## EMERGENCY CLOSURE 01/25/2023

Keysville Beach Road and Keysville Beach have been closed until further notice
due to serious erosion along the road. The affected area is Keysville Beach
and Keysville Beach Road. The rest of the SRMA remains open.

##

## Overview

Keysville (formerly Keyesville) is a historic mining area that offers a wide
variety of recreational opportunities. Set in rolling terrain amidst a blue
oak and foothill pine woodland, Keysville is dissected by the lower Kern
River. A little exploration can turn up a wealth of historic resources,
including a variety of mining structures and features, a historic fort, and
the famous Walker Cabin. Keysville offers commercial and noncommercial white-
water rafting opportunities as well as fishing, recreational gold panning, and
dispersed camping. A network of over seventy miles of trails provides for
mountain biking, equestrian, and motorized recreation use.  
  
All motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails. For a map of
Keysville area designated routes, see
https://www.blm.gov/documents/california/public-room/map/keysville-recreation-
management-area.  
  
**Attention:** Swimming in the area is discouraged. Use extreme caution around
the river's edge and ALWAYS use a life jacket when boating.

Last Updated 1/30/2023

<h2>EMERGENCY CLOSURE 01/25/2023</h2>

<p>Keysville Beach Road and Keysville Beach have been closed until further notice due to serious erosion along the road. The affected area is Keysville Beach and Keysville Beach Road. The rest of the SRMA remains open.</p>

<h2> </h2>

<h2>Overview</h2>

<p>Keysville (formerly Keyesville) is a historic mining area that offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Set in rolling terrain amidst a blue oak and foothill pine woodland, Keysville is dissected by the lower Kern River. A little exploration can turn up a wealth of historic resources, including a variety of mining structures and features, a historic fort, and the famous Walker Cabin. Keysville offers commercial and noncommercial white-water rafting opportunities as well as fishing, recreational gold panning, and dispersed camping. A network of over seventy miles of trails provides for mountain biking, equestrian, and motorized recreation use.<br/>
<br/>
All motorized use is limited to designated roads and trails. For a map of Keysville area designated routes, see <a href="https://www.blm.gov/documents/california/public-room/map/keysville-recreation-management-area" rel="nofollow">https://www.blm.gov/documents/california/public-room/map/keysville-recreation-management-area</a>.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Attention:</b> Swimming in the area is discouraged. Use extreme caution around the river's edge and ALWAYS use a life jacket when boating.</p>

<p>Last Updated 1/30/2023</p>

Bird's eye view of the park

Keysville Special Recreation Management Area

Kiavah Wilderness encompasses the eroded hills, canyons, and bajadas (lower
slopes) of the Scodie Mountains and parts of the Sequoia National Forest. A
unique mix of plant and animal species occurs within this transition zone
between the Mojave Desert and Sierra Nevada. Desert plants such as creosote
bush, Joshua tree, burrobush, and shadscale may be found in close association
with pinyon pine, juniper, canyon oak, and digger/grey pine. The vegetation
mosaic over a small geographic area provides habitat for a great diversity of
wildlife, including raptors, the yellow-eared pocket mouse, a variety of
lizards, and a number of migrant and resident bird species. This scenic
wilderness is a favorite destination for hikers and equestrians.

Kiavah Wilderness encompasses the eroded hills, canyons, and bajadas (lower slopes) of the Scodie Mountains and parts of the Sequoia National Forest. A unique mix of plant and animal species occurs within this transition zone between the Mojave Desert and Sierra Nevada. Desert plants such as creosote bush, Joshua tree, burrobush, and shadscale may be found in close association with pinyon pine, juniper, canyon oak, and digger/grey pine. The vegetation mosaic over a small geographic area provides habitat for a great diversity of wildlife, including raptors, the yellow-eared pocket mouse, a variety of lizards, and a number of migrant and resident bird species. This scenic wilderness is a favorite destination for hikers and equestrians.

Kiavah Wilderness

Bright Star Canyon encloses Kelso Creek and leaves Sequoia National Forest to
cross the southern portion of the Bureau of Land Management's Bright Star
Wilderness. In the northwestern portion, Cortez Canyon has been carved out of
the Kelso Mountains. In the northeastern portion, Kelso Peak stands at 5,090
feet with drainages falling off to the north, south, and east.

