Buck Lake Trail is a 3.1-mile out-and-back near Idlewild, CA. It climbs 446 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi4,088 – 4,475 ft · steepest grade: 21%3.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Doe Flat Trailhead 41.81412, -123.70710
Nearest town Idlewild, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Buck Lake Trail
3.1 mi · ▲ 446 ft · 1 hr 15 min
Elevation 4,088–4,477 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Doe Flat Trailhead · 41.81412, -123.70710
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 86°F / low 67° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:12 AM · sunset 8:32 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Buck Lake Trail, heading E.
- 1.5 miReach Buck Lake Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
100% dirt
Weather
ClearTemperature 86°F67°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity16%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 6:12 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:32 PM
Wed
83°61°
Thu
85°59°
Fri
90°58°
Sat
87°58°
Sun
84°55°
Mon
83°53°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 8:11 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:32 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 9:03 PM.
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
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Hikes near Idlewild, California