Walker Pass, Mountain pass in Kern County, California

Walker Pass is a mountain pass in the southern Sierra Nevada at 5,250 ft (1,600 m), the highest point on State Route 178. The road links the Kern River Valley and San Joaquin Valley with the Mojave Desert, running about 53 mi ENE of Bakersfield and 10 mi WNW of Ridgecrest. A green-and-white sign on a metal post beside the dirt shoulder reads "ELEVATION 5000 FT", with a thin blue post to its right.

Joseph Rutherford Walker first mapped this Sierra Nevada route in 1834. The location later became recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its crucial role in westward expansion.

A California Historical Landmark plaque at the pass commemorates Joseph R. Walker, who crossed in 1834, and topographer Edward M. Kern of the 1845 Frémont expedition, after whom the Kern River is named. After 1860 the route carried mining freight to Owens Valley. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses here, and the campsite about 1 km southwest is a stop for hikers and stargazers.

State Route 178 remains passable year-round, with occasional winter closures due to snowfall. A campground located roughly 1 kilometer southwest provides basic facilities for visitors.

The pass sits along the Pacific Crest Trail, a major long-distance hiking route. Clear night skies in this high elevation area make it an exceptional spot for stargazing.