From Boulder we drive north on US 36 to Lefthand Road to try our luck at Lefthand Canyon Area which also leads through the public forest. An earlier call to the local Forest Service confirmed that this trail should be open already and we actually find the gate wide open. We start up the dirt road which soon gets rougher and the rain earlier today makes the dirt muddy and slippery.

We cruise uphill for about half a mile when the trail tips to the left and I finally decide to disconnect the sway bar (the experience with closed gates on previous trails keeps me from doing that until I am certain it is worth it…). On the way we get to quite a few off-camber sections, some scarier than others and the latest rain doesn't make it easier. Very close to the beginning of the trail, which is clearly marked as 286, there is the socalled 'Big Mother Hill'. I try the left of the two which looks way too difficult for us but the presence of two moto-cross riders gives me additional courage. There would be somebody in case something happens. So I go for what I believe to be the easiest line and half way up the hill I can't go any further with my left front wheel 3 feet in the air and the right rear wheel in a hole. Well, it was worth a try and I put the rig in reverse to descent while I hear three people say: "uuuuuhhhhhh".
I still have to try the right one of the two inclines and just barely make it up the slippery dirt. We continue along the main trail and meet a guy in a Toyota 4Runner who tells us that this is one of the biggest OHV areas in Colorado. I wouldn't know but there are plenty of spur roads to check out and a big area with trenches, mud and loose gravel. We decide to stay on the main trail to check out The Squeeze that we've read about. It is quite challeging to get there, though. Many muddy sections, narrow parts and rocks that make us lean (of course) downhill prove to be very challenging until we finally reach the desired obstacle. There is a big boulder on the left and a tree on the right - that's the easy part… after that ( and this is already pretty tight) you go sharp left to dodge the tree in front of you; now the left front wheel climbs up a steep rock; the vehicle starts to lean towards the tree you are trying to dodge; this tree has also roots above ground which reach even farther into the trail; the tire keeps climbing and the top of the car gets awfully close to that very tree; the passenger door almost touches the tree as the rig crawls further up the rock, and just before the door handle and the roof hit the wood the left front tire starts to go down a little bit; just as you are through this nerve-wrecking experience there is another big boulder to get around so you steer the truck more to the left, up the hill leaning scarily to the right; the passenger side front tire makes it past the boulder as the opposite tire ascents further; finally turning right again to prevent the rig from rolling over the rear fender flare scratches along the big boulder; well, it's not over yet…; There is one more of those rocks, but not as big and difficult to overcome and….. Yes, you actually made it, still all wheels on the ground, no broken windows and the paint still on the sheet metal. Congratulations. (I suppose if you ask a hard core rock crawler to describe the same spot it would be different…) Bigger tires, more ground clearence and soft top would make this trip way easier, but we have to work with what we've got. This is still rated a difficult trail!
Working our way further up the mountain the terrain is very much the same as before The Squeeze and we finally reach the top. There seem to be more spur trails but since the weather is getting worse and I can think of safer places in case of heavy rain we decide to turn around and go back the way we came. The way down through The Squeeze seems a little easier and we reach the paved road safely and without any broken parts. That's a good thing.

After so many disappointments with closed roads this trail finally rewards us with some really challenging 4-wheeling. We do have to recommend though, to travel this trail with at least two vehicles (again: we have to deal with what we've got). And we were told that this area gets pretty crowded on weekends - so you might be able to find sombody to go with.

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Directions: From Boulder go north on US 36. About 5 miles from Boulder City Limit turn left into Lefthand Road (follow signs to Jamestown/Ward). Drive 3.7 miles west and turn right on F.S. 286 just before the sign 'Roosevelt National Forest.