California · Hiking · John Muir Wilderness

Bench Valley

9.6 mi
round trip
1,921 ft
climb
10,438 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Bench Valley open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra National Forest. It doesn't name Bench Valley, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Sierra National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bench Valley is a hard hike in California's John Muir Wilderness, within the High Sierra Ranger District of Sierra National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 8,600 feet to about 10,400 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,921 feet over a distance of about 9.6 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surface and not accessible. The trail is open year-round, and it is not a route for bikes. The climb is steep, and the high point sits well above the low point, so plan for a long day on foot. Several other routes lie close by. Blackcap is about 0.3 miles away, and Woodchuck Cutoff is about 0.8 miles away. The Woodchuck Trail is about 1.4 miles off. Farther afield, the North Fork Kings River offers canoeing about 6.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

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