Bucks Lake Wilderness
Bordered by Bucks Lake on the south, this relatively small area boasts a broad diversity of vegetation (brush fields, conifers, oaks, pure stands of red fir) and topography (bare rocky slopes, cliffs, quaking bogs, small alpine meadows) with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet in the Feather River Canyon to 7,017 feet atop Spanish Peak. The higher elevations are separated from the lower by a long escarpment along which the Pacific Crest Trail runs for approximately 13 miles, granting the occasional spectacular view to the east and north. Throughout the area, you'll stumble upon small lakes and ponds, primarily near the base of the escarpment.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 23,578 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.96° N, 121.19° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 18 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
7 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 viewpoint. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 1 miBucks Lake Wilderness ↗Viewpoint
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
9 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 88 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| PCT: Plumas ↗ | 69.9 | |
| Mill Creek ↗ | 9 | |
| Right Hand Branch Mill Creek ↗ | 4.8 | |
| Gold Lake | 1.6 | |
| Granite Gap | 0.9 | |
| Three Lakes | 0.9 | |
| Spanish Peak | 0.4 | |
| PCT/Three Lakes Tie | 0.3 | |
| Rock Lake Spur | 0.1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedAlmanor South Cg 10/31/26 Rx
18 mi from the center point
- PrescribedEcho Lake Pile 10/29/2026 Rx
33 mi from the center point
- PrescribedMadrone Springs Underburn Rx
47 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 13.9 miInskip Hotel ↗Stirling City, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Bucks Lake Wilderness?
23,578 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Bucks Lake Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Bucks Lake Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Bucks Lake Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Bucks Lake Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Bucks Lake Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.958° N, 121.186° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Bucks Lake Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Almanor South Cg 10/31/26 Rx at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Bucks Lake Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Inskip Hotel.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.