The Wildlands Conservancy’s Wind Wolves Preserve

There entrance to the preserve can be easy to miss. Once you enter the preserve drive pass by the Administrative Hacienda building off to the right. Drive a little further up the road until you reach the main parking lot. Nearby there is a nice picnic area, a small «waterfall» and a pond. The waterfall seen in the photos is much smaller in person than it appears in photos.
From the parking area you can hike or bike up the San Emigdio Canyon Trail or on the weekends you can take the free shuttle up the canyon. The shuttle departs every Saturday and Sunday from the main canyon parking lot at 8:30am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm. It goes approx. five miles up the canyon to the northern most trailhead, El Camino Viejo Wilderness Trailhead.
The park has a number of different well-​marked hiking trails that all branch off from San Emigdio Canyon. While on the trails you may pass through tree tunnels, cross over small creeks and bridges, view wild flowers and even come across the endangered Bakersfield cactus. You may see colorful algae growing on rocks and even spot a bed rock mortar. There an old Indian village site Near Raven’s Landing. You can also hike to the Tule Elk Viewing Area and possibly spot some of the preserve’s repopulated elk.
The park is open 8am-​6pm daily. It was interesting to learn that name «Wind Wolves Preserve» comes from the preserve’s rolling grasslands which resemble a pack of wild wolves. I recommend visiting during the greener months, from November through April. When I went it was a little on the brown side. They have various monthly «Weekend Wonders» events that sound like fun. Lastly, the closest place to eat is a far away Subway that is attached to a gas station located off the freeway so be sure to pack your own food.

It is beautiful here and there are a few trails to take that are not very difficult. The mountains are breathtaking.
Hours are 8am-​6pm.
DO grab a map at the visitor’s center so you can see where you are going and you can use the restroom. You can sign into a sheet there too — safety feature? Staff when you see them at the center are very friendly and will answer any questions. They truly care about the land, plants, animals and protection of same.
We found the trails to not be very well marked themselves. There are several picnic tables around if you need to stop and recharge with a snack.
You can bring your dog — keep on leash at all times, stick to the trails and pick up after your pet. But…
*PLEASE NOTE — our dog caught ticks as well as another dog I know of there same-​day (long grass) there so CHECK your dogs deep into their fur, bathe them if possible as soon as you get home*
Good walking shoes are of course a must, and bring lots of water.
I will go back again but will leave sadly my pup at home, just in case.
Free to hike but always recommended to leave a donation in the boxes so it can stay open forever!

I went camping here with a group of friends. Loved it! It’s free to camp, all you have to do is call their office to make a reservation. 2 tents allowed on 1 camp ground. They have rest rooms very near the camp ground and around the trails. They are actually very clean! I had more fun camping than hiking. Wish there was more trees but that’s what we kind of signed up for which is more of this type of terrain hike.

Decided to come check this place out on Easter Sunday and was scared that it wouldn’t be open but it was! My husband and I went up this long, fun, and beautiful trail that once you get to this certain height, there’s a log bench were you can rest up and take pictures. The view is amazing. If you’re feeling more adventurous you can keep going further up. We for sure did and it was awesome. Decided to take a shortcut and go off trail and that was very scary. Never again are we taking shortcuts they are scary and we diffidently learned our lesson. Stay on track and go early so you can take your time :) oh and also make sure to wear sun block I for sure came back really sun burned. :/
I’m bringing back my whole family next time so we can bbq and take a hike :)
P.s please make sure to keep the restrooms clean for everyone to use. And make those generous donations!

The place is awesome! Well preserved and clean. The staff were so nice and organize! Hiking trails are wide and fun. …our dog Jordan made it to the top of the mountain and we survived the stiff train! Heaven on top!

