Stay at least 150' from people fishing from shore… The area today is a popular recreation area for boaters, mountain bikers, and hikers. The frigid water shimmers, and the flank of Pikes Peak is the backdrop for a day of paddling. The reservoir is located on a granite plateau approximately 9,000 feet (2,700 m) above sea level, and consists of a body of water with a capacity of 13,000,000,000 US gallons (49,000,000 m 3 ). Rampart Reservoir or Rampart Range Reservoir is a reservoir northwest of the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado in Pike National Forest. The wildlife to be seen include bears, mountain lions, snowshoe hares, and eagles which can almost always be viewed. Rampart Reservoir is a cold, deep body of water that features dozens of hidden coves. Swimming: Swimming is prohibited in the Rampart Reservoir. Boating safety regulations are posted near the ramp. Historical Weather. The reservoir is part of the Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area, thou… It’s a perfect place to perfect your flat-water boating skills. There is no swimming allowed. You are to operate boats at speeds which will not create a white water wake. 9,000 ft (2,700 m) Rampart Reservoir or Rampart Range Reservoir is a reservoir northwest of the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado in Pike National Forest. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is RUXTON P which is approximately 9 miles away and has an elevation of 9,050 feet (143 feet lower than Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area). Photo: Jeff Shapiro Details. The dry land encompassing the lake is Pike National Forest and open to public access 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The boat ramp is located at Dikeside; during summer months a boat dock is available. Five years after its completion, the dam was completely filled and opened to the public as a recreation area. Many anglers have discovered the joys of fishing from their sea kayaks here; canoes are often seen reflected in the still waters, and we’ve spotted kayakers working on their techniques in some of the narrow coves. Planning for construction of the reservoir began in the 1960s in recognition of the growing population of south-central Colorado and its increasing need for drinking water. West end of Rampart Reservoir. After many years of drought conditions and the devastating Waldo Canyon Fire, the lake is again filled to capacity as of 2015. Phone: 719-553-1404 (USFS) Season: Year round, Parking Lot and Campground are open from Early May to Late October (Winter Access to the Reservoir via the Rainbow Gulch Trail) Hours: 24/7 Rampart Reservoir closed on June 23, 2012 due to the Waldo Canyon fire. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Rampart is by far one of the deepest reservoirs within a 1-2 hour drive from the Springs and has excellent trout fishing from the shore. In 1967, the city of Colorado Springs voted that the planned reservoir would eventually be opened for public recreation after construction of the necessary facilities. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. The reservoir is located on a granite plateau approximately 9,000 feet (2,700 m) above sea level, and consists of a body of water with a capacity of 13,000,000,000 US gallons (49,000,000 m3). Address: Rampart Range Rd, Woodland Park, CO 80921. Wading, swimming, and water skiing are prohibited. The City of Colorado Springs manages the dam and the access to the north dam shore and has started to deny access to the north shore and is currently in the initial stages of a class action lawsuit by fishermen, boaters, hikers, and bicyclists who wish to use the area. The water is pristine and visibility to the bottom is crystal clear. All campsites in both campgrounds are reserved most nights. Camping and camp fires are not allowed in the reservoir area and shore. There is excellent snow-shoe hiking on numerous trails throughout the region. Hand launched watercraft may be launched from the boat ramp Monday – Sunday 7 a.m. – 5 p… The reservoir was reopened for limited access (no boats) on Friday, May 24, 2013. Whether it be catching fish, snapping some shots of fishermen in their boats, or simply capturing the beauty of the Colorado outdoors, don’t miss your opportunity to bring a good camera and capture it all. Please read and observe these instructions for your safety and for protection of the water resource. promotes the subject in a subjective manner, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rampart_Reservoir&oldid=980073767, Protected areas of El Paso County, Colorado, Bodies of water of El Paso County, Colorado, Articles with peacock terms from July 2020, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without image bathymetry, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, S. McLeod - Resident in the lake area and lifetime fishermen Pike National Forest Access and Use GuideCity of Colorado Springs UtilitiesUS Forrest Service Guide to the Pikes Peak Region, This page was last edited on 24 September 2020, at 12:56.