TR: Beckwith Bench Trail (8 Aug 2014)
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The Beckwith Bench Trail is one of those that goes easily unnoticed on the map. It doesn’t go anywhere else or lead to the top of a peak or a giant waterfall. It just kind of goes until it doesn’t go anymore. With the flowers changing, but still colorful, I decided I had to go check it out. Of course, Eddy the wonder dog had to come along too.
I started out at the Cliff Creek trail and headed toward Beckwith Pass. The meadows had transformed since my time there a month ago. The wildflowers were still bountiful!
Fields of sunflowers and flax had been replaced by showy fleabane and showy goldeneye.
Scarlet gilia had been prolific here a month ago. In places, it was still growing strong beside the showy fleabane and showy goldeneye.
The mountains always are more beautiful with a colorful foreground 🙂
Like earlier in the summer, still fields and fields of flowers – Just different flowers than earlier in July.
Quite a show.
Beckwith Pass is also the location of the wilderness boundary. I continued onward into the wilderness, taking a right onto the Beckwith Bench trail.
As the trail traversed westward, amazing views revealed – like this one of Storm Ridge and the Castles.
The Beckwith Bench Trail is named as such because it follows along a bench-like feature that hugs the south side of East Beckwith Mountain. Larkspur in the foreground.
The wildflowers kept raging on.
Another view of Storm Ridge.
After stunning vistas were unfolded, the trail enters a drainage that is lined with lush foliage.
Eventually, the trail descends toward a group of swamps.
If you’ve followed the trail all the way to the swamps, then you probably missed a right turn which is shown in this picture. The turn is obscured by plants when going downhill. If you miss it, just head back uphill again and you will find it veering to the left this time.
The trail continues onward. But, on this day, time constraints kept me from going further. The Beckwith Bench Trail continues for another .5 to .75 miles before fading out.
I turned around and followed by steps back. The scenery was just as good the second time.
North, there was a rainstorm passing through.
The Raggeds.
Eddy enjoyed the hike too 🙂
Many thanks to Dara Bouchelle-Collins, the wildflower super woman, for helping me distinguish the difference between fleabane and asters. It’s kind of difficult for a wildflower newbie!
Want to do this hike yourself?
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