Where is the Buck Gully Trail located?

The Buck Gully Trail is located in Newport Beach, California, and the traditional starting point is in Corona del Mar at the trailhead near 872 Poppy Ave.

What is the difficulty level of the Buck Gully Trail?

The Buck Gully Trail is an easy hike, suitable for all levels including families. It is well-marked and not too steep, making it accessible to beginners.

Where can I park for the Buck Gully Trail?

Parking for the Buck Gully Trail is available along the street near the trailhead in a residential neighborhood in Corona del Mar. Be mindful of no-parking areas and red curbs.

Are there bathrooms at the Buck Gully Trail?

There are no bathrooms directly at the trailhead or along the trail, but you can use the restrooms at the nearby Oasis Senior Center.

What gear do I need for the Buck Gully Trail?

No special gear is required for the Buck Gully Trail. Light hiking gear or fitness clothes are sufficient. Wear proper hiking footwear if the trail is muddy after rain.

Can I do the Buck Gully Trail as a family hike?

Yes, the Buck Gully Trail is family-friendly, with an easy gradient and plenty of shade. It’s a great hike for kids and beginners.

Can I bike on the Buck Gully Trail?

Yes, mountain biking is allowed on the Buck Gully Trail, but bikers are only permitted to travel uphill, ensuring a safe experience for hikers.

How long is the Buck Gully Trail?

The Buck Gully Trail is approximately 4 miles if you complete the main out-and-back route. If you choose to extend your hike with the optional loop for ocean views, the hike can be longer.

What wildlife can I see on the Buck Gully Trail?

The Buck Gully Reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, bobcats, rabbits, squirrels, and numerous bird species. Keep an eye out for animal tracks and bedding areas along the trail.

What are the best times to hike the Buck Gully Trail?

The best time to hike the Buck Gully Trail is during the morning or early afternoon, especially in spring when the area is in full bloom with wildflowers. Weekdays offer a quieter experience compared to weekends.

PLAY VIDEO

Buck Gully Trail Guide

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated January 17, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance: 5.2 miles
Time: 2 Hours
Total Climbing: 460 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Crowds: Moderate
Dogs: No Dogs
Gear: What I Use
Weather: Latest Report
Park: Buck Gully Reserve

The Buck Gully Trail is a peaceful and fun hike through a coastal watershed located in Newport Beach's foothills. What makes the hike remarkable is that the 1,200 acres of Buck Gully Reserve are tucked in between all the development around Newport Beach. So even though this hike is close to civilization, you feel like you are a world away as you hike your way up the canyon. It's an easy hike, great for all levels and families. And while the trail itself doesn't offer ocean views, I'll show you an optional loop that offers vistas to Palos Verdes and Long Beach.

Where to Park for the Buck Gully Trail

While there are two ends of the Buck Gully Trail, the traditional starting point is in Corona del Mar, which is the only trailhead that offers parking. Use this trailhead address:
872 Poppy Ave, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625

Buck Gully Trail Directions 3 — There's street parking around the trailhead. This is a residential neighborhood, so please be respectful.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 4 — Be mindful of no-parking areas and red curbs.

There are no bathrooms at the trailhead or on the trail, but the City of Newport Beach says that you can use the restrooms at the nearby Oasis Senior Center.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 6

Gear for the Hike

You don't need any special gear to do this hike. Light hiking gear or fitness clothes work great. After rain, the trail can get muddy, so ideally you'll wear hiking footwear.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Garmin inReach Mini 2: Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth
Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter: Easy & Reliable Safe Water
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp: Running late? Get home safe
Altra Olympus 275: Favorite trail shoes right now, no blisters and very comfy.
AllTrails Plus: Offline maps on your phone with the Plus level
Full November 2025 Gear List →

Buck Gully Trail Maps

The trail is easy to follow and well-marked with trail signs at the junctions. You'll share the trail with mountain bikes, but they are only allowed to go one way, uphill, so they're never flying by. In the spring the area comes alive with wildflowers.

Click to activate map

Print Map, Work With It Yourself

View Hike on CalTopo

Bring the Guide to Any GPS

Download the GPX File

Buck Gully Trail Directions 1 — The trail is one-way for bikers. And the trail is well-worn and easy to follow.

