Buck Gully Trail Guide

In This Guide	Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the Buck Gully Trail How to Get to the Buck Gully Trail Insider Tips & Alternate Distances
Total Distance (?)	5.2 miles (8.4 km)
Other Options	4 miles to end of singletrack
Hike Time	2 Hours (Total)
Difficulty (?)	Easy
Total Ascent (?)	460 feet (140m)
Highest Elevation	600 feet (183m)
Fees & Permits	Free
Dogs Allowed	No
Alerts & Closures (?)	Buck Gully Reserve
Park Phone	949-644-3151
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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.

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.

Joby GripTight Smartphone Flexible Tripod
Take your selfie stick game to the next level. Part of the fun of a hike is taking pictures, and a flexible JOBY smartphone tripod takes it to the next level. You can use it as a selfie stick, as a regular tripod, but more importantly, as a flexible tripod that can attach to tree branches and other objects. It’s not expensive, and it’s something you can use when not hiking too.
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Black Diamond Astro 250
It’s your biggest asset if you get lost. If something goes wrong and you get lost, sprain your ankle, or get delayed, you might be caught out after dark. And one of the top items that search and rescue departments recommend you carry is a light. Now smartphones have lights, but they drain the battery quickly. It’s better to invest in an expensive yet high-quality headlamp like the Black Diamond Astro 250. It takes AAA batteries, can last 200 hours, and has an emergency strobe. Carry it with you off the trail to use in emergencies as well.
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REI Membership Saves You Money Forever
Have you shopped at REI before? They have all kinds of active clothes and gear, from fitness, to hiking, to snow sports, to casual wear. It’s an overall great place to shop (here’s why) and they offer a $20 membership that gets you 10% back on everything for life, along with frequent coupons, discounts, and member-only sales. It’s a no-brainer.
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REI Membership – REI

Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated January 2022.

My January 2022 Top Gear Picks

No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.

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.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.

How Are You Going to Navigate This Hike?
If you are a hardcore hiker and/or hike in extreme conditions, I recommend getting a dedicated GPS like a GPSMAP 66sr or 66i, or a wrist-based GPS with maps like the Garmin Fenix 6. If you only hike in fair weather and a touchscreen is fine, or just want a solid tool, I highly recommend downloading the smartphone app, Gaia GPS. It’s a piece of cake to use and very powerful, just make sure your phone is in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get a big discount here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.

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

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Video Directions

Watch This Video In 360/VR Why 360/VR Is Great

Turn By Turn 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.