Didn’t have time to go hiking on an impromptu passing-​through trip but lucked into a seasonal weekend shuttle that loops through the canyon three times a day to check the place out. It’s not really a tour but is for hikers to be dropped off or picked up. Still, our driver was a naturalist who was really knowledgeable about the park. The main San Emigdio canyon and surrounding hills were gloriously green from recent rains, and there were wildflowers washing some hillsides with yellow and orange. Outside the canyon closer to Maricopa Highway is a relatively short, flat wildflower viewing (walking) loop, but grasses there had mostly already gone to seed and were turning brownish, and we saw hardly any flowers. Seemed to be a whole different microclimate than inside the canyon. We also didn’t see any tule elk, but there was a flock of domestic sheep munching away on the grass.
Hikers should know that walking off-​trail is not permitted (since it’s a grasslands preserve, you don’t stomp on what they’re saving, plus there are snakes – our driver even got out of the van to move one off the road). There are some shady areas with picnic tables but most trails appeared to be in full sun. Biikers and hikers share the gravel roadway with the shuttle (not sure about dirt paths). Nice place, and totally uncrowded.

Such a wonderful experience. My sister and I did the full moon hike as our first time there it was challenging being in the dark and slipping on rocks but it was incredible none the less. The guides are super educated on the surroundings and you can tell they truly enjoy their jobs I mean who wouldn’t right it’s gorgeous!
Will definitely go back take a picnic and enjoy the beauty that offers.
Don’t forget to donate !!!

Great place to go on a conditioning hike/​run or just to get out of the house. I spent a lot of time out here going up and down the steep hills while training for my climb to Kilimanjaro. I really like the fact that this place has multiple trails with varying levels of difficulty. The spring brings with it plenty of wild flowers; which are nice to look at, but can also drive your allergies wild. I prefer to hike in the fall when the cool breeze makes hiking more enjoyable. I usually take the San Emigdio Trail which starts off at around 1600 feet. At Mile 3 (by the bike racks) I cut across the floor of the canyon, through the dried riverbed, and climb to the top of the canyon wall to about 2700 feet. Go through the cattle gate and the trail hits its maximum height of 3000 feet while it loops down to the canyon floor. If you take the Camino Viejo (aka access road) down, you’ll cover approximately 9 miles.
Although the signs say that there’s mountain lions, black bears, and rattlesnakes in the area, I have yet to see any. I have heard of people encountering rattlers during the warmer months, so proceed with caution. I have seen bobcats and plenty of deer, but most were quite a distance away.

I am writing this without camping here, but…
I can’t believe this place has been here and I didn’t even hike here during my whole life living in Bakersfield! My sister, our dogs, and I loved this place. We wish we could have stayed longer, well actually we wish we would have started earlier in the day. If you want to get some fresh air and beautiful scenery, come here! The hikes can be strenuous or easy you choose — great for all ages. I’d recommend bringing a backpack with water and snacks though (just make sure to take your trash with you — is hate for this place to be ruined by inconsiderate trash droppers).
I can’t wait to come back and try to go on one of the hiking tours — I hear they are free too :)

A Kern Country gem! Hate on Bakersfield all you want but a place as cool as this doesn’t exist in your stuck up micro-​greens eating city. I wouldn’t recommend coming here in summertime in less you are a reptile and enjoy 110° days. That being said in the spring it’s green and the weather is very comfortable. Come here with the kiddos, there are some trails that you can easily bring a stroller on and plenty of places to stop and picnic (tables, bathrooms, shade) and just enjoy this beautiful place and your family/​friends. The workers at the welcome center are very knowledgeable and can give you some great advice on what hike to do that day. Check it out.

It’s a bit of a drive out of Bakersfield and can be a doozy to find, but it’s worth it if you like hiking!

