Buckeye Pass Trail

The north end of this trail starts at a signed junction, 9 miles up the Buckeye Canyon Trail and about 2.5 miles below Kirkwood Pass. The trail drops a little to cross the North Fork of Buckeye Creek. In 2021, when fallen trees had not been cleared even on the PCT, there were several trees down across this trail, making it difficult to cross the swampy area before the creek. Shortly after crossing the North Fork, the trail crosses the South Fork of Buckeye Creek and then follows it to Buckeye Pass. Once across the creeks, the trail begins a moderately steep climb, switchbacking up 500 feet of elevation over the next mile. After that, it climbs only 600 feet over the next 3 miles. The trail goes through an open coniferous forest with standard Sierra scenery as it passes between two granite ridges over 11,000 feet tall. The pass itself is so gentle that it would be difficult to recognize the top, except for the signs as it crosses into Yosemite National Park. Just after entering the highest of the beautiful meadows of upper Rancheria Creek, we reach a signed junction with the Peeler Lake Trail #079. In front of us, the Rancheria Creek Trail leads 6.3 miles through the meadows to the PCT. If you have two cars, this trail can be part of a three-day loop hike up Buckeye Canyon, across to Peeler Lake and down Robinson Creek to Twin Lakes. Or it could be part of longer loop hikes, such as over Tower Pass and back via the PCT and Rancheria Creek.