Bucks Lake Area:

The centerpiece of recreation in Central Plumas County is Bucks Lake, which is 17 miles southwest of Quincy. This beautiful, semi-isolated destination offers year-round enjoyment at an elevation of 5,200 feet.

With 17 miles of shoreline, sandy beaches and tall conifers, Bucks Lake attracts fishermen, campers, and water sports enthusiasts in the temperate months. Trophy rainbow trout and salmon, waterskiing and jetskiing, swimming, boating, nine campgrounds and two marinas are featured at the lake. Plenty of mountain biking opportunities exist in the adjacent forest and hiking trails abound in the Bucks Lake Wilderness, with access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Bucks Lake in winter is a premier destination for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers, with staging facilities and 100 miles of groomed trails. During the winter, Bucks Lake Road is plowed only to Bucks Summit, three miles from the lake, but the area remains open as a winter retreat. One lodge and two bed and breakfast inns are open to accommodate visitors year-round. Winter snowcat shuttle service is offered. To the north of the lake is the 21,000-acre Bucks Lake Wilderness, with a broad diversity of plant life, trees, and landscape features. Ranging from 2,000 feet to 7,017 feet in elevation, the Bucks Lake Wilderness includes gentle slopes, steep canyons, and sheer cliffs. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the wilderness and is accessible at Bucks Summit or Belden, or by several trails that tie into it. Within Bucks Wilderness are a number of small lakes and ponds, streams, meadows, and historic sites. Through this area poured gold seekers intent on reaching Rich Bar, Mountain House, and other gold-rich placers during the 1850s. Self-registration at trailheads is required, and according to the Forest Service there are registration boxes at all the trailheads. No bicycles or motorized vehicles or equipment are allowed.