California · Hiking

Buckeye Canyon

12.5 mi
round trip
688 ft
climb
7,803 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Buckeye Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Buckeye Canyon, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Buckeye Canyon is a hard hike in California's Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, within the Bridgeport Ranger District. It is a 12.5-mile out-and-back with a total elevation gain of 688 feet, taking you from a low point of about 7,188 feet to a high of roughly 7,803 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses, and the Forest Service manages the surrounding land. It stays open year-round, and the closest neighbors are Buckeye Campground, just 0.4 miles away, and Buckeye Creek, a canoeing spot 0.6 miles off. For comfortable weather, aim for June through September. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bridgeport run from highs around 77°F in June to about 85°F in July, while winter brings highs in the low 40s and a few snowy days each month. Other nearby options include the Sawmill Ridge Route and Eagle Creek, both hikes under 2 miles away, and the Incredible Hulk climbing area about 8.6 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Buckeye Canyon

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      43° / 10°

      5 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      45° / 13°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      52° / 20°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 25°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      67° / 32°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      77° / 39°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 43°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 41°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 34°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 24°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 17°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      45° / 12°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bridgeport, CA, 6.8 mi away at 6,470 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Sawmill Ridge RoutePhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sawmill Ridge Route

~3 min drive

9.52-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,298 ft elevation gain.

YANEY CANYONPhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

YANEY CANYON

~8 min drive

3.0-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,229 ft elevation gain

Robinson Creek TrailPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Robinson Creek Trail

~11 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in California with 93 ft of elevation gain.

Horse & Cattle Creek TrailPhoto: scorpio-tiger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Horse & Cattle Creek Trail

~11 min drive

11.76-mile out-and-back hike in California with 4,573 ft elevation gain.

Yaney Canyon RoutePhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Yaney Canyon Route

~7 min drive

6.60-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,675 ft elevation gain.

Horse Creek RoutePhoto: scorpio-tiger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Horse Creek Route

~13 min drive

4.32-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,414 ft elevation gain.

Rickey Cabin TrailPhoto: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rickey Cabin Trail

~11 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back hike in California with 575 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Molybdenite Creek Trail

~10 min drive

11.88-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,054 ft elevation gain and loss.

Long Valley Creek RoutePhoto: Kurt Minard, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Long Valley Creek Route

~9 min drive

11.36-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,455 ft elevation gain.

Buckeye Canyon TrailPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Buckeye Canyon Trail

~17 min drive

7.76-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,288 ft elevation gain