Just below the Bakersfield’s bluffs, the Panorama Vista Preserve is a 930-acre non-profit conservation area dedicated to restoring native plants and protecting local wildlife.
People hiking at the bluffs often think the Preserve is private property, which is why people hesitate to explore beyond the Bluffs. However, the area is open to the public.
“We want people to come in and enjoy the space,” said Mic Hall, one of the Board of Directors at the Preserve. “It’s here for everyone to experience.”
Map of Panorama Vista Preserve located below the Bluffs in Bakersfield, CA.
Hall shared the Preserve’s history. Before Lake Isabella Dam was built over 70 years ago, spring floods regularly covered the area, creating an environment for water-loving trees like cottonwoods and willows. Today, thanks to careful restoration, these trees are thriving once again.
For over 25 years, volunteers have worked to bring back native trees, shrubs, and vines. Once planted, these trees are watered for a few years before being left to survive on their own, proving how well they adapt to Bakersfield’s dry climate.
“Nature chooses what survives,” Hall said.
He explained that newly planted areas are protected by milk cartons to shield young sprouts from hungry squirrels and rabbits. One of their recent projects, planted just last fall, is already showing signs of growth.
The Preserve is also home to wildlife like great blue herons, ground squirrels, and beavers, which build dams along the river.
“The beavers do all the work themselves,” Hall said. “They build their dams, shape the landscape, and create habitats for other wildlife along the river.”
Hall mentioned that the beavers disappeared for a time due to high water releases from Lake Isabella, but the beavers have returned and resumed their work.
A beaver dam along the river at Panorama Vista Preserve.
Coyotes, herons, and egrets are also common in the Preserve. “We’ve done a lot to bring back native species, and it’s rewarding to see them settle in,” Hall added.
Red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and turkey vultures use old utility poles as roosting spots. “The past two years, turkey vultures have been comfortable enough to roost here overnight,” Hall said. “In the morning, they stretch out their wings to warm up in the sun. It’s really something to see.”
Mic Hall, one of the Board of Directors at Panorama Vista Preserve pointing towards an old utility pole, where Red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and turkey vultures use as roosting spots.
Hall also mentioned bird houses along the river support wood ducks. “Last time they counted, we had about 70 wood duck chicks between here and Hart Park,” he said.
The Bakersfield cactus is a rare plant that has drawn the attention of many visitors at the Preserve. It is a rare plant found only in the area around Bakersfield.
Hall explained that it’s “totally dependent on the rain we have,” and that its blooming can vary greatly.
Hall pointed out, “The buds you see now will turn into beautiful flowers. It’s an amazing sight when it blooms, and people always enjoy its beauty.”
Hall recalled how, in 2023, after a year of heavy atmospheric rivers and rainfall, they were killed and all turned black. But when the rain finally stopped and the sun came out, they set the buds again and they bloomed all through April. Which is something the Preserve has never seen before.
The Bakersfield cactus at Panorama Vista Preserve. It is a rare plant that has drawn the attention of many visitors at the Preserve.
Hall mentioned that Chevron owns the mineral rights underground, but an agreement allows oil production while protecting the land. The company has also helped plant trees, which some had flourished for over a decade without human intervention.
“We’re always working with farmers and oil companies,” Halls said. “But we’re hopeful that, by working together, we can keep this land safe for the future.”
Visitors can learn more by visiting panoramavista.org or following the Preserve on Facebook for updates and events.
View of the Kern River at Panorama Vista Preserve.