Backpack to Upper Bench Lakes

A smooth drive in any vehicle including Prius will take to you the shores of Redfish Lake. Upon arrival to the lake, you'll want to park in the "backpacker's parking lot" about a quarter mile before the lodge. $16 gets you a round trip ticket from the Redfish Lake Lodge to the Redfish Inlet Trailhead, the start of this hike at 6600 ft.

There is a campground at the onset of this hike, but continue on the obviously marked trail that runs through the middle. After a few hundred feet, you'll come to an outpost prompting you to get a (free) permit on the spot. At this station, there is also a well-marked map on the board if you need to look at it.

From there, it's a steady 3-mile ascent up switchbacks, meadows, rocky terrain and lodgepole pines to the first Bench Lake (lower). This lake is small, but beautiful sitting at about 7,700 ft.

Not far up, a quarter mile, from this first lake is a second, much larger lake. At this lake, the trail diminishes. Towards the eastern side is a good spot to make camp (there is an existing site, contrary to LNT) because the lake is deep on this side and mosquitoes are few. In contrast, the west side is marshy and buzzing with those pesky blood suckers.

To reach the third and fourth lakes, you'll need to blaze your own trail headed towards Mt. Heyburn. The third lake is about a mile away through, at times, thick pine forests and undergrowth. The fourth and final lake sits at about 8600 ft a half a mile up from the third lake right at the rocky base of Heyburn.

Finally, remember to ask the boat operator what times the boat leaves the Inlet Trailhead on the day in which you'll be returning in order to schedule your return trip to the lodge.