Rampart Reservoir, Woodland Park Colorado - Located within close proximity to Colorado Springs, Rampart Reservoir is a popular recreation area, offering a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, fishing.
Sitting on a granite plateau at approximately 9,000 feet elevation, Rampart Reservoir close proximity to Colorado Springs provides area residents a variety of recreational opportunities. The 500-acre lake is surrounded by trails and forest making it a great place to hike, bike, picnic, fish, wakeless boating and camp. Mountain biking is popular on Rampart and Rainbow Gulch Trails. Facilities in the area include a boat ramp, improved campgrounds, picnic tables, and toilets.
Fishers should remember that the reservoir is also Colorado Springs domestic water supply, so, in dry years, the water level can vary. The reservoir is open from late April through November. While lake, brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout are present, anglers will find the best action is from the frequently stocked rainbows. Although, local anglers often do well for lake trout in early spring and late fall.
From April 15 to November 15, the area is open to Public Vehicle Access, depending on weather. Access across the dam to the boat ramp and a parking area is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
2010 Fishing Forecast from CDOW
Water levels should be good for 2010. Fishing access should be available but may change based on the latest Homeland Security threat level. Boat ramp access to Rampart Reservoir will be allowed from early May to early Oct, 7:00am-5:00pm, Thursday-Sunday with the following restrictions: No rental vans Class A, B or C motor homes, or trailers over 22 feet allowed across the dam. No stopping on dam or fishing within 500 feet of the dam. Call the US Forest Service, Pikes Peak Ranger District for updated access information. Boaters are encouraged to clean, drain and dry their watercraft prior to arrival at the reservoir as all watercraft will be inspected prior to launching.
Rampart Reservoir is a good place to fish early, soon after ice goes out, when the rainbows are hungry and are looking for food close to the shorelines. Traditional techniques for trout fishing generally work well at both reservoirs. These techniques include the use of spinners (Kastmasters, Pistol Petes as well as Mepp's spinners) as well as worms and Powerbait. Rampart Reservoir is heavily stocked throughout the summer season with a good portion of the fish stocked in the springtime.
Lake Trout fishing can also be good in the spring just after ice-out and then again in the fall. During those times mackinaw take advantage of cooler water in shallow areas and can be caught close to shore. During warmer months of the year look for them in deeper (20-90') and cooler water. Generally, shore anglers have good success with larger tube jigs bounced off the bottom during the early morning hours. A short hiking trail leads to the smaller Nichols Reservoir below Rampart, and is a perfect place to take kids for some better than average trout fishing. Rainbow fishing should be good to excellent at both of these reservoirs throughout the summer. Please be aware of changing weather conditions.
Getting there: From Woodland Park off Highway 24 turn north on Baldwinwhichturns into Rampart Range Road (FS Rd.300) to Forest Service Rd 306 (left) to reservoir.
From the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs take Rampart Range Road to FS Rd 306. The road can be rough in spots, particularly if coming up from the Garden of the Gods. Fees: Day use fee is $5. A season pass may be purchased for $40 from Rocky Mtn Rec. (719 687 7818). Boating: Wakeless. Motorized-trailored boats will only be allowed on Rampart Reservoir Thursday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
All motorized-trailored boats launching from the Rampart Reservoir boat ramp will be inspected prior to entering the reservoir.
Wakeless speeds only.
No water craft allowed within 500 feet of the dam and spillway structure.
Stay at least 150' from people fishing from shore. Boats may not be left at the boat dock for longer than 30 minutes or on the bank for more than 8 hours.
9/1/2010 - Rampart Reservoir - Rampart is fishing great and anglers are getting mixed bag limits of Lakers, Browns, and Rainbows. Bank anglers are reporting limits of rainbow trout by fishing with suspended baits about 5 feet below a casting bubble. Trout anglers have also had success fishing half a night crawler off the bottom. 1/4 oz Mr. Twisters fished off the bottom are yielding some success for Lakers towards the lake inlet. Fishing remains good due to recent plants of catchable trout.
Conditions History
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Site have parking areas at least 30' long. Sites 8, 10, and 22 are handicapped accessibile. Facilities include tables, fire grates, drinking water, vault-type toilets, and trash collection. There are two accessible toilets.
Sites have parking areas at least 30' long. Sites 12 and 13 have been developed for handicapped accessibility.
Facilities include tables, fire grates, drinking water, two handicapped-accessible vault-type toilets, and trash collection.
