FS 538B Buckner Ridge Trail

Total Miles
12.1

Elevation

2,216.51 ft

Duration

0.5 Hours

Technical Rating

3

Easy

Best Time

Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

Forest Service 538B is a two-track dirt and rock trail. It begins at FS 538 and continues along the ridge, more or less following the power lines, until you end at the locked gate for Casner Trail. The views along the trail are stunning! The final tenth of a mile leads to a narrow ridge that has three trailheads: Taylor Cabin, Trail #12, and Casner Mountain Motorized Trail (locked to vehicles but can be traveled on foot. See the OnX trail for Casner Mountain Trail for more info). The descent to the trailheads may look intimidating, but it is quite easy and there is plenty of room to turn around at the flat ridge at the end. Along the way, you'll see mule deer, amazing red rock vistas, the Secret Mountain Wilderness, Sycamore Valley, and-if you take a short hike-the old Buck Ridge Cabin (burned, but still quite interesting).

Photos of FS 538B Buckner Ridge Trail

FS 538B Buckner Ridge Trail
FS 538B Buckner Ridge Trail

Difficulty

The trail can be muddy in places. There are some buried boulders less than 12 inches tall, and there are limited places to pass in certain areas of the trail.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

There are no status reports yet for this trail.

Access Description

FS 538 intersects with FS 231 (Woody Mountain Road). FS 538 is a single-lane gravel road for the first several miles. As you reach the burn scar area near FS 538B, the road condition deteriorates but can be driven in 2WD by an off-road capable vehicle with average clearance. See the FS538 Secret Mountain Trail for more details about that road.

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