The 600,00 acres of public lands managed by the Bakersfield Field Office offer unlimited recreation opportunities.  They range from the historic Piedras Blancas Light Station (designated an Outstanding Natural Area) on the coast to the isolated and remote environments in designated Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Bakersfield's territory is divided into the Extensive Recreation Management Area (ERMA) and several Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs.)  The ERMA has dispersed recreation opportunities and primarily custodial management.  The SRMAs are the intensively visited and highest priority sites, which are directly managed for the benefits and outcomes they may provide. 

LINKS TO SPECIAL RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREAS

	The Chimney Peak Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) provides a remote setting for personal discovery and primitive forms of recreation.  It offers outstanding opportunities to experience solitude in one of its four Wilderness Areas, as well as wold class hiking along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
	The Keyesville SRMA offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities, including white-water rafting, Off Hiway Vehicle use, camping, horseback riding, hiking and recreational gold mining.  It offers high quality recreation experiences within a few hours drive of the Los Angeles, Fresno, and Inland Empire metropolitan areas.
	The San Joaquin River cuts a magnificent gorge as it drains the Sierra Nevada mountains.  The                    San Joaquin River Gorge SRMA offers a broad choice of recreation opportunities, including camping, hiking, cycling, fishing and horseback riding.  Nearby schools enjoy student learning experiences with Native American ways, living history and nature study.
	The North Fork SRMA spans the North Fork of the Kaweah River, near the town of Three Rivers.  Its topographic variation, rugged rocky terrain and vegetative variety combine to create areas of seclusion.  The recreation sites are currently closed to public access as of September, 2010.  Studies continue on when they will reopen; watch the North Fork Web Page for an announcement.