The KR3 Powerhouse Day Use Area, located 2 miles south of Kernville on Sierra Way, offers calm pools and float-friendly stretches ideal for swimming and floating during lower water levels (typically late summer through fall).

The site features picnic tables, shaded rest spots, a parking lot, and portable seasonal restrooms, making it a quieter alternative to downtown access points, though higher flows can make swimming unsafe so checking river conditions beforehand is essential.