Idaho · Hiking

Bench Lakes

Bench LakesPhoto: U.S. Forest Service employees, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.9 mi
round trip
278 ft
climb
7,764 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Bench Lakes open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Sawtooth National Forest.

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

Bench Lakes is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 2 miles in Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area, part of the Sawtooth National Forest. The trail rises about 280 feet from a low point of 7,473 feet to a high of 7,764 feet, and the route is natural-surface, with horses allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Stanley put July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the upper 30s and the fewest wet days of the year. That station sits about 1,300 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trail lies about a mile from Redfish Lake, and Redfish Inlet Trail and Redfish Inlet Campground are each about 1.2 miles away. Point Campground is about 1.5 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Bench Lakes

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 4°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 7°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 14°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 21°

      12 wet

    5. May

      60° / 30°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      69° / 35°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 39°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 37°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 31°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 24°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 14°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 6°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Stanley Rs, ID, 3.9 mi away at 6,495 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Redfish Inlet TrailPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Redfish Inlet Trail

~2 min drive

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Grand Mogul TrailPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Grand Mogul Trail

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~4 min drive

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Fishhook TrailPhoto: bgwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fishhook Trail

~3 min drive

1.17-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 63 ft of elevation gain.

Redfish Creek - Baron Creek TrailPhoto: Argyleist from Sugarhood, Utah, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Redfish Creek - Baron Creek Trail

~4 min drive

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Bull MoosePhoto: U.S. Forest Service employees, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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~7 min drive

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Fishhook TrailPhoto: bgwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fishhook Trail

~3 min drive

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Benedict TrailPhoto: Sawtooth National Recreation Area employees, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Benedict Trail

~16 min drive

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REDFISH LAKEPhoto: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

REDFISH LAKE

~7 min drive

5.26-mile out-and-back trail at Redfish Lake in Idaho with 565 ft elevation gain.

Goat Lake TrailPhoto: jfdervin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Goat Lake Trail

~10 min drive

2.46-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 830 ft elevation gain.