Buck Creek Forest Camp and Trailhead
Located on the western side of the Eagle Cap Wilderness and very close to the wilderness boundary, the Buck Creek Campground/Trailhead was built to meet the needs of both wilderness trail users and overnight campers. After crossing the Buck Creek Bridge off the North Fork Catherine Creek Road, the narrow dirt road travels through isolated forest and towering rock cliffs to the combination campground and trailhead.
The area is also very popular for mushrooming in the Spring and berry picking in the Fall. In the late Summer and Fall, big game hunters use the site for day and extended overnight hunting trips.
General Information
The campsites have large, up to 60 foot long, pull-through and back-in parking area which welcomes long RVs and horse trailers. Camp sites are used by trailers and stock users. Hitching rails and a loading ramp are available. Bring stock and potable water.
The center parking island is used for wilderness trails visitors.
May
Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
All visitors to the Eagle Cap Wilderness must obtain a Wilderness Visitor Permit before entering the area. Only one permit is required per group and there is no fee for the permits. Registration and Permit boxes are located at each trailhead near the information board. The permits are self-issued.
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 Eagle Cap Wildernes.
- Motorized vehicles, bicycles, carts, hang glider and other mechanical equipment is prohibited in the Wilderness area.
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $10/night.
Interagency Senior/Access Recreation Passes provide a 50% discount to Single Campsites ONLY.
*The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.*
https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes
Day Use: $5/vehicle/day.
Northwest Forest Passes are Honored for Day Use: $30/annual.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev2_027010
Interagency Recreation Passes are Honored for Day Use.
store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes
Please be prepared to pay with CASH or CHECK.
*Sites may be reservable and reservation fees apply.*
The campground and trailhead are two separate fee sites.
- Trailhead: $5/vehicle/day - Recreation Passes may be used as a form of fee payment.
- Camping: $10/night for users staying in the designated campsites.
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 45.148175
Longitude: -117.572261
Directions
From La Grande, Oregon, travel south on State Highway 203 for about 25 miles (the road is known as the Medical Springs Highway after leaving Union); Turn left on the Catherine Creek Lane (which becomes Forest Road 7785); Travel on Forest Road 7785 for four miles to Forest Road 7787; On Forest Road 7787, travel about 4 miles to Forest Road 150; The campground and trailhead are about 1/4 mile further up Forest Raod 150.
Part of the Forest 7787 road is narrow and steep with a gravel surface.
Parking
Day use and trailer
Facility and Amenity Information
Accessibility
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at this site.
Water
Potable water is not available at this site.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
At each site
