Marina guide
French Gulch Marina
Lake Isabella, Kern County, CA
Overview
French Gulch Marina sits in a cove on the west shore of Lake Isabella, just above the Main Dam off Highway 155 (Wofford Heights Boulevard). Pioneer Point Campground is across the road, and a patrol boat dock is also located at French Gulch.
What's here
The marina has more than 100 private slips with lights and security-gated docks. The state boating directory lists boats from about 10 to 28 ft. Services include fuel, a pump-out, oil disposal, a boat washdown area, dock electricity, a convenience store and snack bar, fishing tackle, ice, transient tie-ups, haul-out and repair, and launch valet service. Rentals include personal watercraft, pontoons, fishing boats and kayaks.
Lake permit
Kern County requires a Lake Isabella permit for watercraft over 7 ft and for any motorized watercraft. The County lists the boat permit at $45 a year and the non-powered permit at $30. Permits are sold at any marina and at several local convenience stores.
Wind and hazards
Lake Isabella is known for sudden gusts of up to 60 mph that can make open-water crossings unsafe. Submerged fencing, tree snags, rock outcrops and sand spits shift with the water level. The Borel Canal, an 8-ft-deep concrete channel on the west side of the lake, can look deceptively shallow. Check current lake levels before you go.
Getting there & access
Getting there
The marina is on Highway 155 (Wofford Heights Boulevard) on the west shore of Lake Isabella, just above the Main Dam, with Pioneer Point Campground across the street.
Launching and valet
The marina offers launch valet service and transient tie-ups. Buy your Kern County lake permit before launching; it's sold at any marina.
Speed zones
It's 5 mph, no wake, within 200 ft of shore, within 100 ft of swimmers (other than water skiers), near docks and marinas, and in the South Fork Wildlife Area.
Wind
Sudden gusts of up to 60 mph can make crossing open water unsafe. Watch the sky in the afternoon and stay close to shelter in small boats.
Help on the water
Kern County Rangers' Marine Enforcement Unit patrols the lake daily. For emergencies, call 911. The Lake Visitor Center at the lake's southwest corner is at (760) 379-5646.
Amenities
- Slips — 100+ private slips with lights and security gates
- Fuel — Fuel sales
- Pump-out and oil disposal — Sewage/bilge pump-out and oil disposal
- Launch valet — Launch valet service and transient tie-ups
- Haul-out and repair — Listed at the marina
- Store and snack bar — Convenience store, snack bar, fishing tackle and ice
- Rentals — Personal watercraft, pontoons, fishing boats and kayaks
- Washdown — Boat washdown area and dock electricity
Rules & official resources
- A Lake Isabella permit from Kern County is required for watercraft over 7 ft and for any motorized watercraft
- Kern County lists the Lake Isabella boat permit at $45 a year and the non-powered permit at $30; sold at any marina
- 5 mph, no wake within 200 ft of shore, within 100 ft of swimmers, near docks and marinas, and in the South Fork Wildlife Area
- Towing needs a boat that holds at least 3 people, with an observer 12 or older; tow lines may not exceed 100 ft
- Boating hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; PWCs must leave the lake once the mountain's shadow reaches the water
- Everyone aboard must have a wearable Coast Guard-approved life jacket; water skiers and PWC riders must wear one
- California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025
- Registered boats used in fresh water must pay the California Mussel Fee and display the DMV-issued sticker on each side of the hull, next to the registration stickers
Common boat service needs here
Engine and cooling-system service
Hot Kern Valley summers and long runs across the lake are hard on engines and cooling systems, so pre-season service is common.
Find Marine Mechanics & Engine Service providers →Gelcoat and oxidation repair
Intense desert-edge sun oxidizes gelcoat quickly on boats kept in open slips.
Find Gelcoat, Oxidation & Paint Correction providers →Hull and prop damage repair
Snags, fencing and rocks that shift with water levels lead to dinged hulls, lower units and props.
Find Fiberglass, Gelcoat & Structural Repair providers →Canvas and covers
Sun and strong gusts wear out Bimini tops and covers, and wind can tear loose canvas on boats in slips.
Find Canvas, Covers & Upholstery providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
Last verified October 8, 2026