Powerline-Cunningham
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Nast
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 3 FR532 6.06 9,710 to 11,320 ft. NA 2-3 hours
County:	Pitkin
Adopted by:
Managed by:	White River National Forest, Sopris District	620 Main Street, Carbondale, CO 81623	(970)963-2266
Summary:	Powerline-Cunningham road connects Sellar Lake and Diemer Lake with Hagerman Pass, FR105, road following a high voltage power line.
Attractions:
Seasonal Closure:	Agency - November 23 to May 20
Best Time:	June - Late in month July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Watch for early snowstorms
Trail Heads Accessed:	Lyle/Mormon Lake, FT1919 - Hike, Equestrian
Camping:	There are two dispersed sites all along the east end of the road.
Base Camp:	This would be a good place to base camp and explore the area around Hagerman Pass.
Fall Colors:	Poor - There are only pine trees in this area.
Navigation:	From Basalt, CO. head northeast on 2 Rivers Road toward Hillcrest Drive for 1.7 miles. Turn left onto Homestead Drive and go 0.6 miles. Turn left onto Frying Pan Road and go 19.4 miles. Continue onto County Road 4 and go 6.4 miles. Continue onto Frying Pan Road and go 16.3 miles. Take a sharp left heading up and west to start the Powerline-Cunningham road.
History:
Description:
Starting from the west end near Diemer Lake the Powerline-Cunningham road will head east below Sellar Lake toward the high voltage power lines. It will be a two track road through the pine forest. You will pass a spur on the left that is not on the Forest Service MVUM that heads down to access the power line towers. The road will continue east until it connects with the power line cut and will cross back and forth under the power lines. You will come to an intersection with a road to the right that goes a short distance to a water control dam on South Cunningham Creek below Sellar Peak, to the south. The road will now be graded as it continues to follow the power lines. You will come to an intersection where the road on the left is theMiddle Cunningham, FR538, road and the right is the continuation of the Powerline-Cunningham road. Middle looking east photo by: Adam M The road will go back to a two track that heads up into the pines following Middle Cunningham Creek. Just after a hairpin turn you will cross Middle Cunningham Creek and come back under the power lines. There will be a spur road at the hairpin under the power lines to the left that accesses the power line towers. Stay right heading uphill. The road will get rougher. Rocky section photo by: Adam M You will come out under the power line again and follow the cut up to a tower where you will come around a rocky area with a small meadow on the right side of the road. This is the head of Middle Cunningham Creek. There is a small place to camp under the power lines, if you don't mind the buzz. From here the road heads back into the forest and starts a series of five switchback turns to climb up to a saddle following the power line. Switchbacks above Middle Cunningham Creek photo by: Adam M The second switchback is a bit tight and rough. after getting around it you can look back down into the meadow and the power line cut. Looking back down the powerline cut photo by: Adam M The road will come back out into an open area on top of the saddle. You will have views to the southeast with Ivanhoe Creek in the valley below. Saddle above Ivanhoe Creek looking southeast photo by: Adam M At the top of the saddle there will be a faint spur road to a large campsite in the trees on your left. Following the main road you will head down over the other side of the saddle following the power line. As you head down into the trees again you will do two short switchbacks and then pass a spur road on your left that may go to a campsite in the trees. The road will continue down to a large intersection. The two track on the left is the Hagerman Pass, FR105, road with the Lyle/Mormon Lake Trail on the left. The better road below that heads west is the Fryingpan Road that follows the old railroad grade back to Meredith. The road below that heads east will take you to Ivanhoe lake and the old west portal of the Ivanhoe-Carlton Tunnel.
Data updated - January, 1, 2022      4WD Road driven - September 5, 2021      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2022