Colorado · Cross-country skiing

Powerline

PowerlinePhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.1 mi
distance
33 ft
climb
8,937 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Powerline open right now?

Road closed

Gunnison County Road 12: road closure is listed as closed by CDOT 511.

As of · Source: CDOT 511. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Powerline is a cross-country ski route in Colorado's Gunnison Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It is a short, hard route of about 0.14 miles, with a total elevation gain of 33 feet and a total loss of 38 feet. The climb is steepest at about 0.07 miles, with a grade of 3 percent. The route sits at about 8,900 feet, with the high point at 8,937 feet and the low at 8,880 feet. It is a short, steep stretch rather than a long climb, and the start sits at 8,934 feet. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from the nearby Crested Butte weather station show January highs around 26°F with lows near -7°F, while June runs about 70°F by day and 34°F at night. The station sits at a similar elevation to the route. Pooch's Paradise, another cross-country ski route, is about 0.1 miles away, and Woods Walk Conn. is a mountain biking route at the same distance. The Slate River, about a mile off, offers canoeing, and Crested Butte RV Resort is about 3 miles away for camping.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Powerline

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      26° / -7°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / -2°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 7°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 19°

      9 wet

    5. May

      58° / 28°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 40°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 38°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 31°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 22°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 9°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / -4°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crested Butte, CO, 0.9 mi away at 8,867 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Pooch'S ParadisePhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pooch'S Paradise

Next door

Beginner-friendly 1.82-mile Colorado ski trail perfect for families and new skiers.

Inner Magic Meadows 3Photo: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Inner Magic Meadows 3

~2 min drive

0.49-mile route in Colorado with 74 feet of elevation gain.

TeocalliPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Teocalli

~2 min drive

0.69-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 25 ft of elevation gain.

Paradise ParkPhoto: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paradise Park

~3 min drive

0.75-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 202 ft of elevation gain.

Woods WalkPhoto: Nick Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Woods Walk

Next door

Easy, short forest loop in Colorado ideal for beginner cross-country skiers.

Crested Butte Mountain ResortPhoto: Draconrex, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

~5 min drive

Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado has 15 lifts and 95 runs with 2,315 ft of vertical drop.

Washington Gulch RoadPhoto: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Washington Gulch Road

~7 min drive

Short, beginner-friendly road ski in Colorado's Washington Gulch.

Cb Nordic StadiumPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cb Nordic Stadium

~1 min drive

0.28-mile trail at Cb Nordic Stadium in Colorado with 47 ft of elevation gain.

Skyland CcPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Skyland Cc

~3 min drive

1.33-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 141 ft of elevation gain.

GulchPhoto: Helimedic39, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gulch

~3 min drive

Gulch is a 0.61-mile trail in Colorado with 86 feet of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors