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Recreation and Education

Conserving land and water in the Tulare Basin enhances educational experiences for our children, maintains scenic vistas, and provides recreational opportunities for the whole family. With today's rapidly growing urban areas, people seek natural places and open space for opportunities to replenish the soul. The Tulare Basin Wildlife Partners collaborates with agencies and other landowners to provide residents and visitors with diverse recreation and education opportunities in the Tulare Basin.

When planning a visit to the Tulare Basin, keep in mind that this region is hot in the summer, with temperatures above 100 degrees. Rain falls from October to April, and dense patches of fog can foster damp, chilly weather in winter. Please plan appropriately for the time of year you visit, and remember to bring sunblock, hat, water, and layered clothing. You may want to bring binoculars, camera, and field guides as well.

Games and activities for kids, grouped separately for kids and teachers, and grouped by ages: grades K-3, grades 4-8 and grades 9-12 

Allensworth Ecological Reserve 

Allensworth Ecological Reserve

  • Attraction: Upland threatened and endangered species habitat
  • Activities: Wildlife viewing
  • Hours: Permission to visit must be granted in advance
  • Location: From Highway 99, head west on Avenue 56 one mile to Howard Road. Turn south and go two miles to Avenue 40. Turn west and go one mile; park at gate. 
  • Contact: California Department of Fish & Wildlife (559) 243-4014
Atwell Island 

Atwell Island 

  • Attraction: Nature trail with riparian habitat; a 400-acre marsh offers wildlife viewing and photography
  • Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, photography
  • Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
  • Location: From Highway 99, take exit 65B/Earlimart and head west toward Alpaugh on Ave. 56/Sierra Ave./J22. Drive 13 miles until you arrive at the four-way stop in Alpaugh. Turn left (south) on Road 38/Tule Road on Sierra Ave. and travel one mile. Turn right (west) on Avenue 46 for one-half-mile. 
  • Contact: Bureau of Land Management (559) 949-8489
Blossom Trail 

Blossom Trail 

  • Attraction: Panoramas of blooming orchards, diverse agriculture, and historical points of interest
  • Activities: Self-guided auto or bicycle tour
  • Hours: Daylight recommended
  • Location: Various in Fresno County
  • Contact: Fresno County Office of Tourism (559) 262-4271
Buttonwillow Ecological Reserve 

Buttonwillow Ecological Reserve

  • Attraction: Upland threatened and endangered species habitat
  • Activities: Wildlife and wildflower viewing (spring to summer)
  • Hours: Permission to visit must be granted in advance 
  • Location: Hwy 58 east of Buttonwillow; north on Brandt Road to intersection with Seventh Standard Road
  • Contact: California Department of Fish & Wildlife (559) 243-4014
Coles Levee Ecosystem Preserve 

Coles Levee Ecosystem Preserve

  • Attraction: More than a dozen rare, threatened, and endangered animals and plants, along with the last two miles of Kern River riparian habitat before Buena Vista Lake
  • Activities: Education programs for students
  • Hours: Contact for hours
  • Location: 20 miles southwest of Bakersfield; contact for directions
  • Contact: Aera Energy LLC (661) 665-5000
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park 

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

  • Attraction: 100-year old restored and reconstructed buildings from when Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other settlers established a town founded, financed and governed by African Americans
  • Activities: picnicking, camping, interpretive exhibits and film, tours (prior arrangements necessary), teacher's guide
  • Hours: Visitor Center 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Location: North of Bakersfield; 20 miles north of Wasco on Highway 43; seven miles west of Earlimart on Avenue 56, then south one mile on Highway 43
  • Contact: California State Parks (661) 849-3433
Dry Creek Preserve 

Dry Creek Preserve

  • Attraction: 152-acre restored sycamore alluvial woodland
  • Activities: Picnicking, hiking trails, trail guides, public programs, docent-led school tours, bird watching, photography
  • Hours: Daily, from sunrise to sunsetLocation: Located outside of Lemon Cove. From Visalia, travel east on Highway 198. Take Highway 216 toward Woodlake. Follow west one-half mile and turn north on Dry Creek Road. The preserve is located five miles down on your right.
  • Contact: Sequoia Riverlands Trust (559) 738-0211
Kaweah Oaks Preserve 

