Johnson Pass to Bench Lake

The feel

At Mile 3.9, by the Bench Creek Bridge, the trail enters the V-shaped Bench Creek valley. The valley carries on to Bench Lake, at Mile 9.3, in sub-alpine tundra. The grade is gradual with a few short, steep sections, and the trail is well maintained.

Moose, wolves, black and brown bears, Dall sheep, ptarmigan and spruce grouse live in the area, and Bench Lake holds grayling. This is an extremely popular mountain bike trail, so wheels are welcome here and the trail is very busy on weekends.

What to expect

Route and terrain

Out and back, 18 miles total, rated hard, with 1100 ft of gain. The Bench Creek valley leads to Bench Lake. The top is at 1770 ft, from a trailhead at 670 ft.

Time

About 8 hours.

Crowds and best time

Very busy on weekends because of mountain bike traffic.

Parking

At Mile 64 of the Seward Highway, east of Granite Creek Campground, turn south on the signed gravel road for 1/4 mile to the trailhead parking.

Hazards

Use caution with bears and moose. Giardia could be present in open water, and weather can change rapidly. Downed trees can impede travel year round.

Cell signal

Beyond the pass, assume you will not be able to phone out.

Bathrooms and water

Filter surface water before drinking. A campsite between Mile 9 and Mile 11.5 has an outhouse.

Season and access

The recommended season is June to October. Snow on the trail may persist into early June, and the trail may be muddy until mid-June. The first 3.9 miles from the north trailhead are closed year round to motorized vehicles. The trail is closed to saddle and pack stock from April 1 to June 30.

Mingo says

Go from mid-June through October, once the snow and mud have cleared. Pack a rod for the grayling, since fishing is one more reason to reach the lake.

Before you go

• Bring a filter or purifier, since Giardia could be in any open water.
• Call the Seward Ranger District at (907) 288-3178 before you go.
• Plan to be self-sufficient, because over the pass the trail is at least 12 miles from the road system.
• Leave motorized vehicles at home, since the first 3.9 miles from the north trailhead are closed to them year round.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.