Trail Overview
Powerline Road is a smooth and highly accessible 2.2-mile two-way Green Circle dirt connector trail running directly beneath a dramatic high-voltage transmission line corridor in the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. The trail begins off the paved Gold Hill Road at a signed entry gate with an information board and a brown POWER LINE ROAD sign. Keep right at the start to stay on the correct line. From there, the route opens up into a wide, sweeping desert corridor flanked by open scrubland and scattered desert brush, with massive steel lattice transmission towers serving as impressive landmarks that guide the way throughout the entire route. The terrain rolls gently across the sun-baked landscape under a brilliant blue sky, offering wide-open views of distant mountain ranges stretching across the horizon in every direction. Multiple trail intersections appear along the route, including Badger Trail, Condor Trail, and Roadrunner Trail, each clearly marked with brown signs. A stop sign marks one of the cross-trail intersections mid-route. The trail ends at the Stipa Trail junction. Best traveled in Fall, Winter, or Spring to avoid the intense summer heat of the fully exposed open desert corridor.
Difficulty
Rated 2 (Green Circle, Smooth Dirt Connector): Powerline Road is a Level 2 Green Circle trail defined by a smooth, well-maintained dirt surface with wide open visibility throughout. The route runs directly beneath high-voltage transmission towers across flat to gently rolling desert terrain with no significant obstacles, technical sections, or tight vegetation. A 4x4 is recommended, though 2WD vehicles with all-terrain tires can manage the route in dry conditions. Multiple trail intersections require awareness of signage to stay on the correct line. The primary consideration is the exposed open desert corridor, which becomes extremely hot in the summer months. Travel is low-stress and straightforward in both directions.
