Best backpacking trips near Bakersfield, CA

Ranked by straight-line distance from Bakersfield (population ~403,455) to each trip's trailhead. Drive times are rough estimates — mountain roads are slower than they look.

Bakersfield backpacking at a glance

Liebel Peak Trail is the closest documented backpacking trip to Bakersfield — the Liebel Peak Trail Trailhead trailhead sits roughly 36 miles away, about 40 minutes by car. Of the 12 closest routes, 12 are within a two-hour drive of town, spanning Sequoia NF backcountry, Los Padres backcountry, Sespe Wilderness and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksTrailheads for these trips sit between 1,600 and 8,009 feet, so you can pick a low, warm-season start or a high alpine route depending on the month.

3 of these 12 routes need no wilderness permit — useful for spontaneous weekends. Across the twelve closest trips, the months hikers rate best are October, May, July.If you want the gentlest introduction, Gene Marshall–Piedra Blanca Trail climbs only 4,000 feet over 18.6 miles; the biggest single-trip climb nearby is Gene Marshall–Piedra Blanca Trail at 4,000 feet of total gain over 18.6 miles.

#	Trip	Miles away	Est. drive	Distance	Gain	Difficulty	Permit
1	Liebel Peak Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	36 mi	~40 min	16.2 mi	—	40	Required
2	Buck Creek Trail Los Padres backcountry	48 mi	~54 min	22.4 mi	—	45	None
3	Gene Marshall–Piedra Blanca Trail Sespe Wilderness	51 mi	~56 min	18.6 mi	4,000 ft	36	None
4	Domeland Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	59 mi	~65 min	17.6 mi	—	40	Required
5	Freeman Creek Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	61 mi	~67 min	10.4 mi	—	25	Required
6	Lewis Camp Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	63 mi	~70 min	43.6 mi	—	60	Required
7	Fish Creek Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	63 mi	~70 min	20 mi	—	40	Required
8	Fish Creek Trail (aka Jerkey Trail and aka Lloyd Meadow Trail) Sequoia NF backcountry	63 mi	~70 min	23.2 mi	—	50	Required
9	Matias Potrero Trail Los Padres backcountry	71 mi	~79 min	9.5 mi	—	25	None
10	Bullfrog Lakes Trail Sequoia NF backcountry	75 mi	~83 min	12 mi	—	25	Required
11	Atwell-Hockett Trail Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	78 mi	~87 min	20 mi	—		Required
12	Paradise Ridge Trail Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks	78 mi	~87 min	6 mi	—		Required

Three ways to start backpacking from Bakersfield

Closest trailhead: Liebel Peak Trail — about 36 miles / 40 minutes from town.
Gentlest outing: Freeman Creek Trail — difficulty 25/100 (Moderate), 2–2 days.
Biggest adventure: Gene Marshall–Piedra Blanca Trail — 18.6 miles and 4,000 ft of climbing.

Distances are great-circle miles from Bakersfield to trailhead coordinates; actual road distances will be longer. Town data: Wikidata SPARQL (CC0), population values derived from U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Backpacking near Bakersfield: common questions

What is the closest backpacking trip to Bakersfield?

Liebel Peak Trail is the closest documented trip to Bakersfield at roughly 36 miles (about 40 minutes of driving) from the Liebel Peak Trail Trailhead trailhead.

Do I need a permit to backpack near Bakersfield?

Many routes near Bakersfield, including Liebel Peak Trail, require a wilderness permit from Sequoia National Forest (USFS). Always check the managing agency before you go.

When is the best season to backpack near Bakersfield?

For Liebel Peak Trail — the closest trip to Bakersfield — the best months are May, June, July, August, September, October.