Intro

Buck Rock is one of the few areas in SEKI that's mostly sport climbing. The dozen routes are all steep, one pitch or top-ropes, and lie on the southeast face.  There is also quite a bit of fun bouldering around the base and in the forest nearby.  Please keep chalk use to a minimum as sight seers outnumber climbers here and we don't want a bad reputation.  Most visitors make the trip for the outstanding views of Kings Canyon and much of the high Sierra from the fire lookout on top. The lookout is accessed by a set of stairs and is usually open in the Summer.  During fire season the lookout can be visited during the day but is a private residence at night, please respect this.

The climbing season is Summer and Fall, the access roads close when there's snow but are open to snowmobiles and cross country travelers. Many campgrounds are nearby around Big Meadows. Roadside campers must obtain a fire permit from the forest service office in Dunlap. 

Webcams, historical information and more can be found on the Buck Rock Foundation website.

Directions

These roads are closed from the first snow in the Fall until they open in late Spring or early Summer. Call Hume Lake ranger district at 559-338-2251 for up to date info. 

Shorter, bumpier route: Coming from Highway 180 out of Fresno, enter the park and make a right turn on the Generals Highway after roughly a mile. Seven miles later, near Montecito Sequoia Lodge, turn left onto forest route 14S11 towards Big Meadows. Go about 2.5 miles to Buck Rock Campground, make a left on forest route 13S04, and follow is a few miles to Buck Rock.

Slightly longer, smoother route: From the turn onto the Generals Highway, go 3.5 miles to the larger turnout at the junction with Tenmile Creek Road. From here take forest route 14S02, follow it for almost 6 miles and turn right on 13S04.

Sometimes the last hundred yard or so of the road is closed and has to be walked. Both of these approaches work from the Highway 198 entrance into the park also.

To access the top of the routes on the left scramble up near the pipes.  To get to the top of the routes on the right use the stairs or lead something.