South Bayo Bench Trail

South Bayo Bench Trail is an easy, short hike in the Espanola Ranger District of Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico. The route is about 2 miles long and gains about 67 feet in elevation, with the high point at 7,244 feet and the low point at 7,143 feet. That makes it an easy walk for anyone wanting to spend a few minutes on foot in this corner of the forest. The trail is part of a cluster of short routes. Water Bar Trail and Bayo Canyon Access Trail both sit about 0.1 mile away, and North Bayo Bench Trail is about 0.3 mile off. Barranca Crossing Trail is a similar distance. These make it simple to string together a longer outing by linking trails. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Los Alamos show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F. July and August bring the most wet days, about 13 to 14 a month. The Los Alamos & White Rock climbing area is about 1.2 miles away, and Homestead Bridge and Pueblo Canyon Areas are about 1.9 miles off.