Campground

Buck Ridge

Hensley Lake, California

About this campground

Buck Ridge is located directly on the shore of Hensley Lake and surrounded by the oak woodlands of the Sierra Nevada foothills, offering a mixture of sun and shade.

Buck Ridge group day-use pavillion is located within the Buck Ridge Recreation Area at Hidden Dam, Hensley Lake.

The lake area offers many recreational opportunities, such as swimming, water skiing, fishing and hiking, and attracts a growing number of visitors per year.

Map

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Latitude
37.125000° N
Longitude
119.875000° W
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Know before you arrive

Access, sites & campground features

Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.

Connectivity

  • T-Mobile5GExcellent coverageVerified by 0 campers
  • Verizon5GGood coverageVerified by 2 campers · Oct 18, 2026
  • AT&T5GExcellent coverageVerified by 0 campers

Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.

Access

  • Drive-inCommunity report
  • Walk-inCommunity report

Site types

  • Group sites
  • RV / trailer sitesCommunity report
  • Tent sitesCommunity report
  • Dispersed sitesCommunity report

Features

For campers

  • Toilets
  • Drinking water
  • Picnic table
  • ADA access
  • Phone serviceCommunity report
  • Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Army Corps recreation areas when penned, caged, on a leash no longer than six feet, or otherwise physically restrained. Pets are excluded from swimming beaches, sanitary facilities, playgrounds, and other posted areas.
  • Reservable

For vehicles

  • Parking
  • Paved parking
  • Paved roads
  • Big rig friendlyCommunity report

Official campground guide

Plan with the full campground details

Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.

Open official source

Overview

Buck Ridge group day-use pavillion is located within the Buck Ridge Recreation Area at Hidden Dam, Hensley Lake. The pavilion has drinking water access, multiple picnic tables, a large barbeque pit and grill for cooking, two horseshoe pits and a water-borne restroom for your use.

The lake area offers many recreational opportunities, such as swimming, water skiing, fishing and hiking, and attracts a growing number of visitors per year. It is within a short drive to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, as well as Sierra National Forest.

The 1,500-acre lake was created by the construction of Hidden Dam on the Fresno River. With over 20 miles of shoreline, it is a popular vacation spot for families because of its playground, swimming areas and water activities.

Facilities

This facility has boat ramps, picnic areas, a group picnic shelter and a playground. Drinking water is provided, and there is a grocery store within a short driving distance.

Recreation

The area is packed with opportunities for outdoor fun. The lake area has a swim beach, a disc golf course and a hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trail. On the water, visitors can ski, swim and fish.

Natural Features

Buck Ridge is located directly on the shore of Hensley Lake and surrounded by the oak woodlands of the Sierra Nevada foothills, offering a mixture of sun and shade.

Nearby Attractions

Yosemite National Park is about one hour north, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are about 1.5 hours southeast of the facility.

Yosemite National Park

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Activities & amenities

What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.

Available activities

  • Swimming Site
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Picnicking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Hunting
  • Day Use Area
  • Horseback Riding

Amenities and facility features

  • Vault or pit toilets
  • Potable water
  • Picnic tables
  • Accessible Parking
  • Beach Access
  • Boat Dock
  • Boat Ramp
  • Day Use Area
  • Fish Cleaning Stations
  • Grills
  • Horseback Riding Trails
  • Horseshoe Pit
  • Paved Parking
  • Paved Roads
  • Pay Phone
  • Picnic Shelters
  • Playground
  • Scenic Overlooks
  • Swimming
  • Table & Benches
  • Trailheads
  • Vault Toilets

Recreation sites

Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.

Group Shelter Non-Electric

1 site
Reservation type
Site-Specific
Maximum people
50
Maximum vehicles
0
Maximum vehicle length
0 ft
Check-in
8:00 AM
Check-out
7:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Site rules, inventory & rates

Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.

Site rules

Max Stay
14 nights
Military Discount
1
Reservation cutoff
0 days before arrival
Maximum published occupancy
50 people per site
Check-in
8:00 AM
Check-out
7:00 PM
Food storage
Buck Ridge's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Hensley Lake.
Fire and stove use
The current official campground record does not publish a campground-specific fire or stove rule. Check current posted restrictions before using any flame.
Pets
Dogs are allowed in developed Army Corps recreation areas when penned, caged, on a leash no longer than six feet, or otherwise physically restrained. Pets are excluded from swimming beaches, sanitary facilities, playgrounds, and other posted areas.

Inventory window

Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.

Currently bookable through
Apr 18, 2027
Next release
Oct 19, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
Next book-through date
Apr 19, 2027
Group sites bookable through
Oct 18, 2027

Published seasons & rates

SeasonSite typeNightly rateAdditional personDeposit
Peak SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026Group Shelter Non-Electric$30——
Peak SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027Group Shelter Non-Electric$30——
Peak SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028Group Shelter Non-Electric$30——

Important facility notices

Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.

  • Day use only; no overnight camping allowed.
  • Day-use passes for each vehicle are required. All America the Beautiful Passes are accepted at this location.
  • Rental of pavilion includes three (3) day-use passes. Visitors with additional vehicles must pay $10 day-use fee at main entrance.
  • This area is patrolled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers and Madera County Sheriff's Deputies.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
  • For more information please call 559-831-7040 or email hensley-info@usace.army.mil

Getting there & contact

Official directions

From south of Fresno: Take State Route 99 to SR 41 north to SR 145. Turn left on 145 and go 8.4 miles to Road 33. Turn right on Road 33, and go 1 mile to Road 400. Turn right on 400, and go 9.7 miles to the Buck Ridge Recreation Area. Follow the signs to the campground and various areas within the park. From south of Madera: Take SR 99 north to exit 153B. Bear right onto Madera Ave. and go .3 miles to Gateway. Turn left and drive .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 400, and go 9.7 miles to the Buck Ridge Recreation Area. Follow the signs to the campground and various areas within the park. From north of Madera: Take SR 99 south to exit 153B. Exit onto Olive Ave. Turn left onto Madera Ave. and go .3 miles to Gateway. Turn left and drive .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 400, and go 9.7 miles to the Buck Ridge Recreation Area. Follow the signs to the campground and various areas within the park.

Facility contact

559-673-5151

Sources

Recreation.gov official facility record — Buck Ridge36 CFR 327.11 — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pet ruleRecreation.gov official facility record — Buck RidgeBuck Ridge official facility detailsRecreation.gov official facility record — Buck Ridge — food-storage guidanceThe Dyrt community reports — Buck RidgeRecreation.gov campground details APIRecreation.gov published seasons and ratesRecreation.gov booking-window release dataRecreation.gov recreation-site inventory