Benchmark
- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 80 ft
- climb
- 1,153 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Benchmark open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. It doesn't name Benchmark, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Trail work and picnic area improvements at Morgan Falls/St. Peter's Dome Recreation Area this fall
Agency closure covering Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Forest Order 09-13-25-02 General Occupancy and Use Restrictions
Agency closure covering Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · Order 09-13-25-02 · USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Benchmark is a short, easy cross-country ski route in the Washburn Ranger District of Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The out-and-back trip covers about half a mile, with a total climb of 80 feet from a starting point near 1,150 feet to a high point of about 1,153 feet. The route is so brief that it works well as a quick addition to a longer outing in the area. Winter is the natural season for this ski route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Bayfield Fish Hatchery show January highs around 23°F with lows near 4°F, while July highs reach about 77°F. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. Several other routes lie within a short distance. Valkyrie B, a cross-country ski route, is about 0.2 miles away, and the Teuton E - Smokey's Run hike is about 0.1 miles off. The Teuton D - Benchmark hike is about 0.3 miles away, and the Washburn Ranger District offers lake fishing about 8 miles out.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Teuton Loop C
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1.70-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 53 ft elevation gain.
SEE
Mount Ashwabay Ski & Recreation Area
~14 min drive
Mount Ashwabay Ski & Recreation Area in Wisconsin has 2 lifts and 12 runs.
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Deer Path Trail
~11 min drive
0.44-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 161 ft of elevation gain.
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Valkyrie B
Next door
2.60-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 50 ft elevation gain.
SKI
Deer Path
~11 min drive
0.84-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with 180 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Teuton Loop B
Next door
Teuton Loop B is a 1.30-mile lollipop trail in Wisconsin with 33 ft of elevation loss.
SKI
Deer Path Trail
~11 min drive
0.56-mile out-and-back trail in Wisconsin with 202 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Teuton Loop A
Next door
Teuton Loop A is a 2.20-mile lollipop trail in Wisconsin with 19 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Black Bear Trail
~12 min drive
0.15-mile out-and-back route in Wisconsin with minimal elevation gain.
SKI
Benchmark
Next door
0.22-mile out-and-back ski trail in Wisconsin with 41 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
