Rampart Reservoir Loop Colorado Hike Guide
Rampart Reservoir loop is an 11 mile hike located just outside of Woodland Park, Colorado. In my opinion, this spot is a hidden gem in central Colorado as it really makes you feel like you are outside of Colorado and somewhere else in the country. This hike is long, but relatively flat for the distance and is a great option for mountain biking and trail running as well. There is a fee to make this loop 11 miles, but you could park outside of the official park to extend this hike to 13 miles. Rampart Reservoir loop can be hiked year round but the park itself does have seasonal hours – more on that below.
Rampart Reservoir Loop Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide: Rampart Reservoir Loop
Rampart Reservoir Loop: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Distance: 11.1 RT
Elevation Start: 9,039ft
Highest Elevation: 9,094
Total Elevation Gain: 1,352ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 4-6 Hours RT
Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?
Class: Class 1- What does this mean?
Season: Early May – Early October – depends on snow levels, check status here.
Directions to Rampart Reservoir
Trailhead: Rampart Reservoir
Getting Here: From Woodland Park, head north on Rampart Range Road for about 2.3 miles. Bear right onto Loy Creek Road which turns into dirt and follow for 1.5 miles. Take another right to get back on Rampart Range Road which is rougher dirt but still 2WD. Drive for 3.9 miles and take a left onto 306 Forest Road. Drive through the fee station and continue for another 2.5 miles to reach the best spot to park, before the dam crossing. *NOTE below takes you to the boat launch area, its best NOT to park here as it closes at 5PM.
Parking: There is a small parking area that can fit about 10 cars. This is not a super popular area so parking is usually not a problem. There are restrooms at the parking spot. You could also park in a number of other areas throughout the reservoir as the trail goes by basically all of them. The one exception would be Promontory Picnic Area as this would add some additional distance to the hike.
Fee: $8 (cash or credit) as of May 2022
Summary
Dogs: This is a dog friendly hike, but dogs must be kept on a leash.
Camping: If you wanted to camp in the area, you could camp in the reservoir at one of their campgrounds (Thunder Ridge or Meadow Ridge) or camp in a dispersed spot along Rampart Range road. The second option is free but harder to find spots, especially on weekends when it can get extremely busy in this area.
Make it a Loop: This is a loop hike with options to extend your hiking further by starting at nearby Rainbow Gulch Trailhead. This adds about 2 miles but does allow you to do this hike for free.
Trail X Factors: Where You Park
I mentioned this above, but since I know not everyone reads – I want to point it out again. Most people who hike this loop will likely park at the boat launch area across the dam of the reservoir. This is fine so long as you are out of the area by 5PM. If you are not, they lock up the gate and you are basically SOL. This is not one of those “try to be out by 5PM situations” – it’s 5PM or wait several hours for someone to come get you – think this scene from The Office.
In addition to hours, if you want to hike this trail during winter months (November – March) you will likely have to park outside of the park itself. The best way to do this would be parking at nearby Rainbow Gulch trail which does add 2 miles (roundtrip) to this hike. A quick Google will easily get you to this TH.
Hike Tips: Be sure to have a general idea on where to go when hiking this loop. There are a number of social trails which for me where relatively easy to avoid – but for some might not be. In addition, this is an absolutely PERFECT spot to bring a lunch or picnic, find an area to yourself along the reservoir and post up for a bit.
Best Views: The views on this hike are best on the east and north end of the reservoir. My favorite spots where in the northern inlets where you can see Pikes Peak in the background. It truly feels like you are in the Canadian Rockies or Pacific Northwest with the stunning views.
Rampart Reservoir Loop Route
Gear Needed
- Men’s Trail Runners
- Women’s Trail Runners
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Women’s)
- Backpack or Trail Running Vest
- Food & Water
- Protection from the Sun
- Optional: Water Filter
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
- *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
My Trip to Rampart Reservoir: May 2022
I ran a trail marathon the day before, but needed 13 more miles to round out my week of ultra training. Sick of the same old trails around our house, I decided to try something new out and bring Aria along. My expectations were low for the Rampart Reservoir Loop, but this hike truly blew my mind. Even with high winds, we had a great day hiking around this massive body of water.
Enjoy a video of our day below and let me know if you have any questions about this hike in the comments.
