Bucks Mountain
Peak · 6,784 ft · North Sierra corridor
Bucks Mountain is a 6784-foot peak in California's North Sierra corridor, rising above the Feather River drainage with exposure to afternoon wind funnels. Colder and windier than lower elevations to the west.
Wind picks up after 11 a.m., channelled by the ridge orientation and valley geometry. Morning calm lasts until mid-day; afternoon gusts are routine. Temperatures stay cool year-round owing to elevation. Exposed slopes shed snow quickly in spring; north-facing terrain holds pack longer.
Over the past 30 days, Bucks Mountain has averaged 6 mph wind and 41 degrees Fahrenheit, with a NoGo score of 35.0; conditions have ranged from a low of 4.0 to a high of 50.0. The week ahead continues the pattern of morning windows and afternoon intensification typical for this exposed summit.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Bucks Mountain
Bucks Mountain sits in the North Sierra corridor between Highway 70 and the Feather River headwaters, roughly 90 minutes northeast of Sacramento. The peak stands isolated enough to catch afternoon thermals and ridge-line wind that lower summits in the region avoid. Primary access via Forest Service roads from Quincy or the Taylorsville area; trailhead parking is minimal and fills by late morning on weekends. The approach crosses mixed conifer forest, then opens to talus and windswept ridgeline near the summit. Avalanche terrain surrounds the peak on north and east aspects; winter travel requires snowpack assessment and awareness of slope angle and recent loading.
Spring conditions dominate the rolling 30-day picture: 41-degree average temperature and 6 mph average wind reflect a transitional season when morning calm is reliable but afternoon development is predictable. Wind gusts to 14 mph are common by 2 p.m. Crowding averages 5.0 on the NoGo scale, indicating light to moderate weekend traffic from nearby towns. The 365-day temperature floor of 26 degrees marks winter base temperatures; summer highs reach 56 degrees. At 6784 feet, this peak sits above the main zone of thermal development in the Sacramento Valley but still responsive to afternoon heating that drives wind up the Feather River canyon.
The mountain suits ridge walkers, scramblers, and backcountry skiers seeking a quick summit with genuine exposure. Expect fast afternoon wind to be the dominant planning factor; start by 7 a.m. to bank the calm window and descend before 2 p.m. Winter and early spring visitors must evaluate avalanche danger on the north-facing gullies and assess cornicing risk on the east ridge. Parking scarcity and a narrow trail corridor mean weekday visits or early arrival on weekends. The summit affords clear views to the High Sierra crest; fog and low cloud are less frequent here than on west-facing slopes.
Nearby Table Mountain, also in the North Sierra corridor, sits lower and is warmer; it sees afternoon wind later and recovers faster when systems pass. Black Butte and Lassen Peak to the north are higher and colder, drawing more winter snow and longer snowpack persistence. The Bucks Mountain approach uses the same Forest Service corridor as routes to Spanish Peak and the Feather River wilderness, making it a natural pairing for a two-day traverse or a lower-elevation warm-up before tackling the higher peaks to the east.