This is Bakersfield’s best kept secret. I learned about this beautiful nature preserve during a Unilocal event (blue moon night hike), and I visited again today for the preserve’s bird hike. Our nature guide took us on trails that were closed off to the general public, and she provided us with binoculars to see the birds in detail. She also did a great job educating us on the history of the preserve as well as the native plants in the area. We even got the opportunity to pick berries and seeds for replanting! So cool! During our hike, we got to see coyotes, deer, chipmunks, squirrels, stink bugs, bear scat, but favorite part of the hike was spotting a road runner, red tail hawk, and squirrel running around with a melon in his hands – Ha! Such a fun-​filled adventure! Don’t think twice about visiting this place… just go. You’ll have no regrets :)

Perfect for «the hills are alive» moment like Julie Andrews did in the sound of music with its rolling hills and bewitching view just like it was in the movie, just kidding; but in all seriousness exploring and hiking is perfect at Wind Wolves Preserve, owing to the fact that its FREE to all visitors first of all, but also this beauty, bountiful, big, spacious, terraneous land is made for everyone to stimulate their eyes, smell the freshness of the air, while getting that good workout and sampling the real life nature with the convenience of it being not too far from civilization, only 30 – 45 minutes from the city of Bakersfield (depending how fast your drive). If you are not from Bakersfield and this city seems alien to you, using the GPS to get here would be wise. Also plan 1 – 3 hours of your day to hike here.
Dressing well would be helpful– no stilettos and suits please, this is where you want to wear comfy hiking gear and comfortable walking shoes, plus a hat if you come here on a hot summers day, and bringing snacks (such as sandwich, protein bars, nuts and fruits), and water bottle (1.5 litters) would be the smart thing to do since there isn’t a restaurants for at least 10 miles. The visitors centre has a proper civilized clean bathroom for you to use, so don’t rush into thinking that you need to tinkle and do your big business in the bushes.
It would also be helpful for those of you prone to getting bug-​bites from insidious insects such as mosquitos and ticks to dab insect repellents, so that these vampire bugs know you are off limits. There is a visitors centre with people who would guide you and explain the park, so dont worry you are in good hands if you enter the park during the legal opening time of 8am to 5pm.
Do remember that this is nature, so expect encounters with wild animals such as rattlesnakes, bob cats, tarantulas, mountain lions, scorpions, deers, raccoons, eagles, mice, ground squirrels, stink bugs and many more. Now don’t fret too fast, the likeliness of you actually seeing these animals are rare– I haven’t seen any dangerous animals yet, this is after all not a zoo where the animals are waiting for you to view. Plus, as much as you want to see them, they don’t want to see you, they are after all running their privates lives here and possibly busy hunting to eat each other.
The hike itself depends on the trails you choose, but in my experience– the loop trail around the creek was not a difficult hiking trail, its quite manageable for even beginners.
This wildlife is Free for all, but donations are greatly appreciated, even a dollar per visit would be helpful, to keep this wildlife open for generations to come. Oh and by the way there is a seasonal wildflower and wildlife viewing tours by vehicles. For more information on specific dates, call them at (661) 858‑1115.
In my opinion the visitors centre is just gorgeous with its Spanish mansion architecture, its clean and well kept; the visitors centre is also a great facilitie for events and weddings, and as I have mentioned they have a civilized bathroom. The park is perfect to visit all year round, although the prime months to visit is during March to May (during the spring season). But don’t abandon your plans and wait till spring to visit now just because its winter or summer, doesn’t mean this park is less terrific, its still going to be beautiful to visit all year round, just dress accordingly to season.
There is no hesitation that I would be back to this amazing Free park because there is nothing like it in the world, the central cali is lucky to have so many national parks, this one is unique in its own way and worth the visit.

Wow! What a gem and beauty this area is! How lucky we are to live in such a state where we can drive 20 minutes and be welcomed with such nature and wild life free of charge! Park, hike, camp, picnic, join a group walk, take a tour, get out and LIVE! Wish there was more water and the. Agh room I went in had toilet paper, but regardless, I fell in love today! It was a wonderful trip and can’t wait to go back; maybe even with my kindergarten class for a field trip; which they do often! Respect!

