Bench
This bench overlook sits along the Great River Road at an elevation of 1,016 feet, facing 240 degrees with terrain dropping 374 feet within 600 meters. Clayton E Johnson Park and Sherwood Park lie to the west-southwest, both under half a mile away at around 650 feet elevation. Farther south-southwest, at roughly 8 to 11 miles out, the view extends toward the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Fairy Rock, and the viewpoints of FerryRock, Lower Quarry View, and Reno Quarry Point, ranging from about 896 to 1,025 feet in elevation. The orientation faces toward sunset, angled 30 degrees off square, with sunset times shifting from 19:17 at the March equinox to 20:51 at the June solstice, 19:04 at the September equinox, and 16:31 at the December solstice. La Crosse is 4.2 miles to the northwest, Onalaska 8.4 miles north-northwest, and Winona 29.5 miles northwest. This lookout falls along the route between BoyScout Bench and South View.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Clayton E Johnson Park648 ftwest-southwest · 0.3 mi
- Sherwood Park652 ftwest-southwest · 0.4 mi
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge629 ftsouth-southwest · 8.3 mi
- Fairy Rock1,025 ftsouth-southwest · 10.3 mi
- FerryRock1,000 ftsouth-southwest · 10.3 mi
- Lower Quarry View896 ftsouth-southwest · 10.5 mi
- Reno Quarry Point955 ftsouth-southwest · 10.8 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:09 | 19:17 | 18:39 |
| June solstice | 05:24 | 20:51 | 20:07 |
| September equinox | 06:53 | 19:04 | 18:26 |
| December solstice | 07:36 | 16:31 | 15:44 |
Local time (America/Chicago). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- La Crosse4.2 mi northwest
- Onalaska8.4 mi north-northwest
- Winona29.5 mi northwest
Take the scenic way to Bench.
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How high is Bench?
Bench sits at about 1,016 feet (310 m).
What can you see from Bench?
From Bench: Clayton E Johnson Park (WSW, 0.3 mi); Sherwood Park (WSW, 0.4 mi); Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (SSW, 8.3 mi); Fairy Rock (SSW, 10 mi).
Is Bench better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Bench toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Bench?
La Crosse, 4.2 miles NW of Bench.
What is the next lookout after Bench?
South View is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Bench.
Drive to Bench with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Locals make it Verified.
Bench — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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