Mount Herman Road in Pike National Forest sits at over 9,000 feet elevation near Palmer Lake, Colorado. Sites along this rough mountain road become progressively more challenging to access, with upper areas requiring four-wheel drive vehicles. Weather conditions change rapidly at this altitude, with temperature drops of 20-30 degrees from day to night common even in summer months.
What to do
Fishing at nearby reservoirs: Campers staying at Mount Herman Road sites can access Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area for fishing opportunities. "The Promontory Picnic Area which you won't be disappointed. You need to buy your access pass to the reservoir ahead of time online or pay for it cash at the entrance," notes one visitor.
Hiking on connecting trails: The Rainbow Gulch trail near Rampart Reservoir Dispersed offers family-friendly hiking options. "Easy hike down to the lake along a river most of the way. Pretty quiet," reports one camper who enjoyed the relatively flat terrain.
OHV and trail riding: For motorized recreation, the Rainbow Falls - Dispersed Camping area provides extensive trail networks. "Lots of trails for 4x4 vehicles, ATVs, UTVs, SxS, and dirt bikes. Did 50+ miles on my ATV," shares a visitor who appreciated the interconnected trail system.
What campers like
Proximity to town services: When staying at dispersed sites near Palmer Lake, campers appreciate the convenience of nearby amenities. "The Pilot in Monument has showers and was an added bonus for being 15 minutes from our spot," notes a visitor to Mount Herman Road Dispersed Site 2.
Fall colors and seasonal changes: The area transforms dramatically with seasons. One camper at Cascade-Chipita Park/Woodland Park shares: "The trees were turning yellow in the Fall and the weather was perfect. You could see mountains all around and the roads were really great getting there."
Wildlife encounters: Some campers report friendly wildlife interactions. "We had a fox as a neighbor!" reports a camper at Mount Herman Road Dispersed Site 2, while another visitor to the area mentioned: "Awesome camp spot. Met a friendly dog and a random turkey. Beautiful scenery."
What you should know
Variable road conditions: Access roads to dispersed camping sites near Palmer Lake deteriorate quickly after weather events. "We went there in May 3rd week and I loved it despite 'bad weather'. Our city car got stuck in the snow and we had to shovel our way out," warns a camper at Rampart Reservoir Dispersed.
Limited level sites: Finding flat camping spots can be challenging in the mountainous terrain. One camper at Rampart Range Dispersed Site noted: "Handful of spots stretched out along the road. It was hard to find some open space on a Saturday around 3."
Target shooting activity: Noise from recreational shooting is common in this area. "The problem with this area is too much gunfire. At 7pm on a Tuesday evening just as we sat down to eat a group very close by started target shooting," reports a camper. "There are a lot of bugs - horse flies, biting flies and mosquitoes. We set up traps and used repellents and it helped."
Tips for camping with families
Choose less accessible sites: For quieter family camping experiences, head farther up forest roads. "We drove a Subaru Forester and had no issues. Arrived after a hike on Saturday and stayed the night, left early Sunday. There are plenty of sites along the road and in the area but it does get crowded even when it's colder at night."
Watch for broken glass: Multiple sites report safety concerns for children and pets. "Looked at 3-4 different sites all had a decent amount of broken glass so be careful with pets/little ones. Certain areas of this road are heavily graded so take it slow if need be."
Consider weekday visits: Weekend crowding significantly impacts the camping experience. "Literally right outside of Woodland park. We got there late on Saturday afternoon and still found a spot. Very quiet area but some ATVs run through. Lots of wildlife out this time of year, we even encountered a black bear."
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions matter: Larger rigs face significant challenges on mountain roads. "I recently purchased a 26ft sustainable travel trailer and decided to take it out for the first time. Well the road up is very tight. Very skinny switchbacks. About half way up looking for a way to turn around. Don't go up if you are pulling anything larger than a tear drop trailer."
Dispersed options for smaller RVs: Some areas accommodate modest-sized recreational vehicles. "Easy drive up, found a pull out fairly close to the main road with established fire ring. Great views of the city lights and then sunrise. Seems like a lot of options. Surprised there was so much traffic early morning—tricks, bike, dirt bikes."
Scout before committing: The narrow forest roads make backing and turning difficult. "This place is beautiful with lots of great sites available along Mt. Herman rd. I didn't go all the way up, so I don't know if there is any kind of turn around up there. If someone knows, please enlighten me, as would like to know if I was going to be screwed if I went all the way up."
