Colorado · Hiking

Beckwith Bench

Beckwith BenchPhoto: indigoprime, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.8 mi
round trip
591 ft
climb
10,191 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 6 h ago

Is Beckwith Bench open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Beckwith Bench, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Beckwith Bench is a hard hike in Colorado's Paonia Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The route is an out-and-back of about 6.8 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 591 feet, taking you from a low point of 9,635 feet to a high of 10,191 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, not accessible, and allows horses but not bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Crested Butte, which sits about 1,300 feet lower, show July highs around 76°F with lows near 40°F, while winter highs there stay in the mid-20s. The station's figures are only a guide, and temperatures on this trail run cooler. The hike opens from July 1 to September 30. Cliff Creek lies just 0.1 mile away, and Dollar Lake is about 1.6 miles off. Lost Lake Campground is 2.3 miles away, and Kebler Pass Camping Area is about 5 miles away.

Local outfitters

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