Arizona · Hiking · Pine Mountain Wilderness

Buck Basin

1.3 mi
round trip
682 ft
climb
5,630 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Buck Basin open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Verde Ranger District. It doesn't name Buck Basin, so check the source for the area it covers (6 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Verde Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Buck Basin is a 1.25-mile out-and-back hike in the Pine Mountain Wilderness, part of the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated hard. The route starts at about 5,285 feet and climbs to about 5,630 feet, with a total gain of 682 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.46 miles in, with a 15% grade. The trail surface is natural, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 70°F in April to 74°F in October, while July highs average about 91°F. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the basin run cooler. The Verde River, about 1.6 miles away, offers canoeing. The Short Cut and Double T hikes are both within about 2.6 miles, and Sycamore Cabin, a campground, is about 7.9 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.