This place is amazing, many trails to choose from. Ranging from easy hikes to tough very sweaty hikes. Great views, wild life, birds, elk. We did not see any snakes or Mtn lions.
Keep in mind during summer time the grassy areas have fox tails that stick to your socks. I didn’t deal with that issue since I wore pants.
There are several squirrel holes so whatch your step so you don’t twist your ankle. Also keep in mind it is a bad idea to break in some new underwear during a long hike lol.
Can’t wait to go back soon…

I went hiking today with my dog and the area was so beautiful and peaceful. I did the mountain view trail which was challenging for a beginner but was a lot of fun. I cannot wait to come back!

This place is beautiful. Me and my family was looking for something to do and found this gem. This was my first hiking trip and surely not the last. My daughter went on field trip and said it was great and she was right. I feel like I got a good cardio workout and enjoyed the time spent with my family. The staff was great and I plan to make this a frequent stop on my adventures.

For kern county this is a great place to go hike and exercise! The place is huge, very clean, the drive there is easy and they have clean bathrooms available. This place also has diffrent trails, which vary from easy to hard and lot’s of picnic areas. This is defently our new playground.

My husband and I ventured out to some local hiking grounds today. I discovered this place through Unilocal reviews; and was eager to check it out, since we are hiking fans. :) We are so used to hiking all over LA county and Orange County that we were wondering whether Bakersfield offered any hiking trails as well. So ‘lo and behold — we found one about 26 miles southwest of Bakersfield!
After a 45 minute drive along «Old River Road» from the heart of Bakersfield to the front entrance of the Wind Wolf Preserve, we reached this nature preserve!
This place is the West Coast’s largest non-​profit preserve at 95,000 acres, with elevations from 640 ft to 6,005 ft. «The preserve is an ecologically unique region where the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert and San Joaquin Valley converge.»
When we arrived at the Visitor Center, the ranger came out to say hi to us. She explained that this preserve is Kern County’s «hidden gem». Very few people know about this wonderful hiking, camping, biking, etc. location! There are gorgeous yellow rolling hills all around, a waterfall, 12 miles of biking trails, and wildlife (especially Tule elk) all around.
During our 1.5 hour roundtrip hike (we went on the Mountain Views Trail) — be prepared for a cardio work-​out. The incline upwards is steady and you’ll finally reach the top of the mountain where u’ll find a wooden log for you to sit & rest. Take time to enjoy the views and take photos. We took our dog with us, and he was huffing and puffing. haha :)
Before our hike, we spotted a man-​made waterfall. If you’re interested, it’s worth a quick look. Just walk down a couple steps (follow the signs that say waterfall) and you’ll reach it.
This nature preserve also has plenty of picnic areas, and benches for hikers to rest. Even the restrooms are relatively clean and well maintained. Can’t believe this park is all run on «donations»!
We’re glad we ventured out to this neck of the woods to explore the wild pastures and rolling hills of Kern County! Hope you’ll see some deer (or other wildlife) like we did! :)
FREE entrance, open year-​round, plenty of parking available, few trees for «shade», so wear that sunblock!

Beyond amazing place and in my own backyard! Less than an hour from my house makes this convenient and affordable! And with gas prices, can you blame me?
Wind Wolves is a gorgeous foothills/​lower mountain valley. It’s centered around a lush creek bed that extends south up towards the San Emigdio mountain range. While the rest of the hills are golden yellow from the lack of rain, the creek bed is lush with vegetation. Trees, vines, and small summer flowers are abundant.
The visitors center is beautiful! I couldn’t believe how nice the grounds and buildings were. For a place that gets zero local recognition, it’s truly awesome! There’s plenty of areas to picnic and even appears to have an area for hosting parties. I was blown away by the amount of care-​taking the conservatory provides.
This place is an excellent day trip for families. You can walk and explore as much or as little as you would like.
Summer can be hot and very dry. Winter can be cold and foggy. Spring is ideal if there’s been a good rain. Hopefully we see a nice rainy winter-​California could sure use the water!