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Left Hand to Long Lake from Hygiene
Boulder County, CO, US
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Route Overview

LOCO Bike Guide

Free Northern Colorado guide service

Ambassador
69 mi.
6,161 ft.

A massive climb, mountain scenery and two spectacular canyons are the highlights of this ride. The climb is ranked 29th in the US by ACE score or 78th ranked by FIETS score. Park at Hygiene Elementary school. Get water at mile marker 16 in Left hand Canyon and lunch at Mill Site Inn north of Ward or Oscar Blues blues in Lyons. Start early with two full water bottles because you will ride 24 miles with 3700 feet of climbing before the water at mile marker 16 in left hand canyon.

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Route Details

Park at Hygiene Elementary school one mile south of US 66 on N 75th street. Start early with two full water bottles because you will ride 24 miles with 3700 feet of climbing before the water at mile marker 16 in left hand canyon. This ride starts in the lush green farms north of boulder before tilting up into Left hand canyon. This climb is ranked 29th in the US by ACE score and is also a top 100 climb ranked by FIETS score. All the flood damaged road in left hand canyon has been repaved so there is no dirt anywhere on this route. The first fifteen miles of the climb are an easy consistent grade but the last two miles through Ward are steep and difficult. The town of Ward is a fascinating relic from the past with several cars parked in the same spot for the last 30 years. Turn right onto Peak to Peak highway then immediately turn left onto Brainard Lake road to continue climbing an additional 1200 feet up to Brainard Lake. Brainard Lake is a fee area for cars but is free for bikes and is well worth the climb for the views and the moose habitat on the west side of Brainard lake and up to Long lake trail head where there are picnic tables and an outhouse. From Brainard lake it is mostly down hill all the way to Lyons. Turn north on Peak to peak highway then after 8 miles turn right onto riverside drive to go through beautiful Raymond which has the South Saint Vrain River running right through town. Continue down South Saint Vrain Canyon (one of the most beautiful canyons in northern Colorado) to the town of Lyons. Get lunch at Mill Site Inn on Peak to Peak highway half a mile north of Ward or Oscar Blues in Lyons.

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