Franks Bench
- 9.7 mi
- round trip
- 1,158 ft
- climb
- 8,747 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Franks 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 Franks Bench, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Gold Mountain Wildfire Roads and Trails Closure Order v 4.0
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Ophir Pass Road Closure
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
TERMINATION OF ORDER - FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Dallas Area Closure order
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Island Lake Road Closure
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Franks Bench is a hard hike in Colorado's Grand Valley Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 6,500 feet to roughly 8,750 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 1,160 feet over a distance of about 9.7 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open to horses. The trail is open from June through October. Bikes are not allowed, so plan on a horseback ride or a foot journey. The climb is a steady one, and the high point sits well above the low point, so pace yourself for the full route. Several other hikes lie within a few miles, including Long Canyon about 1.3 miles away and Bunch Ground about 2 miles off. For an overnight stay, Oak Cabin and Aspen Leaf Cabin (Uncompahgre National Forest, Co) are both about 3.7 miles from the trail.
Local outfitters
- CampV27 mi away
- RV Ranch at Grand Junction36 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
LONG CANYON
~2 min drive
19.88-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,670 ft elevation gain.
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Bunch Ground
~3 min drive
2.83-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 918 ft gain and 1,118 ft loss.
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LEONARDS RIDGE
~4 min drive
1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 632 ft elevation gain
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BIG CREEK SCOUT
~9 min drive
4.84-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,482 ft gain and 8,890 ft max elevation.
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Blue Creek
~4 min drive
10.20-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 735 ft elevation gain
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Coal Creek
~9 min drive
2.54-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 371 ft elevation gain.
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BITTLE LOOP
~10 min drive
6.76-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Colorado with 514 ft elevation gain.
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Uc
~6 min drive
5.06-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 821 ft gain and 8,673 ft max elevation.
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BIG CREEK CUTOFF
~12 min drive
2.22-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 152 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Short Point Bench
~12 min drive
5.47-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 625 ft elevation gain.
