History of Lefthand OHV
Lefthand OHV (LHOHV) began as a small collection of mining/extraction roads intended for off-road vehicle (OHV’s) use by converting them to Forest Service (FS) Roads but has since evolved into the extensive trails system we know and love.
Timeline
01
Last Century
FS “Open Country” moto policy led to many user-created trails in the area.
02
Last Century
FS shooting policies led to multiple shooting areas at LHOHV.
03
Last Century
The multiple shooting areas, and “off trail” driving created a “barren wasteland” at LHOHV.
04
Last Century
Private property disputes within LHOHV- Castle Gulch and access to Fairview Peak.
05
Turn of the Century
The proliferation of the more capable “rock crawler” OHVs led to transforming Carnage Canyon from a narrow, rarely used FS road located in a seasonal stream drainage to a +40’ wide erosion nightmare issue that dumped tons of sediment into Lefthand Creek in the span of a few short years.
06
October, 2003
Overland Fire burned at the north end of LHOHV, consuming Fairview Peak. Access to the burn area was closed, due to concerns of mudslides into Jamestown.
07
2004
The USFS began the public process to approve a Travel Management Plan.
08
2006
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In May, the USFS approved the Lefthand Canyon OHV Travel Management Plan.
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However, this plan was never fully implemented.
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It called for LHOHV to become a fee based area.
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It called for the creation of two trailheads with parking, which would have provided for OHV access to this day.
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Carnage Canyon closed, which was the most technical route at LHOHV. It was to be replaced by technical rock crawling zones, which never opened due to the FS engineer not signing off on the winch anchor points.
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Majority of the roads being corralled by cabling.
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Creation of loop routes. Castle Gulch access provided more of this for OHVs. Motos were supposed to get Bon Scott 845 as a singletrack route, but it never opened due to shooting safety concerns by the FS.
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Access to Fairview Peak permanently closed resulted in motos losing half of their singletrack and much acreage.
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09
September, 2013
The area was closed due to flood damage.
10
2014
Rehab and stabilization work began.
11
2016
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LHOHV was officially reopened to non-motorized use for public use after rehab and stabilization efforts were concluded.
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Lefthand Canyon Drive was still under reconstruction at the time, limiting access to LHOHV.
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FS said they would start the travel management plan soon to permit motorized use at LHOHV.
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The FS left it up to users to clear trails of deadfall and reopen them.
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BMA asked the FS if they could fix the erosion issues on 842. FS denied them permission to do this.
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OHV community threatened to sue the FS to gain access back into LHOHV since the FS kept halting starting the travel management planning process.
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12
2019
BRD (Boulder Ranger District) and NOHVCC (National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council) applied for a Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) Planning Grant. The funds for the grant come from the sale of OHV permit tags.
13
GLOBAL PANDEMIC (COVID)
The grant process stalled.
14
COVID
Explosion of user-created trails constructed. There is also an explosion of users at this time too.
15
COVID
County officials urged local organizations to engage the community in stopping unauthorized trail building and to put an end to the creation of unsanctioned trails.
16
COVID
Boulder County Sheriff concerned with parking along Lefthand Canyon Drive.
17
2020
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The CPW grant was approved in November, but was not acted on at the time.
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At this point, BRD and NOHVCC applied to extend the grant to develop LHOHV.
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Another extension was asked for and granted.
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FS BRD lost much of their staff during COVID budget cuts and could not take on LHOHV planning.
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2024: FS BRD has rehired majority of staff loss during COVID and is moving forward with the LHOHV Travel Management Plan process.
18
2024
FS BRD has rehired the majority of the staff lost during COVID and is progressing with the LHOHV Travel Management Plan.
Historical Images
