Easiest trailhead to use is the overlook. Take the trail along the front if the foothills. Shortest is to drive along forest road 027 until you can see Buffalo Peak to the west across a meadow. Park and walk west across the meadow to the trail. Continue south on the trail until it turns west and gets steep. Less than a half mile that way.
There are multiple ways to hike Buffalo Peak. The most popular DIRECT hike starts from the unpaved road about 0.4 mi due East of the peak. If you don't want to take your car on a dirt road you can start from "Squaw Peak Road OVERLOOK". For both options you'll drive through Provo Canyon until you arrive at Squaw Peak Road (NFS #199). Head South on Squaw Peak Road for 4 mi until you arrive at a "T" intersection. DIRECT This is a relatively easy 3/4 mi hike with about 200 ft elevation gain mostly in the last 1/4 mi. From the "T" turn left toward Hope Campground. The pavement ends at the turnout to the campground, 0.4 mi from the "T". Continue on the dirt road, NFS 027 for 2.8 mi. You should be at a significant crest in the road now. The trail starts at the gap in the fence in the west side if the road. Follow the trail in a Westerly direction. OVERLOOK From the "T" turn right and continue to the parking lot at the end of the road. The hike starts from the SE end of the parking area.
The trail is right on the ridge line, coming from Hope Campground it is about 3miles up the dirt road. There is a small parking lot just before the summit on the left (Cascade mtn) side of the road. There are USFS trail markers on either side of the dirt road marking the trail. They are ago 200 yards from the parking lot. Buffalo Peak is staring you in the face to the west and Cascade is to your east. You are at the top of "Shadow Valley"
In the past they close the road at Hope campground for the winter, not sure when they close it, might already be closed
Thanks! Your answer is awaiting moderation.