Lower Bench
Lower Bench Trail is a 6.6 miles trail in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 38.5287, -108.6827 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 38.5148, -108.6047 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.
The trail
| Length | 6.6 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 5-8 percent |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 2650 |
| Forest | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (unit 0204) |
| States | Colorado |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Lower Bench Trail?
6.6 miles, the sum of the 1 segment the Forest Service records under this name in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Lower Bench Trail?
hiking and horse and pack stock. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Lower Bench Trail start?
The line begins at 38.5287, -108.6827 and ends at 38.5148, -108.6047. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Lower Bench Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Lower Bench Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Source: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page
How developed is the Lower Bench Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Lower Bench Trail?
The typical grade is 5-8 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Lower Bench Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Lower Bench Trail?
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Forest Service unit 0204. The trail is in Colorado.
Source: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named LOWER BENCH in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0204. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.