Hike Bench Trail to Sycamore Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Creek crossings can become slippery and unpredictable after storms — the same rain that creates those waterfalls also turns rock surfaces into skating rinks. Trekking poles earn their weight here.
Rattlesnakes are active in the warmer months and favor the riparian corridors this trail follows. Watch where you place your hands and feet, especially near rock edges and tall grass along the creek.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Use this as a one-way shuttle hike: park one car at the campground and another at Bear Gulch Day Use Area, then walk the whole route without backtracking. It turns an out-and-back into a satisfying point-to-point.
Hit this trail within 48 hours of a significant rainstorm — the seasonal waterfalls along Sycamore Trail only appear after heavy precipitation and most visitors never see them because they wait for sunny weekends.
The Peaks View section connects to the South Wilderness Trail, which sees almost zero foot traffic. If you want a side detour into genuine solitude, duck onto that connector for even fifteen minutes and you'll likely have the landscape entirely to yourself.
Photos
NPS Photo/Kurt Moses
