Go if
Summer lake campers willing to drive 8 miles from Winthrop and arrive Friday morning to beat the weekend rush. Mid-70s to upper-80s days with cool nights in the 40s make this the clear sweet spot, and water access is at its best.
Price
$10/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$10/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
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256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Buck Lake
48.1314, -103.2376
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Summer lake campers willing to drive 8 miles from Winthrop and arrive Friday morning to beat the weekend rush. Mid-70s to upper-80s days with cool nights in the 40s make this the clear sweet spot, and water access is at its best.
Anyone counting on a guaranteed spot or a cell signal. There's no reservation option and no way to pay without the Recreation.gov app pre-downloaded, so if your phone can't scan a QR code offline, the whole check-in process breaks down.
Official information for Buck Lake from the federal Recreation.gov facility record. View official page →
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.
If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
<p>From Winthrop, drive 8 miles north on West Chewuch Road (County Road 1213), turn left onto Eightmile Creek Road (Forest Road 5130), then turn left onto Buck Lake Road (Forest Road 5130-100) drive for about 1.5 miles to campground.</p>
Buck Lake appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
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Best season: summer. Summer is the clearest bet for pleasant weather and full access to Buck Lake’s outdoor opportunities — expect warm, sunny days (typically mid-70s to upper-80s °F) with cool nights (40s–50s °F). Water-based recreation, day hikes, and easy camping are at their peak and roads/amenities are most likely to be open. Weekends can be busy because sites are first-come, first-served, so arrive early to secure a spot; late summer also brings elevated wildfire and campfire restriction risks to watch for. Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February
Overview: 'Best season: summer' with warm days and peak season May–Nov, summer is the clear best time.
This campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis; visitors must physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. If available, payment may be completed on-site by scanning a Recreation.gov QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and visitors are advised to download the app prior to arrival because some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
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