Golden Trout Pack Station

 kern flat trips

The Upper Kern River is a Wild and Scenic River holding native and heritage populations of Kern River Rainbows. Kern Flat itself is an extremely scenic camp site; terrain is more open than further north where the river begins to narrow in the canyon near “the Hazards”. You will find a hiking trail along the Kern that continues south for nearly six miles to Forks of the Kern and three miles north to Nine-mile Creek to fish along with excellent fishing and swimming holes. Painters Camp, our second location, is only a two hour ride from Kern Flats; if you continue north and cross Nine-mile Creek it leads you to a secluded cabin and facilities managed by the Forest Service, with a picnic area overlooking a beautiful bend in the Kern, this camp also offers great opportunity for fishing.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• saddle horse and equipment including saddle bags

• pack mules

• professional and knowledgeable packers/wranglers

• 3 hearty meals a day, snacks and desserts

• emergency equipment, including first aid kit and satellite device

• camp gear including: shower, toilet, tables, camp chairs

• fly fishing guide (optional, extra expense)

PACKING LIST

• tent

• sleeping bag

• sleeping pad

• brimmed hat

• bandana

• lightweight gloves

• riding/hiking boots

• warm layers for early or late season trips

• sunglasses

• reusable water bottle

• rain jacket

• fishing gear/hard case for fishing rods

• duffle bags

• headlamp

• binoculars

• personal toiletries

• wash cloth and small pack towel

• guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20%)

Gear should not exceed 50 pounds per person and should be packed in 1-2 duffel bags (if two, please make them similar size and weights). You may carry a small day pack with you on the horse that should not exceed 15 pounds (for your comfort and your horses).

meals

Meals are very important to GTWP. We use as much fresh vegetables, fruits, breads, and meats as possible. Our backcountry menu has a variety of gourmet and classics; hearty quiches and fruit for breakfast, light deli or chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, stuffed porkchops and sides for dinner, followed by a decadent pineapple upside down cake cooked fireside. That’s just one example of what a day of meals may look like.

Dietary needs?

If you have certain dietary needs including vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free meals and snacks, please feel free to discuss these with us. We can help customize 3 course meals to keep you packed with energy for your wilderness horseback pack trip.

WHAT ABOUT THE ALCOHOL?

GTWP does not provide alcohol but will happily pack as much in as you would like.

LOGISTICS

WHERE DO WE MEET?

We pack in from the Lewis Camp Trailhead. Luckily, the pack station is located one mile down the road from the trailhead parking lot. We ask that guests come up the night before their pack trip and lodge with us because we get started early the next morning. We provide lodge meals and accommodations for an extra cost. Alternatively, guests can come up to the pack station the morning of, but we ask guests to be here by 5:30 AM, so we can sort and pack your gear and get you on the trail by 7-8 AM.

GUIDES, GROUP SIZES AND AGE/WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS?

• We have a 1:5 ratio; 1 wrangler/guide to five animals, with a maximum of 6 guests (specific to this trip) and 3 guides

• Kids must be 6 or older to join a pack trip. Some exceptions available (porter or stock assist) with final approval from GTWP

• Guests must not weigh more than 250 pounds and must not have any serious physical or medical health issues prior to trip that could affect safety. Guests weighing more than 250 pounds can be accommodated on a case by case basis and depending on availability of riding mules

BOOKING

Email us (steve.gtwp@gmail.com), or press the button below and fill out the form to start the conversation.