TehachapiNews.com

Downtown Walking Tour

1. Tehachapi Museum: This structure was built in 1932 as the Kern County Branch Library. When a new library was constructed in 1981, the county gave the old building to the City of Tehachapi, with the stipulation that it be used as a public building. In 1982 the city leased it to the Tehachapi Heritage League to be used as a museum.

2. Errea House: The Errea family occupied this dwelling for 75 years. The structure was built by a doctor in “Old Town” (or “Tehichipa”) four miles west of Tehachapi, between 1870 and 1875. It was moved to this location on log rollers about 1900. It is the only surviving structure from the Tehichipa settlement. The Errea house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 29, 1997.

Swimming

The Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District operates the Dye Natatorium, a heated, indoor six-lane pool (25 yards) located at 400B S. Snyder, next to the Jacobsen Junior High School parking lot.  It is open various hours, year-long. Contact TVRPD for more information. (661) 822-3228; www.tvrpd.org.

For the summer of 2013, the pool has been closed so that repairs can be made.

Skate Park

Ollie Mountain Skate Park, an above-ground skateboard park, is an 11,000 square foot facility located in the West Park complex, 490 W. “D” St., Tehachapi. It is operated by the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District. Entrance fee is $1. Contact TVRPD for more information. (661) 822-3228; www.tvrpd.org.

Hunting and Shooting

Tehachapi Sportsman Club

Tehachapi Sportsman Club
operates a shooting range just off Sand Canyon Road a half mile north of Highway 58. The range has two (2) trap houses with automatic machines and voice release microphones. Facilities include outdoor rifle range (50, 100, 200 and 300 yards), outdoor pistol range (7 to 50 yards), and archery targets. For information contact the club by mail, P.O. Box 496, Tehachapi, CA 93561. At the time of publication the club’s website was not active.

High River Hunting

Hiking

Numerous trails in and around the area including Mountain Park  and the world-famous Pacific Crest Trail. Most land in the Tehachapi area is private with Mountain Park being an exception; the Pacific Coast Trail traverses a combination of public and private land. In all cases, please tread lightly.

Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a National Scenic Trail that traverses the upper elevations of the western United States from Mexico to Canada. Covering 2,652 miles from border to border, the trail passes through six out of seven of North America's eco zones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and arctic-alpine country. Approximately 300 hikers attempt to complete the entire trek from southern to northern borders each year.  Thousands more enjoy exploring the best of the west including The Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada and Mt. Whitney, Yosemite National Park, Marble Mountain and the Russian Wilderness in Northern California, the volcanoes of the Cascades among them Mt. Shasta and Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Rainier, and the remote Northern Cascades.   
After traversing the arid San Andreas Fault Zone, hikers frequently enjoy a respite in Tehachapi, a mere nine miles from the nearest trailhead.

Golfing

The game of golf is a popular way to pass the time in Tehachapi, thanks to scenic mountain vistas and ideal climate.

Tehachapi has two golf courses within its own borders: the Horse Thief Golf & Country Club in the Stallion Springs area and the Oak Tree Country Club in the Bear Valley area.
There are also two golf courses available in California City, approximately 30 miles to the east of Tehachapi.

Flight

Tehachapi’s beautiful blue sky is favored by pilots and can be enjoyed by visitors, as well. A long-time popular attraction is Mountain Valley Airport.

Gliders and sailplanes

Fishing

Brite Lake is open year round for day use, camping and fishing. Passes are now available at the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District office, located at 490 W. D St., Tehachapi. Season passes are available for $45. Boat launching passes are $15. Passes are for day use only.

The day use only fee is $5 per vehicle per day, boat launching $3 per boat per day (no gas engines, electric motors only), day use and boat launching $8 per day.

Camping

Whether bringing along your home on wheels, or roughing it, Tehachapi offers a variety of facilities for campers including:

Brite Lake
Brite Lake is open year round for day use, camping and fishing. Passes are now available at the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District office, located at 490 W. D St.

Bicycling

The Tehachapi area is a bicyclist’s paradise with numerous trails as well as scenic byways and terrain ranging from flat to grueling.

A great resource for bikers is the website of the Tehachapi Mountain Trails Association: CLICK HERE.