View Full Version : Left hand canyon
Bitter Clinger
07-26-2010, 12:41
So where exactly is it? and where in left hand is shooting allowed? rules and regs? my brother in law, my dad, and myself wanna go shoot near denver. We have one AR-15, one AK-47 and one 12ga shotty, are these ok or is it pistol only?
So where exactly is it? and where in left hand is shooting allowed? rules and regs? my brother in law, my dad, and myself wanna go shoot near denver. We have one AR-15, one AK-47 and one 12ga shotty, are these ok or is it pistol only?
take 36 north out of boulder and a few miles outside take a left on left hand canyon, go up the canyon and your gonna come around a real sharp right hand curve its almost a hairpin, and on the right you will see a trail head sign, if you have a 4 wheel drive truck you can head up the trail a few hundred yards and park by the cable fence and go shoot whatever you like, just be sure to clean up your targets and casings[Beer]
and watch out for all the gangsters testing out their birdman nyte sytes, using rocks 10 feet in front of them as targets
USMC88-93
07-28-2010, 20:06
North out of Boulder and make a left on Left hand Canyon Rd. (It is the one with the resteraunt on the left side and the rock sales place is on the right just before the left turn.
Drive a couple miles up the road (Dont make any turns on to other roads) you will come around a sharp turn and see a National Forest Wooden sign. That is the entrance to where the jeepers drive in.
Now based on your vechicle (Its not a road for your typical city car) either park there off the asphalt and hike in or drive in till you see all the garbage and crap all the idiots leave park there behind to the wire rope after all the no shooting signs. It is right where the sharp left turn up the hill the jeepers take.
GPS coordinate would be greatly appreciated!
thanks.
Still open.
Lat 40° 6'29.48"N
Long 105°19'23.05"W
Looks like lefthand was closed last month
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5162283.pdf
According to that map, I think it is still open and there are now new shooting restrictions ?
Eldorado556
11-23-2010, 08:30
AFAIK Left Hand is closed and has been for a while now. So is the old Allenspark dump.
Left Hand has been closed since March.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8731331?source=rss
Posted: 03/28/2008 02:25:23 PM MDT
Updated: 03/28/2008 05:20:57 PM MDT
Part of Lefthand Canyon near Boulder has been closed to recreational shooting because the irresponsible discharge of firearms has endangered people using an off-highway road nearby, U.S. Forest officials said.
Dalendenver
11-23-2010, 17:24
The article posted is over 2 1/2 years old. It was my understanding that the FS had closed the old shooting area up LHC but had opened a new area further up the road. Isn't that the one by the steel cable?
Left Hand is still open. I was up there today!
It is covered in trash and shotgun cartridges though:(
You are correct, I went on Saturday.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs605.ash2/155716_531485871645_75400474_31014734_7454284_n.jp g
ChunkyMonkey
12-10-2010, 00:46
Hey I recon'd that carbine! I gotta drag my lazy butt to send you the cleaning kit.
How much further up the road is the new site from the old one with the steel cable that i thought was closed? Is it any better that the site down by Wellington Lake?
As far as I can tell the range is still open, but it is trashed, and there are still tons of idiots up there that put others in danger. If you go up there try to encourage people to pick up their crap and not to shoot glass. Every time that I go up there people are firing even when people are down range. I try to tell everyone that I see to be more responsible but it seems that this place has a lot of young kids that treat it like a game, playing with their toys. Everyone needs to be more proactive about educating young shooters out in these areas otherwise we will see more accidents and more closures.
SonOfTheGriz
02-10-2011, 16:31
x2 on the cautionary advice if you're going up to LHC anytime you may not be alone up there.
I spent a few weekends up there (normally have access to a good indoor facility) over the summer and, each day I was there, things were sketchy on the good days and downright spooky on others.
The "new" area was getting trashed pretty fast and still saw the proliferation of homies, Call of Duty gun experts, rednecks without ANY regard for the people around them, and downright dangerous people with little or no firearms experience.
The worst situation I ran into up there put our large group of about 8 folks in direct risk by people consistently sweeping our group "dude, it ain't loaded..." and going up the hill when we were shooting.
Definitely shoot at your own risk up there... if you shoot often or weren't equipped from the factory with eyeballs in the back of your head and a bulletproof birthday suit, you may want to look for a better place to go.
x2 on the cautionary advice if you're going up to LHC anytime you may not be alone up there.
I spent a few weekends up there (normally have access to a good indoor facility) over the summer and, each day I was there, things were sketchy on the good days and downright spooky on others.
The "new" area was getting trashed pretty fast and still saw the proliferation of homies, Call of Duty gun experts, rednecks without ANY regard for the people around them, and downright dangerous people with little or no firearms experience.
The worst situation I ran into up there put our large group of about 8 folks in direct risk by people consistently sweeping our group "dude, it ain't loaded..." and going up the hill when we were shooting.
Definitely shoot at your own risk up there... if you shoot often or weren't equipped from the factory with eyeballs in the back of your head and a bulletproof birthday suit, you may want to look for a better place to go.
Sounds like all the more reason to invest in a membership at a private facility. Not to say you could never have this kind of dangerous activity at a private range but I have seldom seen it. Typically the "homies" and irresponsible types can't afford or refuse to pay the membership dues for a private facility and members who display unsafe behavior usually find their membership revoked. I have been a member of several private facilities over the last 19 years or so and it is well worth the price of membership for the peace of mind.
You have to get up to LHC early to avoid the 'yee haws'.
Just head further west as there's other safer and nicer areas to practice.
mahabali
02-13-2011, 20:23
I was up in Boulder on Sat for lunch and wanted to head up to shoot a bit but figured it would be really muddy with all the snow melting.
sbouslog
02-16-2011, 06:54
I went up last Saturday and had a great time. Everyone was very respectful and we called seize fires when ever someone wanted to go out and move the targets. We arrived at 10:45 or so and beat most of the traffic. I plan on going out again in a few weeks and taking a grill and some burgers. Does anyone think that people would have a problem with that?
