Buck Meadow Campground
Located at the confluence of Snow Corral and Deer Creeks along the McKinley Grove Road, Buck Meadow Campground lies on a large flat sandy area adjacent to Deer Creek. Some shade provided by large lodgepole pine trees. Access is on paved and dirt road.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $32.00 per night. Holidays/$2.00 additional/night. $10.00 per night, per additional vehicle |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | Sierra National Forest |
| Fees | $32.00 per night. Holidays/$2.00 additional/night. $10.00 per night, per additional vehicle |
| Rules | Maximum stay = 14 days Maximum vehicle length = 35 foot Maximum group size = 6 per site |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 37.0113° N, 119.0627° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCy26 Snf Rx Support
16 mi from the campground
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
19 mi from the campground · 466 acres
- PrescribedThree Creeks Rx/Support Season
50 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Shaver Lake Sports ↗ | 15.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 15.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 55.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Buck Meadows + Lumsden Campground + Tuolumne River 4.18.2015
Worth a stop
- 5.6 miWoodchuck Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.3 mi
- 7.3 miTrails End Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.4 miHermit's Hole Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 2.6 miMcKinley Grove ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miSnow Corral ↗13.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 3 miStriker Loop0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.2 miDinkey Creek ↗13.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile and 2 more
- 4.5 miCliff Bridge1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miStew0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside John Muir Wilderness, which overlaps Sierra National Forest.
- inJohn Muir Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 652,903 acres
- inSierra National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,418,790 acres
- 7.2 miDinkey Lakes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 30,863 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Dinkey Creek BridgeStructure · Dinkey Creek · 6.4 mi
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
Do I need a reservation at Buck Meadow Campground?
No. Buck Meadow Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Buck Meadow Campground?
$32.00 per night. Holidays/$2.00 additional/night. $10.00 per night, per additional vehicle
Source: Forest Service
Is Buck Meadow Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Buck Meadow Campground?
Buck Meadow Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Buck Meadow Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Gigantea Campground (2.4 mi, first-come), Sawmill Flat Campground (3.8 mi, first-come), and Dinkey Creek (6.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby