Editor’s Note: This is part of The Know’s new series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we’ll give our take on the best Colorado has to offer when it comes to dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also show you some hidden gems).
The canyon highways along the Front Range offer exceptional scenery and challenging climbs to attract ambitious cyclists, but they often have minimal or no shoulders. While some riders are willing to brave narrow, twisty roads with little to no room for error, I’m not.
That’s why one of my favorite rides is Lefthand Canyon north of Boulder, a 14 mile climb with a 3,200 foot ascent to the town of Ward near the Peak to Peak Highway and Brainard Lake . He has broad shoulders, so I always feel safe. The last mile and a half gets steep, but that’s part of what makes it an attractive ride.
“It has a really nice consistent incline all the way to Sawmill Road,” said Parker Macy, a Longmont competition master who knows the course well. “When you get there you take that right turn and it gets really steep all the way to the Peak to Peak highway. It’s super stimulating and it stays real.
I usually park at Buckingham Park, about 5 miles north of North Boulder and located behind a beautiful speed bump crowned by steep rocky cliffs at the top that make you feel locked in by the mountains. The park has restrooms, and Macy occasionally soaks her weary legs in the cold waters of Lefthand Creek that runs alongside the park after finishing a tough ride. (Although it might not be a good idea right now as the creek is flowing quite fast with spring runoff.)
The ride begins at approximately 5,900 feet elevation; Ward is at 9,100 feet. The canyon is defined by this creek, which runs along most of the south side of the road, sometimes running under the road on the north side. Spotted a beaver dam on Wednesday, so I suggest keeping your eyes peeled for some cool things to see along the creek as you go up.
For much of the journey there is a wide shoulder on both sides of the road. Further up the shoulder is only in the uphill lane, but that’s okay because you can go 30mph or more downhill and more or less keep up with traffic. Share the Road signs remind motorists that cyclists are likely to be present.
In fact, last Wednesday there were more cyclists than motorists. (That’s not the case on weekends, though.)
“During the week it’s beautiful,” said Macy, who was training for next weekend’s Iron Horse Classic from Durango to Silverton. “There aren’t a lot of cars, and for the most part the people are pretty nice. On weekends, you don’t want to be here. There are too many people and it’s annoying.
The last mile is about 8% and there is no shoulder on the approach to Ward, but the speed limit there is low so the climb into town still feels safe. Ward is often described as a “semi-ghost town”, but there is a general store in case you arrive thirsty or hungry.
After all that climbing, the return to Buckingham Park is smooth and quick, but not too fast. Let gravity bring you back to your car – you’ve earned it.
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