Lefthand
Canyon - Main  |
| Maps: |
|
| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Boulder, Lyons |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Moderate 6 |
FR286 |
3.90 |
7,700 ft. |
Rock - 2 |
1-2 hours |
|
| County: |
Boulder |
| Adopted by: |
Trailridge
Runners 4WD Club |
P.O. Box 1716, Longmont, CO 80502 |
|
| Managed by: |
Roosevelt National Forest,
Boulder
Ranger District |
2140 Yarmouth Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301 |
(303)541-2500 |
| Summary: |
The Lefthand Canyon Main 4WD road is
the central route into the Lefthand Canyon OHV area. It runs from
County Road 94 to the top of Spruce Gulch Ridge with multiple side 4WD
roads and motorcycle trails that loop off of and back onto Lefthand
Canyon Main, FR286. |
| Attractions: |
Multiple Routes,
Challenge, Easy Access. |
Seasonal
Closure: |
The Lefthand Canyon OHV routes are
open all year.
When there has been heavy rain or snow it is recommended not to
recreate on the 4WD roads and motorcycle trails. |
| Best Time: |
April
- Early season use when other routes are still seasonally closed.
May-October - The summer and fall season is
the heaviest use.
November - Late season use. |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
Bauman's Ridge Trail, FT844
(motorcycle only)
Wiltz's Trail, FT843, FT843A, FT843B (motorcycle only) |
| Camping: |
There are a few
dispersed camp sites at the start of Lefthand Main and at the top near
the third information kiosk. |
| Base Camp: |
The Lefthand Canyon OHV area is not
necessarily a good place to base camp due to the limited size of the
network. You can explore the entire area in a day. |
| Fall Colors: |
Poor - There are
very few aspen in the Lefthand Canyon OHV area. |
| Navigation: |
From Boulder take Hwy 36 north to
Altona. Head west on County Road 94 for about 4 miles. You will pass
Buckingham Park where Old Stage Road ties in with County Road 94.
Continue west on County Road 94 to the Lefthand Canyon OHV network
parking lot. |
| History: |
There was
minimal mining done in the area. Most of the mining activity took place
in Castle Gulch to the west at the Golden Age Hill mines. The first
part of Lefthand Main follows the old stage road that ran to Jamestown
overlooking County Road 94. |
| Description: |
Note: The following description is for the Lefthand Main 4WD road before the 2013 Flood. The lower section and middle section of this road have changed due to the flood. Presently the whole Lefthand Canyon OHV Network, including Castle Gulch, is in the process of a new Forest Service Area Plan Analysis, to begin in 2016.
The Lefthand Canyon Main road climbs
from County Road 94 through a series of easy switchbacks. In a few
places you will be looking down at the County Road. Just after the last
switchbacks near the upper connection with Mother Hill, FR286C, there is an open area with a rock outcropping that the road traverses. Just
past this obstacle is Five Points and the second information kiosk.
Lefthand Canyon Main continues from Five Points as a narrower ledge
road. You will continue to climb heading for Spruce Gulch Ridge. After
passing the intersection with Upper Carnage, FR286E, you will come to the intersection with Castle Gulch Ridge, FR287B. Past this intersection is the main obstacle, Squeeze Rock, a larger rock outcropping with an upper more challenging route, and a lower route.
Continue climbing for another half mile to reach the third information
kiosk at Spruce Gulch Ridge. From here is the interscetion with East
Golden Age, FR288, Fiarview View, FR286H, and Fireman Hill, FR286D. |
|
Data updated April 23, 2015
4WD Road driven May 7, 2010
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