Best National Reserve Bakersfield Near Me

4worldlovers: The Tule Elk State Natural Reserve protects a small herd of tule elk, once in danger of extinction. Elk from the reserve have been successfully transplanted to other areas in California. Today, approximately 5,700 tule elk are again roaming the grasslands and foothills of California. The tule elk are most active from late summer through early autumn.

The day use area has a viewing platform overlooking nearly 1,000 acres of the Reserve and the wildlife that lives here. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars for better viewing. Only the day use area at the entrance to the Reserve is open to visitors. There are two large shade ramadas with nine picnic tables and two barbecues for group outings. There are nine single picnic tables (four with shade ramadas) and barbecues for enjoying the park. There are 34 parking stalls and a bicycle rack available. The day use area has four restroom stalls in the comfort station. Two drinking fountains in the day use area provide water to the thirty traveller. An interpretive exhibit on the Tule elk is located on the east side of the comfort station.

Birds of varied species can be seen year-round at this stop along the Pacific Flyway. Raptors such as Northern harriers, prairie falcons and red-tailed hawks hunt for small live prey by day; by night great horned and barn owls take to the sky. The sounds of great blue herons, egrets, ducks, burrowing owls, loggerhead shrikes, horned larks, roadrunners, red-wing and tricolored blackbirds may be heard.

Mammals such as coyotes, badgers, skunks, raccoons, desert cottontail rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits, California ground squirrels, San Joaquin pocket mice, and Heermann’s kangaroo rats may be found in the park.

Tule Elk State Natural Reserve attracts reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids including the California King snake, gopher snake, side-blotched lizard, the nocturnal Western spadefoot toad, scorpions and tarantualas.

Join us for a guided tour called an "Auto Safari" on the fourth Saturday of the month (except December) at 10:00 a.m. The tour consists of a brief overview of the Tule elk at the viewing platform followed by a tour of the visitor center and Reserve. Regular day use fees apply ($8.00 per vehicle). Dogs are not allowed on the reserve during the Auto Safari tours, even if only staying in the vehicle.

Visit our School Tour webpage to learn more about the opportunities for teachers and students to visit the Tule Elk State Natural Reserve in person or virtually.

Parking, the visitor center, the elk viewing platform, and the picnic area are accessible.

The reserve is located at 8653 Station Road, Buttonwillow, CA 93206. The reserve is 15 miles west of Bakersfield off of Stockdale Highway and Morris Road approximately 3 miles southwest of I-5.

The weather can be changeable with extreme heat during summer months and cold, foggy winter weather. Layered clothing is recommended.

Dogs are allowed in the day use area on a 6-foot or shorter leash. Dogs are not allowed on the reserve during the Auto Safari tours, even if only staying in the vehicle.

There are no camping facilities at the Tule Elk State Natural Reserve.

Join us for an interpreter led "Auto Safari" tour of the visitor center and reserve.

At the south end of the San Joaquin Valley, Tule Elk State Natural Reserve protects a small herd of Tule elk, an endemic California subspecies once hunted nearly to extinction.

After the moose, elk are the second largest members of the deer family (Cervidae) in North America.

Three subspecies of elk (Cervus elephus also known as Cervus canadensis) still survive in the United States - Roosevelt elk, Rocky Mountain elk, and Tule elk. Roosevelt elk, the largest can weigh uo to 1,000 pounds, Rocky Mountain elk are about 85% of that size; they have grown to become the largest grazing population in the country.

California's Tule elk are about half the size of the Roosevelt elk and lighter in color, with shorter coats and larger teeth. Average mature males stand five feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 500 pounds. Females are slightly smaller weighing about 350 pounds.