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.
2009 Fishing Forecast
Rainbow trout fishing in Rampart should remain very good provided adequate fish are stocked. Current stocking requests include the stocking of 21,000, 10 inch rainbows in 2009. Given this stocking rate, angler catch rates should remain between 0.4 and 1.0 fish per hour with a higher catch rate anticipated for anglers in boats (see page 4 creel survey data). Better angling success for rainbows, while fishing from shore, generally occurs in May, June and September. Boaters have had success throughout the summer season. Anglers are encouraged to harvest rainbows as this lake is very limited in primary production and fish tend to grow very, slowly with a minimal number of fish overwintering.
Lake trout fishing in Rampart will most likely be fair at best in 2009. Inconsistent stocking over the past 12 years has left multiple gaps in year class structure. Lake trout are stocked as smaller 5 inch fish in the fall. These fish tend to grow very slowly given the productivity of Rampart reservoir. It generally takes between 7-9 years for these fish to reach 18-20 inches in length. Angler success from shore is generally much better in the early spring and late fall. Boaters generally have better success in the late fall. Current regulations allow for the harvest of 2 lake trout as part of the 4 fish daily bag limit.
Brown trout were first introduced in 2001 in an effort to diversify the fishery in Rampart Reservoir. Although a minor component of the overall management objectives, with a total of 5,000, 5 inch fish being stocked annually, anglers now have the opportunity to diversify their catch with the occasional brown trout.
Relative Abundance based on 2007 Gillnetting Survey
Longnose Sucker 49.10% Brown Trout 5.01% Lake Trout 9.62% Rainbow Trout 3.41% Cutbow 6.21% Rainbow Smelt 1.00% Splake 0.20% White Sucker 25.45%
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.
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.
