Breckenridge Road is rural highway located mostly in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Kern County. The Breckenridge Road corridor begins at California State Route 184 near Bakersfield and extends 42 miles east to Caliente-Bodfish Road near the original Kern County seat of Havilah. This highway is named after the 7,510-foot-high Breckenridge Mountain and strays a couple north of it via an unnamed pass.
The entirety of Breckenridge Road is paved despite it being located in remote terrain. 30 miles of the highway are maintained as Kern County Road 218 whereas the remaining 12 miles are part of Sequoia National Forest Route 83 (Forest Road 28S06). The eastern 8.7 miles descends along a sustained 7% grade to Caliente-Bodfish Road.
Much of what is now Breckenridge Road was part of a stage route from Bakersfield to the Kern River Valley via the Democrat Mine. The highway was extended east of Parker Creek to Havilah in 1912 when the first Breckenridge Mountain Lookout Tower was constructed. In 1930 the Breckenridge Lodge would open which was followed by construction of the second lookout in 1938. The lodge was short lived as it closed in 1942 and was later demolished in 1944. The current Breckenridge Mountain Lookout Tower was built in 1942.
Breckenridge Road in recent years has been subject to numerous disasters which has made it difficult to maintain. A small but narrow portion of the Kern County owned section slid out in 2023 and has only recently been repaired. The eastern half was damaged by the Borel Fire during the summer of 2024 which destroyed much of Havilah.
Part 1; the history of Breckenridge Road
Much of what is now western Breckenridge Road was a developed as a stage road from Bakersfield to the Kern River Valley via the Democrat Mine. The corridor can be seen detail on the 1898 Kern County Surveyor's map. The map displays the road originating at the eastern outskirts of Bakersfield at the Southern Pacific Railroad in Township 29 South, Range 28 East.
The Kern River Valley Road is shown passing by Mount Adelaide (which is far shorter than displayed) in Township 29 South, Range 30 East. The highway shown to intersect a foot trail at Lucas Creek which connected to a sawmill at Breckenridge Mountain in Township South, Range 31 East. Breckenridge Mountain is shown displayed with an elevation of 7,500 feet above sea level.
The Kern River Valley Road is shown descending into the Kern River Canyon northeast of the Democrat Mine. The highway terminated at the Havilah Stage Road (now Caliente-Bodfish Road) near Isabella. Much of the highway east from the Democrat Mine would be later improved as part of the Kern River State Highway which was completed in 1925 (later California State Route 178 by 1934).
The Breckenridge Mountain Sawmill can be seen below in operation as it was in 1907 (photo courtesy Mark Mcgowan of the Kern County of Old Facebook group).
In July 1908 Sequoia National Forest was created out of a portion of the Sierra Forest Reserve. Sequoia National Forest included a segment located at Breckenridge Mountain. The United States Forest Service would construct a fire lookout tower in 1912 at Breckenridge Mountain. A road was constructed from Parker Creek near Mount Adelaide eastward to service the then new tower. The Breckenridge Mountain Road crossed an unnamed pass located 6,847 feet above sea level and descended to Caliente-Bodfish Road near the original Kern County seat of Havilah.
The completed Breckenridge Road can be seen east of Mount Adelaide (blue pin denotes the origin point) on the 1914 United States Geological Survey map of Caliente. Breckenridge Mountain is shown with an elevation of 7,544 feet above sea level. The elevation has since been surveyed as 7,510 feet above sea level.
The original alignment of Breckenridge Road east of Breckenridge Mountain is shown to descend sharply through Jenny Lind Canyon to Havilah on the 1920 United States Geological Survey map of Delonga Springs.
The October 17, 1942, Bakersfield Californian reported the Federal Government purchased the Breckenridge Lodge for $43,000 (courtesy Art Moore of the Kern County of Old Facebook group). The current steel frame Breckenridge fire lookout tower was also constructed in 1942.
The Breckenridge Lodge was damaged by fire shortly after being purchased by the Federal Government. Breckenridge Road east of the lodge was realigned onto the current switchback alignment now used to reach Caliente-Bodfish Road. This switchback road carries a sustained 7% gradient which made it far easier to descend versus the previous alignment through Jenny Lind Canyon. This alignment and the abandoned Breckenridge Lodge can be seen on the 1943 United States Geological Map of Breckenridge Mountain.
The January 1, 1944, Bakersfield Californian announced the upcoming demolition of the Breckenridge Lodge (courtesy Art Moore of the Kern County of Old Facebook group). The property has been since subdivided and now is comprised of several structures lining Lucas Drive.
