California / Madera County

Buck Ridge

Open — Open year-round for day-use only. No overnight camping is permitted at this facility. Day-use passes required for each vehicle at $10 per vehicle. All America the Beautiful Passes are accepted.

About

Buck Ridge is a group day-use pavilion located within the Buck Ridge Recreation Area at Hidden Dam on Hensley Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The facility is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and serves as a day-use recreation area only with no overnight camping permitted. The pavilion features multiple picnic tables, a large barbeque pit and grill, two horseshoe pits, drinking water access, and water-borne restrooms. The pavilion can accommodate up to 50 people and is available for reservation, with rental including three day-use passes. Additional vehicles must pay the $10 day-use fee at the main entrance. The Buck Ridge Recreation Area sits directly on the shore of the 1,500-acre Hensley Lake, which was created by the construction of Hidden Dam on the Fresno River. The area is surrounded by oak woodlands characteristic of the Sierra Nevada foothills, offering a mixture of sun and shade. Recreation opportunities include swimming at the designated beach, disc golf, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, fishing, water skiing, and boating. The lake features over 20 miles of shoreline and is located within driving distance of Yosemite National Park (one hour north) and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (1.5 hours southeast).

Directions

From south of Madera: Take SR 99 north to exit 153B. Bear right onto Madera Ave. and go 0.3 miles to Gateway. Turn left and drive 0.2 miles to the traffic light at Yosemite Ave. (SR 145). Turn right and go 7.2 miles to Road 33. Turn left on Road 33, and go 1 mile to Road 400. Turn right on Road 400, and go 9.7 miles to the Buck Ridge Recreation Area.

Nearby Campgrounds