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Caliente–Bodfish Road, Walker Basin, California
Photo: Mike Guy · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives California The Southern Sierra

Caliente–Bodfish Road

Caliente Bodfish Road, Caliente-Bodfish Road · Caliente → Bodfish

Intense30 mi55 min4,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 4,300 ftOne way
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The drive

Caliente–Bodfish Road is the old way up from the Tehachapi side to the Kern River Valley, a Kern County road that grew out of a stage road to the Kern River gold diggings. It leaves Caliente and climbs the Lion's Trail, a stretch up Oiler Canyon with so many curves and steep grades that it earned the name, to Walker Basin, a wide ranching valley.

Across the basin it climbs again to Havilah, a gold camp from 1864 that was the county seat when Kern County was formed in 1866. Then the road crosses one more pass and winds down to Bodfish, just south of Lake Isabella. From Bodfish, the Kern River Canyon drive on Highway 178 is the quick way back to Bakersfield.

Along the way

  1. Caliente
  2. Havilah
  3. Bodfish
Elevation
4,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 4,300 ft
CalienteBodfish
Curves
Mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches
CalienteBodfish
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • It's narrow, with sharp curves and steep grades, especially on the Lion's Trail climb out of Caliente.
  • It's a county road (Kern County Road 483), and Kern County Public Works posts closures, which can follow winter storms.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Kern County Public Works.

Questions about this drive

How long does Caliente–Bodfish Road take?

Caliente–Bodfish Road from Caliente to Bodfish is 30.1 miles and takes about 55 minutes.

Is Caliente–Bodfish Road twisty?

Yes. Caliente–Bodfish Road is a narrow county road with steep grades and three twisty stretches, the first on the Lion's Trail climb out of Caliente.

What is there to see on Caliente–Bodfish Road?

Caliente–Bodfish Road crosses the ranch country of Walker Basin and passes Havilah, the gold camp that was Kern County's first county seat.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Caliente–Bodfish Road, from Caliente to Bodfish