Benchmark Lookout: Driving Road 26 in the San Juan National Forest
Benchmark Lookout is an active fire observation station at an elevation of 2,828 meters (9,278 ft) above sea level, located in Dolores County, in the US state of Colorado. Tucked away within the San Juan National Forest, it is one of the few remaining active lookouts in the state. The current steel tower was built in 1970 to replace the old Glade Mountain Lookout.
| Road facts: Benchmark Lookout | |
|---|---|
| Location | Dolores County, Colorado (USA) |
| Elevation | 2,828 m (9,278 ft) |
| Length | 6.2 km (3.9 miles) |
| Elevation Gain | 222 m (728 ft) |
| Surface | Unpaved (Gravel and rocks) |
How do you drive to Benchmark Lookout?
The climb begins at the junction with County Road 27. From there, Road 26 climbs for 3.9 miles to the summit, overcoming a vertical rise of 728 feet. The road is unpaved, with a surface of loose gravel, dirt, and embedded rocks. While high-clearance SUVs can handle the climb, the track gets significantly rougher and more rutted near the top. There is a locked metal gate just below the tower; you must park the car in the small clearing and walk the last few meters to the base of the lookout.
What are the conditions on Road 26?
Due to the altitude, snow blocks the road from October to June. During the summer, the dirt track is dry but remains bumpy, uneven, and tilted sideways in several sections. You need a vehicle with good ground clearance to avoid scraping the oil pan on the exposed rocks in the middle of the road. Because the tower sits on an exposed ridge, you must get off the mountain immediately if a thunderstorm approaches, as lightning strikes the high metal structure frequently.
What states can you see from Benchmark Lookout?
Because of the flat geography of the surrounding plateau, the high point offers a view that reaches into Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. The tower is a working forestry facility where fire lookouts live during the summer fire season, so visitors should not block the access gate or the parking area used by the staff trucks.