As presently configured approximately 30 miles of Breckenridge Road from California State Route 184 to Lucas Drive is maintained as Kern County Road 218. The remaining 11.55 miles to Caliente-Bodfish Road is maintained as Sequoia National Forest Route 83 (Forest Road 28S06).
Weather related disasters in recent years have made maintenance of Breckenridge Road difficult. The Kern County owned segment east of Cow Flat Road experienced a slip-out during March 2023 (photo courtesy of the Bakersfield Trailblazers 4x4 Club). This slip-out closed the roadway and was ultimately repaired in early 2025.
On July 24, 2024, the Borel Fire started in the Kern River Canyon which was caused when driver Keith Mulkey fatally crashed over the side of California State Route 178. The fire quickly spread southward up to Breckenridge Road which was used as a fire break. The fire eventually spread east and burned much of the community of Havilah. Full containment of the Borel Fire wasn't reached until September 15 when it had burned 59,288 acres.
The Borel Fire can be seen below on an enhanced image by Pierra Markuse dated July 26, 2024.
Eastbound Breckenridge Road begins at California State Route 184 (Weedpatch Highway) in the unincorporated community of East Niles. There is no signage indicating Breckenridge Road accesses anything in Sequoia National Forest.
As Breckenridge Road continues east of Commanche Drive traffic is notified that snow is not removed during the winter and cattle may be on the roadway over the next 24 miles.
Breckenridge Road narrows to a single lane at Cottonwood Creek.
Traffic on eastbound Breckenridge Road can observe Bear Mountain to the south.
Breckenridge Road continues east through the winding terrain of the Sierra Nevada foothills. The highway enters the so-called Cow Flat at approximately 3,200 feet above sea level where it intersects the long-closed Cow Flat Road (Forest Road 28S09). Cow Flat Road was the early highway which continued northeast to the Democrat Mine and Kern River Valley mentioned in Part 1.
Breckenridge Road east of Cow Flat Road is comprised of the corridor constructed in the 1910s to reach the Breckenridge fire lookout. The highway twists through the mountains and begins an ascent towards Sequoia National Forest. Approaching the National Forest Boundary the highway crosses over the recently repair slip-out from 2023.
Breckenridge Road crosses the 5,000-foot elevation mark and enters Sierra National Forest. There is little to mark the National Forest boundary aside from the emergence of Forest Service signs.
The Kern County maintained portion of Breckenridge Road terminates at Lucas Drive. The boundary is marked by the presence of a lone Forest Route 83 shield. Several private buildings can be observed in the vicinity of Lucas Creek near the former site of Breckenridge Lodge.
Breckenridge Road crosses over a burn scar from the Borel Fire. The burnt trees reveal a look north to the Kern River Canyon where the fire originated.
Breckenridge Road crosses an unnamed pass located at 6,847 feet above sea level near Mill Creek and intersects Forest Road 28S07. Forest Road 28S07 permits access to the Breckenridge fire lookout via a five-mile-high clearance grade.
Breckenridge Road opens onto a vista of the Lake Isabella Reservoir.
Breckenridge Road begins to descend and intersects the original alignment to Jenny Lind Canyon. The older alignment is only identifiable by the presence of a cattle guard at about 5,600 feet above sea level. Part of the original highway is now Little Angel Road in Havilah.
Prior to the Borel Fire traffic heading south on Caliente-Bodfish Road were greeted by this sign at Breckenridge Road.
The previously ornate sign has been replaced by one noting mudslide risk present on Breckenridge Road due to the Borel Fire scars.
Post-Borel Fire a light indicating the thru-traffic status of Breckenridge Road was installed just off Caliente-Bodfish Road. Trouble is that the light was flashing despite me just having used the corridor heading east from Bakersfield.
Kern County would be formed out of southern Tulare County on April 2, 1866. Kern County comprised the former lands of Tulare County below the Township 24 and Township 25 line. The new Tulare County/Kern County line was located just south of Tailholt and near the Stockton-Los Angeles Road/Baker Stage Road junction. Havilah located on portion of the Baker Stage Road (now Caliente-Bodfish Road) south of the Kern River was selected the original Kern County Seat.
During 1874 Havilah would lose the Kern County seat to Bakersfield. The Baker Stage Road can be seen below passing through Havilah in 1910 (courtesy Kern County Museum).
Havilah lies at an elevation of 3,136 feet above sea level. Post Office service operated in the community from 1866 when it was Kern County seat until 1918. Replicas of the 1868 Kern County Courthouse and 1867 Schoolhouse (both constructed in 1966) once could be found in the community. The replica schoolhouse still stands but the courthouse was destroyed by the Borel Fire.
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