Golden Trout as we know them here in the United States are native to the Kern Plateau in the Southern Sierra Nevada. There is an additional Golden Trout that we are not likely to find in the U.S., the Mexican Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus chrysogaster). The Mexican Golden Trout is similar to it's northern brethren but with less red and orange in it's belly. The belly of the Mexican Trout can be described as yellowish or golden orange.

The Kern trout are consider are a subspecies of the Rainbow Redband or interior Rainbow Trout and are the most ancient of the species.

There are three subspecies of Kern River trout:
 

• South Fork Kern and Golden Trout Creek Golden Trout
  (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita)

• Kern River Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchyus mykiss gilberti)

• Little Kern River Golden Trout (Oncorhynchyus mykiss whitei)