The Lefthand Canyon north of Boulder is a beautiful 14-mile climb with an ascent of 3,200 feet.
Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s new series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we will offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. .
That’s why one of my favorite rides is Lefthand Canyon north of Boulder, a 14-mile climb with an ascent of 3,200 feet to the town of Ward near the Peak to Peak Highway and Brainard Lake. It has ample shoulders, so I always feel safe. It gets steep the last mile and a half, but that’s part of what makes it an attractive ride.“It has a really nice, consistent grade all the way up to Sawmill Road,” said Parker Macy, a competitive masters racer from Longmont who knows the ride well.
The ride begins at about 5,900 feet in elevation; Ward is at 9,100 feet. The canyon is defined by that creek, which runs along the south side of the road most of the way, occasionally passing underneath the road to the north side. I noticed a beaver dam on Wednesday, so I suggest keeping your eyes out for cool things to see along the creek as you climb.
For much of the ride, there is a wide shoulder on both sides of the road. Further up, the shoulder is only on the uphill lane, but that’s OK because you can ride 30 mph or more on the downhill and more or less keep up with traffic. There are Share the Road signs to remind drivers that cyclists are likely to be present.“During the week, it’s beautiful,” said Macy, who was training for next weekend’s Iron Horse Classic from Durango to Silverton.
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