I've been to LHC many times. Sure there are some idiots up there but I also saw idiots at the North Site.
My solution when the idiots appear, pack up and leave. Sucks but it's safer!
As for the grill,I doubt anyone would mind.
I went up last Saturday and had a great time. Everyone was very respectful and we called seize fires when ever someone wanted to go out and move the targets. We arrived at 10:45 or so and beat most of the traffic. I plan on going out again in a few weeks and taking a grill and some burgers. Does anyone think that people would have a problem with that?
How was the snow last weekend? I'm thinking about heading up there next Monday.
sbouslog
02-16-2011, 11:03
It was still pretty frozen. You should probably wear boots because it will be muddy. I almost slipped a few times on the ice but that should be gone now.
Cool ,thanks. I'm trying to decide if it's worth the drive not knowing. It's either LHC or CC Park.
Hey guys how far is it miles/time from the point that you turn off of 36? I have no been there since I was 17
sneakerd
02-21-2011, 20:43
When you get done grilling, put that sucker downrange and blast the hell out of it!!
sbouslog
02-22-2011, 15:00
Sounds like a plan! LHC is maybe 4 miles or so off of 36. not exact on that. It is on the right side of the road and you can't miss it.
Went there today, and it was blocked off with ranger saying something about fire.
Most of people turn around and went home.
We went to search a place to shoot.
There were one real tiny small spot few miles deep.
Walking > 150yd into woods on steep hill wasn't too fun.
johngraves2
03-18-2011, 08:09
Went there today, and it was blocked off with ranger saying something about fire.
Most of people turn around and went home.
We went to search a place to shoot.
There were one real tiny small spot few miles deep.
Walking > 150yd into woods on steep hill wasn't too fun.
Ya there was a large fire up there last week, 600+ acres. Looking at the map they posed of the burn area it looks like about half the off road trails and half of the shooting area burned down. Not sure how acurate the map was. the fire was intentionally set and they think it was started somewhere near the off road or shooting areas.
erikbagley
05-29-2011, 16:36
Is Lefthand open again? I'm not finding any confirmations anywhere on the Forest Service sites, so I'm looking for a first hand account. The range at Harris Park is closed till 2015 (so the order reads) and I'm looking for a new spot.
brass-meister
05-29-2011, 22:34
Yep, gansta central is back in action... there is a cleanup on June 5th though. Don't remember what time, usually 8- noon or so.
Jeez that place gets scary...
erikbagley
05-30-2011, 00:09
Yep, gansta central is back in action... there is a cleanup on June 5th though. Don't remember what time, usually 8- noon or so.
Jeez that place gets scary...
Yeah, that's what I've heard. We may go past there and see how it looks. I don't like feeling the need to wear Kevlar when I go shooting.
Went there on Thursday. It is open.
Not too many people shooting on weekdays.
Weekdays are definately better. I try to avoid it unless I really have.
Last weekend I went up past Jamestown, 20F colder than Longmont and snowing:(
I had a crazy hiker who was stopping every single shooter per asile saying,
"it is illegal to shoot here!"
"150yd from walking path"
We told him we know the rule, and we are following it.
I've had a cyclist ride in front of the firing line there.
Guess he never noticed the firearms being pointed at the canyon side, not to mention the noise?
teknoslave
06-08-2011, 07:14
What are acceptable hours to shoot at lefthand? Looking to go on a weekday.
teknoslave
06-10-2011, 21:10
0900 works at left hand. very nice morning to shoot and was pretty empty til about 1030. nice to finally shoot my new AR.
USMC88-93
06-12-2011, 14:31
Never know what you will run into up there. I was not about to ask for their tax stamp to see if they were legal. But some other shooter was concerned about it enough to call the Ranger to check them out. On any given day it ranges from absolutely dangerous idiots to parents having fun teaching heir kids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpKyBIr89fQ
For those that have asked for directions to lefthand here is the directions from 28th and Broadway on the north side of Boulder. Though in truth there are much better places to shoot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPXqrRccVcY
PS. can you embed video here or just link to it?
Never know what you will run into up there.
What was it? Kinda hilarious. I suppose there are 'a few' legal owners around Colorado, is there a list of how many?
Does anyone bring actual targets, or do people shoot rocks?
Ive seen these 'ball' type orange targets that are about 6"round, you shoot at those, looked pretty cool. They bounce different angles when you hit em.
I would bring something to shoot AT at least..
teknoslave
06-14-2011, 07:42
when i was there i was the only one with targets... =)
Lol, so they gonna spend $25.00 in ammo shooting dirt? Dirtshooters? Thats scary!
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/TARGET203-1.html
Uhm, I think a small box filled with old tires cut up would do about the same think.
cfortune
06-16-2011, 12:19
I know the one time I went to Left Hand I brought targets. I was just scared to go set them up lol. I just shot at pieces of clays lying around.
Hey, how far of a hike is it if you park your car when you see the forest sign? And when you say 'gangsta', are you talking about baggy pants clowns, or hoodlums, or just 'average' morons?
USMC88-93
06-19-2011, 21:51
Hey, how far of a hike is it if you park your car when you see the forest sign? And when you say 'gangsta', are you talking about baggy pants clowns, or hoodlums, or just 'average' morons?
watch he last couple of minutes of the video I posted. The video starts as you leave Boulder so you do no have to watch he entire thing.
brass-meister
06-19-2011, 22:48
And when you say 'gangsta', are you talking about baggy pants clowns, or hoodlums, or just 'average' morons?
all apply... ymmv.
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