Los Padres National Forest · California

Buck Creek

11 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 18W01 · trail class 2 · typical grade 8-10% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, bike, horse · seasonal: hiking 05/01-10/31

Trailhead Buck Creek Trailhead- 18W01 Drive there

Buck Creek - 18W01 the Forest Service's write-up

No fee for parking. An Adventure Pass is not required.

Spectacular views of the surrounding environment are awarded the hardy outdoor enthusiast. On this trail, steep canyons, dense stands of big cone douglas fir and rugged peaks await the visitor. Water is available from the creek (purify). Nearest supplies are at Gorman, approximately 16 miles.

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Buck Creek Trailhead- 18W01 the Forest Service's write-up

An Adventure Pass is NOT required for parking at the Buck Creek Trailhead  · reservation required

Buck Creek Trail (18W01)

Difficulty: moderate to difficult

Length: 11.25 miles

SESPE WILDERNESS - More information on the Sespe Wilderness: www.wilderness.net

Maps: 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps (Black Mountain)

The Buck Creek Trailhead (elev. 3060 ft.) is located at the southern end of Hardluck Campground (which is currently Closed) and Forest Service Rd. 8N24. Trailhead parking is located 3.0 miles away at the locked gate off of Los Alamos Road, located adjacent to the southern portion of Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. There are no facilities at the parking area or trailhead.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Los Padres National Forest

All 343 trails in Los Padres National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.