Buck Rock Lookout

Hiked: 5/28/2022
Distance: 0.6 miles round trip on dirt road
Summit Elevation: 8502'
Elevation Gain: 350'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.3
Round trip time: 30 minutes
Recommended water: 0 oz.
Parking/Fees: $35 National Parks Fee (one car for 7 days)
Difficulty: Easy

When forest route 13S04 opens in late spring, you can drive within a quarter mile of Buck Rock Lookout. A locked gate prevents you from driving all the way to the tower. Leisa and I drove up from the Generals Highway, then hiked the road to the lookout. The dirt road has a bad reputation but was not really difficult or challenging with high clearance. A sedan or two had made it to the top. Unfortunately, afternoon clouds were blowing through and had engulfed the top of the tower. The lookout was built on top of a 300' rock spire. It would have a been a difficult rock climb to reach without metal stairs with wooden steps built into it. We walked to the top and found two rangers manning the lookout. We didn't bother them, but walked around the top hoping for a break in the clouds. After a few minutes, we cursed our bad luck and descended. According to a plaque at the bottom, wooden ladders were used when it was first operational in the early 1900s. We got a mostly clear photo of the lookout as we were leaving. Leisa talked me into chancing the northern exit on forest road 13S04 that connects to 14S02 (paved), then eventually Quail Flat. We drove out to the north and the road was no worse than the southern part and more scenic.