Tobias Creek Trail

2007-09-03

(Created - 2007-09-08)

Pictures from our Memorial Day camping trip to Fairview Campground on the Kern River when I hiked the Tobias Creek Trail. About 60,000 years ago, a glacier flowing down an earthquake slip fault cut the U -shaped Upper Kern Canyon. Looking southward along the Upper Kern Canyon in these pictures you can see how the glacier carved out the canyon, giving it rounded shoulders. Fairview Campground, near the head of the Upper Kern Valley, is the best camping spot in the area. It's set down by the river, well below the road and any traffic noise, with the mountains towering around. The sites are so well planned, it's hard to decide where to camp. Fairview has always been blessed. The Native Americans used it as a fall and spring campground. In the late 1800s, Stony Rhymes and Lucien Barbeau had a cow camp on the bend of the river. In 1910, Matt and Lupie Burlando moved to Fairview and built the Fairview Lodge. They rented rooms to tourists who came for fishing and hunting.

Tobias Creek Trail  (32E34)
 
Started at the north end of the WHISKEY FLAT TRAIL (32E35), at the Fairview foot bridge, paralleling the Kem River.  Along the trail are gradual elevation changes (still paralleling the river) with numerous short steep stretches in and out of side drainages to the Kem River. Views during the summer months might include glimpses of whitewater enthusiasts roaring through the rapids. The area abounds with mixed chaparral brush species, with occasional digger pine and oak trees. There are lots of good fishing spots along this trail. The Whiskey Flat Trail provides little shade and is considered easy to moderate in difficulty.

About ½ mile up the Whiskey Flat Trail is the turn off for the Tobias Creek Trail and the Flynn Canyon Trail - forking off at the top of the hill, the Tobias Creek Trail then descends a short way into Tobias Creek. Here the trail will follow Tobias Creek 1½ to 2 miles. For the next 2-3 miles the trail climbs to the top of Speas Ridge. The trail is in close proximity to the creek bottom, through mixed chaparral and riparian habitat. The trail offers good fishing along the way. It's quite hot and dusty going! Trail is considered moderate to strenuous in difficulty. On this hike I stopped at the creek and enjoyed the water instead of continuing on to Speas Ridge - will go back another time to do the rest of the trail!

2007-09-03_DSC04992 - Fairview Foot Bridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04992 - Fairview Foot Bridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04993 - Fishing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04993 - Fishing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04993a - Fishing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC04993a - Fishing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04994 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04994 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04995 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04995 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04996 - Fairview Footbridge Trailhead - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04996 - Fairview Footbridge Trailhead - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04997 - Fairview Footbridge Trailhead - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04997 - Fairview Footbridge Trailhead - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04998 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04998 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC04999 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC04999 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05000 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05000 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05001 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05001 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05002 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05002 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05003 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05003 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05004 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05004 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
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2007-09-03_DSC05005 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05006 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05006 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05007 - Tobias Creek Trail - Trailhead At Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05007 - Tobias Creek Trail - Trailhead At Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05008 - Kern River, Whiskey Flat Trail - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05008 - Kern River, Whiskey Flat Trail - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05009 - Kern River - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05009 - Kern River - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05010 - Kern River - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05010 - Kern River - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05011 - Kern River - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05011 - Kern River - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05012 - Kern River, Whiskey Flat Trail - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05012 - Kern River, Whiskey Flat Trail - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05013 - Tobias Creek Trail - Junction With Flynn Canyon Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05013 - Tobias Creek Trail - Junction With Flynn Canyon Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05014 - Tobias Creek Trail - Junction With Flynn Canyon Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05014 - Tobias Creek Trail - Junction With Flynn Canyon Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05015 - Scat On Trail - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05015 - Scat On Trail - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05016 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05016 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05017 - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05017 - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05017a - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05017a - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05018b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05018b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05019 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05019 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05020 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05020 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05021 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05021 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05022 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05022 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05023 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05023 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05024 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05024 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05026 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05026 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05027 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05027 - Tobias Creek - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05028b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05028b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05029b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05029b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05030b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05030b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05031 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05031 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05032 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05032 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05033 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05033 - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05034 - Tobias Creek Trail - Junction With Flynn Canyon Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05034 - Tobias Creek Trail - Junction With Flynn Canyon Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05035b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05035b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05036b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes.jpg
2007-09-03_DSC05036b - Eldred Hughes - Tobias Creek Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05037 - Whiskey Flat Trail - Junction With Tobias Creek & Flynn Canyon Trails - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05037 - Whiskey Flat Trail - Junction With Tobias Creek & Flynn Canyon Trails - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05038 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05038 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05039 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05039 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05040 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05040 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05041 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05041 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05042 - House On Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05042 - House On Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05043 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05043 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05044 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05044 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05045 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05045 - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05046 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05046 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05047 - Whiskey Flat Trail - Junction With Tobias Creek & Flynn Canyon Trails - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05047 - Whiskey Flat Trail - Junction With Tobias Creek & Flynn Canyon Trails - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05048 - Fairview Footbridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05048 - Fairview Footbridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05049 - Fairview Footbridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05049 - Fairview Footbridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05050 - Fairview Footbridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05050 - Fairview Footbridge - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05051 - Lady Tubing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05051 - Lady Tubing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05052 - Lady Tubing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05052 - Lady Tubing - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05054 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05054 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes
2007-09-03_DSC05055 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes.JPG
2007-09-03_DSC05055 - Kern River - Whiskey Flat Trail - LowRes