The area is named for Buck's Meadow 37°48′43″N120°07′07″W / 37.81194, -120.11861 which lies at the corner of SR120 and Smith Station Road. According to The Big Oak Flat Road, a variant name for the area was Hamilton's Station. 1 This may have referred to the name of a stagecoach stop.
2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of U.S.F.S. Buck Meadows Fire Station, "Rim of the World" overlooks the canyon containing the South Fork of the Tuolumne River.
Further east, visitors on hot summer days can cool off at a Stanislaus National Forest picnic area called "Rainbow Pool". The area is on the south side of SR120 2.25 miles east of U.S.F.S. Buck Meadows Fire Station.
This community is home to Buck Meadows Restaurant on SR120. Southwest of town, the U.S. Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest fire lookout at Smith Peak overlooks the area. A U.S.F.S. campground and fire station are also present in the community. The Pines campground is located at 37°49′05″N120°05′36″W / 37.81806, -120.09333.
