Lefthand Canyon Drive

MM 44.1 Hwy. 72 | LEFTHAND CANYON DRIVE

Heil Valley Ranch Open Space Follow Utica Street in Ward east from CO. Hwy. 72 / Peak to Peak Scenic Byway to reach Lefthand Canyon, named after a creek named for Chief Niwot (Left Hand) of the Arapaho Indians. The road, which connects to U.S. 36 north of Boulder and south of Lyons, is a popular road biking route and considered a local classic. It also provides access to Lickskillet Road leading to Gold Hill and James Canyon Road to Jamestown as well as Buckingham Park Picnic Area and the 6,231-acre Heil Valley Ranch Open Space.

BUCKINGHAM PARK | MM 44.2 Hwy. 72 +14.4 miles Buckingham Park is located at the intersection of Left Hand Canyon Drive and Old Stage Road about 14.4 miles from CO. Hwy. 72. Enjoy a creekside picnic at the park's fee-free picnic area. A handful of short trails lead to wheelchair accessible picnic tables and access to Lefthand Creek. There are several creek-side tables and four more secluded picnic areas west along Lefthand Canyon Drive. There are vault-style toilets at the main picnic area. Trails lead to the 1.9-mile Joder Ranch Open Space trail. Leashed dogs only. LEFTHAND OHV TAILHEAD | MM 44.2 Hwy. 72 +13.4 miles The Lefthand OHV Area is currently closed to motorized use due to severe flood damage. Entry by foot or mountain bike is allowed. Target shooting remains prohibited. HEIL VALLEY RANCH | MM 44.1 Hwy. 72 +17.5 miles The 6,231 acres of Heil Valley Ranch offers beautiful valleys, picturesque vistas, forest meadows and miles of trails for hikers and is one of the more popular spots near Boulder for single-track mountain bikers. The Corral and Main trailheads, off Lefthand Canyon Drive, reopen June 16 after extensive fire recovery. When it reopens, the parking lot closes at noon through Sept. 30 due to flash flood concerns. All vehicles in the parking lot after noon may be ticketed. Trails, picnic tables and shelter remain open until sunset, but visitors must park elsewhere. JAMESTOWN & JAMES CANYON | MM 44.1 Hwy. 72 +14.6 Jamestown, one of the oldest mining camps in Colorado, is a quiet mountain community with steep canyon walls and thick forests. Town Square hosts live music, picnics, field events and horseshoe tournaments. Elysian Park has a playground, tennis / basketball court, large field, performance stage and stone labyrinth maze. The Jamestown Mercantile offers delicious meals but is also the community meeting place and hang out, cyclist and tourist stop and live music venue. James Canyon Drive which braches off Lefthand Canyon Drive 11.7 miles from CO. Hwy. 119 is popular with cyclists and drivers for its steep, paved roads and mountain scenery.