Buck Creek NRA Trailhead

Situated on the ridge above Hells Canyon and the Hells Canyon Wilderness area, the Buck Creek National Recreation Area (NRA) Trailhead is a combination horse campground and trailhead for back country. The site has limited stock facilities such as hitching rails, trailer parking, feed bunks and holding corrals.

This trailhead provides access to Reservoir Bench Trail #1884 which enters Hells Canyon Wilderness.

General Information

June

Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.

Recreation Passes may be used as a form of fee payment.

You will need to display a valid day pass (or annual pass) for each day your vehicle is at a recreation site where a fee is required.

General rules of use and restrictions apply for this developed recreation site. Wilderness Regulations apply within Hells Canyon Wilderness.

Motorized vehicles, bicycles, carts, hang glider and other mechanical equipment is prohibited in the Wilderness area.

No fees are required for this site

No fee or pass required.

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 45.197695

Longitude: -116.764481

Elevation

6000

Directions

From Enterprise, Oregon travel south on Oregon State 82 towards Joseph for about 6.5 miles; In Joseph turn left on Oregon State 350 and go about 8 miles to the Wallowa Loop Road; Turn right on the Wallowa Loop Road (also known as the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway) and travel on this road which eventually becomes Forest Road 39 for about 31.5 miles (you will go past Blackhorse and Ollokot Campgrounds and cross over the Imnahah River) to Forest Road 3962; Turn left on Forest Road 3962 and go 2.2 miles to Forest Road 025; Turn right on Forest Road 025 and go 0.8 miles to Forest Road 3965; Turn left on Forest Road 3965 and go about 5 miles to the trailhead entrance on the left.

From Halfway, Oregon head east out of town for 1 mile on Record Road to Highway 86; Once on Highway 86 go 9 miles to Wallowa Loop Road (also known as Forest Road 39 and Hells Canyon Scenic Byway) towards Enterprise and Joseph; Turn left on the Wallowa Loop Road/Forest Road 39 and travel about 19.5 miles to Forest Road 3965 (This is the road to the Hells Canyon Overlook); On Forest Road 3965 (paved for first 3 miles to overlook) go 10 miles to trailhead entrance on left side of road.

There is a gate near PO Saddle Trailhead (3 moremiels down the road) that is locked 3 days prior to deer rifle season (late September) through late June; check with the Wallowa Mountain Visitor Center for the exact dates of gate closure.