Fire Box
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	The Seven Hermits
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 4 FR461 3.54 8,540 to 9,960 ft. Steep Hill 1-2 hours
County:	Eagle
Adopted by:
Managed by:	White River National Forest, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District	24747 US Highway 24 Minturn, CO 81645	(970)827-5715
Summary:	Fire Box road runs along the south base of The Seven Hermits.
Attractions:
Seasonal Closure:	Agency - November 23 to May 20
Best Time:	June - Open, but may have some drifts July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Best
Trail Heads Accessed:
Camping:	There is one campsite near the intersection with FR413.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp and explore the roads around Crooked Creek Pass.
Fall Colors:	Very Good - There are aspens all along the north side of Hardscrabble Mountain.
Navigation:	From Eagle, CO. head west on Grand Avenue for 341 feet. Turn left onto Capitol Street and go 0.8 miles. Turn left onto Brush Creek Road and go 1.0 mile. Turn left to stay on Brush Creek Road and go 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Hardscrabble Mountain Road and go 6.7 miles. Turn right to start Fire Box, FR461.
History:
Description:
Starting from the Hardscrabble Road, FR413, the Fire Box road will be a two track road that climbs west along the base of The Seven Hermits through aspen trees. After 0.13 miles you will pass a campsite. The road will then come into a more open area out of the trees and cross a large meadow at the base of The Seven Hermits to your north. The road will head south and run along the edge of another meadow passing an unnamed trail on the left. The road will head back into the aspens and then cross Sawmill Gulch as it widens out below The Seven Hermits. The road will then come out into another long meadow and continue west. Looking east. The Seven Hermits on the left. photo by: Adam M At the west end of the meadow you will be leaving Forest Service managed lands and entering BLM managed lands. The road is shown on the Forest Service MVUM as being under their jurisdiction. The road will remain a two track and head downhill through the forest coming out into another small meadow along Hernage Creek. You will pass through a fence, then cross the creek and head north into the aspen trees. As you come out of the trees into another meadow you will come to a large Y intersection. The road on the right is BLM8380 road, which follows Hernage Creek through The Seven Hermits to the north. Crossing open meadow photo by: Adam M Open area along Hernage Creek photo by: Adam M The road on the left is the Fire Box road, and BLM8380I, which crosses the open meadow and then enters the trees and heads south along a ridge. The road will be narrower as it climbs up the side of Hardscrabble Mountain. At the first sweeping switchback you will cross back onto Forest Service managed lands. The road will do a few more sweeping switchbacks as you continue to gain altitude. Aspen at west end of road photo by: Adam M The road will now get steeper as it makes its climb and the aspen start to give way to pine trees. The pines will thin a bit and then you will come to an intersection with Sawmill, FR451. Go left hear to head back to FR413.
Data updated - December 27, 2021      4WD Road driven - September 4, 2021      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2022