For those still looking for a place to spend their summer holidays national parks and wildlife resorts inland could be a great option. Most coastal places are already fully booked for the summer season and are expected to be overcrowded for the upcoming months.
If you are interested in stunning landscapes, fascinated by wildlife, and love bird watching then this park is the right one for you. Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge located in Kern County is part of the four units of the National Wildlife Refuge Complex for condors.
This refuge was where the last wild female condor was trapped in 1986 and where condors have been reintroduced in the effort of saving their population in the wild.
The wildlife refuge is located in between two mountain ranges and is a hub for Californian condor activity. The landscape includes ranchland and consists of grassland, mixed saltbush scrub, oak woodland, and riparian woodland. The variety in the scenery is what makes this park so attractive to the eye.
Other endangered species next to the California condor which are also protected in this refuge is the Joaquin kit fox, the giant kangaroo rat, and the California red-legged frog. Elks are not an endangered species but now also home to the park. With a bit of luck one can see coyote, bobcats, mountain lions, mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, and western rattlesnakes on an excursion through the refuge.
Along several trails on the outside of the park is camping allowed to the style of boondocking. Make sure you follow the rules when camping and don't leave any traces behind. Don't throw any trash into nature but embrace the stunning views.
The park is currently closed for the public but guided tours and trips into the park are possible to allow visitors wildlife viewing and photography.
Sources:
- https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2170
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Creek_National_Wildlife_Refuge
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bitter_creek/