Kaweah Oaks Preserve

  • Attraction: One of the last remaining valley oak riparian forests in the San Joaquin Valley
  • Activities: Picnicking, hiking trails, trail guides, public programs, docent-led school tours, bird watching, photography
  • Hours: Daily, from sunrise to sunset
  • Location: East of Visalia seven miles via Highway 198, then north on Road 182 one-half-mile 
  • Contact: Sequoia Riverlands Trust (559) 738-0211
Kern National Wildlife Refuge 

Kern National Wildlife Refuge 

  • Attraction: A developed marsh provides wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl
  • Activities: Waterfowl hunting (October to January), hiking, auto tour, educational brochures, wildlife viewing, photography
  • Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset, except Wednesdays and Saturdays during hunting season
  • Location: From Interstate 5 at Lost Hills, take Highway 46 east five miles to Corcoran Road. Turn north and drive 10.6 miles. From Highway 99 in Delano, head west on Garces Highway for 19 miles.
  • Contact: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (661) 725-2767
Lokern Ecological Reserve 

Lokern Ecological Reserve 

  • Attraction: Upland threatened and endangered species habitat
  • Activities: Wildlife and wildflower viewing (spring to summer)
  • Hours: Permission to visit must be granted in advance
  • Location: Hwy 58 and Lokern Road, about 2.5 miles west of Buttonwillow
  • Contact: California Department of Fish & Wildlife (559) 243-4014
Lokern Preserve 

Lokern Preserve 

  • Attraction: High-quality upland habitat for threatened and endangered species
  • Activities: Wildlife and wildflower viewing, photography
  • Hours: Contact the preserve manager for access
  • Location: 30 miles west of Bakersfield; contact for directions
  • Contact: Center for Natural Lands Management (661) 387-9453
Mendota Wildlife Area 

Mendota Wildlife Area 

  • Attraction: A developed marsh and floodplains with a diversity of wildlife
  • Activities: Fishing, boating, camping (during waterfowl season only), hunting, wildlife viewing
  • Hours: Daily
  • Location: From Mendota, go south and east on Highway 180 three miles to Whites Bridge 
  • Contact: California Department of Fish & Wildlife (559) 655-4645
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge 

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

  • Attraction: One of the few remaining examples of the grasslands, vernal pools, and playas that once bordered historic Tulare Lake; thousands of sandhill cranes fly into roost at sunset from October to February 
  • Activities: hiking, photography, wildlife viewing
  • Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset
  • Location: From Highway 99 in Earlimart, go west on Avenue 56/Sierra Ave for 5.7 miles. Turn north just past the refuge sign onto Road 88, and travel one mile. 
  • Contact: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (661) 725-2767
Tule Elk State Natural Reserve 

Tule Elk State Natural Reserve 

  • Attraction: Tule elk herd, once in danger of extinction, most active from late summer through early autumn
  • Activities: Picnicking, interpretive exhibits, wildlife viewing, photography
  • Hours: 8:00 a.m. to sunset
  • Location: North of Gorman, south of Buttonwillow and west of Interstate 5 via Stockdale Highway 
  • Contact: California State Parks (661) 764-6881

Watershed Education Resources for Kids

Games and activities for kids, grouped separately for kids and teachers, and grouped by ages: grades K-3, grades 4-8 and grades 9-12

Interactive Games & Activities 
  • Virtual Tour of a Drinking Water Treatment Plant - A flash-based step-by-step how water is treated and delivered to your home or business as water that is safe to drink.
  • Interactive Water Cycle * - A flash animated activity that lets you control the water cycle as you learn.
  • Interactive Word Scramble Game * - A flash animated game that lets you unscramble one word in a sentence and lets you know instantly if you have the right answer.
  • Interactive Fun Facts Matching Game * - A flash animated game that lets you match amounts of water to the correct everyday water usage item and lets you know instantly if you have the right answer.
  • Interactive Question & Answer Game *- A flash animated game that gives the Answer and you have to choose the correct Question from three possible answers. The game lets  you know instantly if you have the right answer.
  • Interactive Build Your Own Aquifer Instructions* - A step-by-step instruction on how to complete this in class activity complete with narration and visual support. You can jump from section to section and repeat as necessary.
  • Interactive Water Filtration Instructions* - A step-by-step instruction on how to complete this in class activity complete with narration and visual support. You can jump from section to section and repeat as necessary.
Other Activities 
Other Resources for Kids Water Education