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Buck Rock
A short trail leading up to this historic fire lookout giving great views of the Kings Canyon.
Plan Around Buck Rock
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Buck Rock Details
Forest roads (14S11 then 13S04) off the Big Meadows Road take you to the short trail leading up to this historic fire lookout offering great views of the Kings Canyon. There are 172 steps to the top though, so make sure everyone in your party is up for some stairs. Buck Rock Lookout is located high atop a granite dome, looking out over the Sierra Nevadas and the Great Western Divide. Referred to for centuries as "Finger Rock" by Native Americans, white settlers deemed it "Buck Rock" as they believe the rock looked like the profile of a male Native American-referred to at the time as "Bucks". The fire lookout you can see was built in 1923 and is one of the three remaining "4-A style live-in cabs" today. Before the construction of the current lookout, rangers sat atop a platform looking for smoke. If seen, the ranger would hop on his horse to find the fire and get help. In 1914, a a telephone was installed that connected Buck Rock to Pinehurst--eliminating the need for the quick "horse race" to sound the alarm. The Lookout is open June through October, 9:30am to 6:00pm for visitors, but it is a working lookout, so is staffed 24-7 during dry season by USFS officials. You'll also find vault toilets at the Lookout should you need the facilities.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
Region
Lodgepole to Grant Grove
Nearby Parks Around Buck Rock
Compare nearby parks around Buck Rock when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Buck Rock
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Buck Rock while the map context is still fresh.
0.3 mi away
Giant Sequoia National Monument
The Giant Sequoia National Monument is located in the southern Sierra Nevada in eastern central California and is administered by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Sequoia National Forest.
2.4 mi away
Big Meadows Road
This forest road offers beautiful views of Boulder Creek and leads to a short trail to the top of Lookout Peak.
3.5 mi away
Kings Canyon Overlook
Impressive views of the Kings Canyon and High Sierra wilderness.
3.5 mi away
Buena Vista Peak
The hike to the top of Buena Vista Peak is a two-mile roundtrip beginning just south of the Kings Canyon Overlook on the Generals Highway.
3.5 mi away
Buena Vista Peak
The hike to the top of Buena Vista Peak is a two-mile roundtrip beginning just south of the Kings Canyon Overlook on the Generals Highway.
