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California
66

California State Parks

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USA Parks
California
Central Coast & Central Valley Region
Tule Elk Reserve State Park
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Tule Elk Reserve State Park © Gary OToole
Tule Elk Reserve State Park © Cait Hutnik
Tule Elk Reserve State Park © Cait Hutnik
Tule Elk Reserve State Park © Cait Hutnik
Tule Elk Reserve State Park © Cait Hutnik
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TULE ELK RESERVE STATE PARK
Tule Elk State Reserve protects a herd of tule elk, once in danger of extinction. In the 1880s, vast herds of tule elk were greatly reduced in number by hunting and loss of habitat.

Cattleman Henry Miller began a 50-year effort to save them in 1874. At that time, few elk remained. In 1932, the herd was given permanent protection on the park property, now known as Tule Elk State Reserve.

Elk from the reserve have been successfully transplanted to other areas in California where free-roaming herds of tule elk can be found today.

The elk are most active from late summer through early autumn. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars for better viewing.

The park has picnic areas and interpretive exhibits.
History of the Area
Located in Kern County, California, the reserve was established in 1971 to protect and increase tule elk populations. The park covers approximately 985 acres of land with diverse habitats for these animals. In the late 1800s, hunting nearly eradicated this species but conservation efforts have helped revive their numbers significantly since then.


Location
Tule Elk Reserve State Park is located near Bakersfield, Shafter and Taft

Trails
- Tomales Point Trail: 9.4 miles round trip, offers views of the Pacific Ocean and Tule Elk herds.

- Pierce Point Ranch Loop: A short trail at only 1 mile long, it takes hikers around a historic dairy ranch.

- Abbotts Lagoon Trail: This is an easy hike that's about 2.8 miles out-and-back with beautiful wildflowers in springtime.

- Kehoe Beach Pathway: An approximately two-mile trek to reach the beach; this path can be windy but provides stunning ocean vistas along its route.

- McClures Beach Trailhead : It's just over one mile down to McClure's Beach from here which makes for a nice little walk on mostly flat terrain

- Bull Point Trail : At four-miles-long (round-trip), you'll get some great coastal scenery without having too much difficulty navigating your way through things

-Bear Valley Visitor Center Accessible Trails - Earthquake & Woodpecker trails are both under half-a-mile each and offer gentle slopes suitable for wheelchairs or strollers

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Area Campgrounds
Bakersfield RV Park
5101 East Lerdo Highway
Bakersfield, CA
661-399-3107
Rosedale Village RV Park
13901 Rosedale Highway
Bakersfield, CA
661-589-0593
Suncrest Village RV Park
2555 Jewetta Avenue #40
Bakersfield, CA
661-589-2438
Nearby Hotels
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Directions
From Los Angeles:
- Head north on US-101 N.
- Continue onto I-5 North for approximately 300 miles.
- Take exit 278 toward Buttonwillow Drive.

From San Francisco:
- Start by getting to the Bay Bridge/I80 East
- Merge with CA99 South via Exit 51B towards Fresno/Bakersfield
- Turn right into Twisselman Road

Once you reach Buttonwillow or Twisselman road, follow these steps:

Arriving at Tule Elk Reserve State Park:
- Follow signs for Route 58 West and merge onto it.
- After about a mile, turn left (south) onto Tupman Rd/Elk Hills Hwy.
- The park is located roughly ten miles down this road.

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California
66

California State Parks

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