3D Map

Buck Gully Trail Hike Directions

Buck Gully Trail Directions 5 — The trailhead is easy to spot. Head past the gate and down the paved path.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 7 — The first few minutes are paved and go downhill.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 8 — But soon you'll see the official start of the Buck Gully Trail with the trail board.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 9 — Right away the trail meanders through trees and brush, and offers nice shade.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 10 — You'll be following the Buck Gully creek up through the canyon, and you'll see several side trails along the way that head to the water. Stay on the main trail and continue straight.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 11 — If you look up in the hills you'll occasionally catch a glimpse of houses, but otherwise you'll be immersed in nature.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 12 — Soon you'll reach the first bridge. There are three bridges on this hike, and four bridges in the Buck Gully Reserve. The aluminum bridges were all helicoptered in when the trail was built.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 13 — The trail gets really pretty when it cuts through hedges and groves.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 14 — Some sections are open and exposed, but it's still scenic as you gradually make your way up the canyon.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 15 — Cross over bridge number two.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 2 — Keep your eyes open on the sides of the trail for matted down grass and brush like this, which is an animal bedding area (guessing mule deer in this case). The Buck Gully Reserve is a wildlife corridor and home to deer, bobcat, and other small mammals like rabbits and squirrels.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 16 — At the junction with the Bobcat Trail, bear to the right. If you do the optional loop at the top, you'll come back down here on the Bobcat Trail (more later).

Buck Gully Trail Directions 17 — As you make your way up the canyon you'll notice the uphills a little more as you continue.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 18 — Cross over the last bridge.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 22 — There's a bench on the other side of the bridge if you need a breather.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 19 — The trail heads uphill for the last stretch.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 20 — And soon you'll reach the end of the single-track part of the Buck Gully Trail.

If you just want to do 4 miles and avoid the fire road portion, you can turn around here.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 21 — Otherwise continue straight. The trail is a wide fire road now.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 23 — At the junction, make the left toward San Joaquin Road.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 24 — The fire road heads uphill and out of the canyon.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 25 — And soon you'll reach the end of the Buck Gully Trail on San Joaquin Road.

From here you have a few options.

If you want a snack or bathroom break, make the right and walk on the sidewalk about 5 minutes to the shopping center which has a Starbucks, supermarket, and other food options.
If you want some ocean views, make the left and walk down the sidewalk. After about 1 mile, you'll see a turnoff and trailhead for the Bobcat Trail. Take the Bobcat Trail downhill and it will dead end into the Buck Gully Trail after crossing a bridge.

Buck Gully Trail Directions 26 — Or you can just turn around and hike back the way you hiked up.

Originally published January 6, 2021

Related Guides
Car Wreck Trail (Laguna Beach) – Hidden in the hills high above Laguna Beach, far away from any road, lies the fabled car wreck,' 1946 Dodge 5-passenger coupe. Visiting the car wreck became so popular that Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park officially made a trail to it in 2013. Today it's a fun hike, offering not only a cool vintage car wreck but also expansive views from Catalina to Mt Baldy. This guide has a 3.8 mile loop that makes the climbing a little easier, or you can do a shorter hike to the car wreck and back.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Hike – Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is a real gem in Southern California. Its 7000 acres of protected land are one of the last bastions of coastal wilderness. This park is what Orange County coast looked like before man started developing here. You'll enjoy pristine coastal sage scrub, ridges with panoramic views, wildlife including over 40 endangered species, and some unique ecology. The park has over 40 miles of trails, and this loop of 7.6 miles is what one park ranger once laid out for me as the "best of " loop, giving you a taste of everything the park has to offer.
Bommer Canyon Trail Hike Guide – The Bommer Canyon Trail, a natural oasis nestled within suburbia, offers a little bit of everything. This easy hike showcases natural beauty, has lots of wildlife spotting opportunities, an interesting history, and sweeping vistas as you approach the highest point in the San Joaquin Hills. The full 4.8 mile hike includes some uphill, but if you want to do something easy, I'll show you an easy 2 mile option that's flat and great for families. Bommer Canyon is a National Natural Landmark and California's first Natural Landmark; it's worth visiting.
Dripping Cave Trail Hike – Tucked away in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, just minutes from Laguna Beach, the Dripping Cave Trail is one of the most fun and easiest hikes in Orange County. Dripping cave, used by native peoples and later bandits, is huge, open, and fun to explore. The park is rich with natural beauty and wildlife, and on the way to Dripping Cave, we'll visit Cave Rock, another cool rock formation hidden away from the busier trails. This five-mile hike is mostly flat, easy to follow, and family-friendly.
More Hikes In and Around Orange County