central Delano.Turn right onto Fremont St, then turn right onto Garces HWY and the refuge headquarters will be 19 miles straight ahead. If you are traveling on CA-99 South, take exit 56 towards Glennville/Central Delano. Turn left onto Ellington St, then turn right onto Garces HWY and the refuge headquarters will be 19 miles straight ahead.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Kern National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Kern National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Kern National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1452) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Kern National Wildlife Refuge?
Traveling North or South from I-5, take exit 278 for CA-46E towards Wasco. Drive for 4.5 miles then turn left onto Corcoran Rd. In 10 miles, the Refuge Headquarters will be on your left. If you are traveling on CA-99 North, take exit 56 towards Glennville/Central Delano.Turn right onto Fremont St, then turn right onto Garces HWY and the refuge headquarters will be 19 miles straight ahead. If you a…
How do I contact Kern National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 661-725-2767 or email: Dave_Hardt@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