Elevations range from 3,000’ near the floor of Kelso Valley to over 5,800’ on
the highest ridges and peaks. In mid-summer, day-time temperature can exceed
100oF before cooling off at night. In winter, higher elevations are often
covered with snow and in years of adequate precipitation, wildflowers cover
the slopes in stunning displays of color. The upper slopes are dotted with
piñon pine and juniper, while the lower slopes are brushy and broken by large
granite outcroppings. The valley below is boulder-strewn and dense with Joshua
trees. Here the Mojave Desert meets the Sierra Nevada, allowing for a wide
variety of wildlife. These include hundreds of bird species, black bear,
coyote, mountain lion, and bobcat. Mule deer, chukar, mountain quail, and
California quail also inhabit the area. Eagles, hawks, and other raptors nest
in the large cottonwoods and on the cliffs.

Visitors should note that there are no designated trails for backpackers and
the entire Wilderness lies within the Bureau of Land Management's Jawbone-
Butterbredt Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Page Break

For more information about this wilderness, please visit Wilderness Connect.

##  Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in
different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). For more
information on any of the principles listed below, please visit Leave No
Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

  * Plan Ahead and Prepare
  * Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  * Dispose of Waste Properly
  * Leave What You Find
  * Minimize Campfire Impacts
  * Respect Wildlife
  * Be Considerate of Other Visitors

## Rules and Regulations

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are generally
prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the
use of motor vehicles (including OHVs), motorboats, motorized equipment,
bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of
aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation.
In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or
mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a
specific area. Contact the agency for more information about regulations.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/49910742506/in/dateposted/" title="Bright Star Wilderness" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49910742506_a7ddda43c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="324" alt="Bright Star Wilderness"></a> 

 
Bright Star Canyon encloses Kelso Creek and leaves Sequoia National Forest to cross the southern portion of the Bureau of Land Management's Bright Star Wilderness. In the northwestern portion, Cortez Canyon has been carved out of the Kelso Mountains. In the northeastern portion, Kelso Peak stands at 5,090 feet with drainages falling off to the north, south, and east. 
<p> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/49911042357/in/photostream/" title="Bright Star Wilderness" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49911042357_9c63238a4e_w.jpg" width="400" height="267" alt="Bright Star Wilderness"></a><p> 
Elevations range from 3,000’ near the floor of Kelso Valley to over 5,800’ on the highest ridges and peaks. In mid-summer, day-time temperature can exceed 100oF before cooling off at night. In winter, higher elevations are often covered with snow and in years of adequate precipitation, wildflowers cover the slopes in stunning displays of color. The upper slopes are dotted with piñon pine and juniper, while the lower slopes are brushy and broken by large granite outcroppings. The valley below is boulder-strewn and dense with Joshua trees. Here the Mojave Desert meets the Sierra Nevada, allowing for a wide variety of wildlife. These include hundreds of bird species, black bear, coyote, mountain lion, and bobcat. Mule deer, chukar, mountain quail, and California quail also inhabit the area. Eagles, hawks, and other raptors nest in the large cottonwoods and on the cliffs. 
<p> 
Visitors should note that there are no designated trails for backpackers and the entire Wilderness lies within the Bureau of Land Management's Jawbone-Butterbredt Area of Critical Environmental Concern. 

 

Page Break
 

<p>  

  

For more information about this wilderness, please visit <a href="https://wilderness.net" rel="nofollow">Wilderness Connect</a>.  

  

<p>   

  

<h2> Leave No Trace </h2><p>   

  

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). For more information on any of the principles listed below, please visit Leave No Trace, <a href="https://lnt.org/" rel="nofollow">Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.</a><p>   

  

<ul><li>Plan Ahead and Prepare</li>   

  

<li>Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces</li>   

  

<li>Dispose of Waste Properly</li>   

  

<li>Leave What You Find</li>   

  

<li>Minimize Campfire Impacts</li>   

  

<li>Respect Wildlife</li>   

  

<li>Be Considerate of Other Visitors</li></ul><p>   

  

<p>   

  

<h2>Rules and Regulations</h2><p>   

  

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles (including OHVs), motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation. In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a specific area. Contact the agency for more information about regulations.

Keysville Special Recreation Management Area

EMERGENCY CLOSURE 01/25/2023

Overview

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Kiavah Wilderness

Bright Star Wilderness