Rampart Range Road - Dispersed Camping
Stunning Views of Pikes Peak
Only 18 minutes from Woodland Park, but you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Tucked back in National Forest land.
193 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rampart Range Road Dispersed Camping offers free pet-friendly sites just 18 minutes from Woodland Park, with stunning views of Pikes Peak. Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping also welcomes pets in a free, primitive setting where campers can bring their dogs into the national forest. Both areas allow tent camping with dogs without requiring reservations or permits. Diamond Campground & RV Park provides more amenities for pet owners, including a dedicated dog park at the back of the property, full hookups, and clean facilities. Garden of the Gods RV Resort accepts pets at their tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash policies, though specific rules vary by location. Deer frequently wander through Diamond Campground throughout the day, creating natural wildlife viewing opportunities for campers and their pets.
The dispersed camping areas along Rampart Range Road feature multiple dead-end roads stemming from the main route, providing secluded spots for camping with dogs. Campers should be prepared for variable road conditions, as some sections can be extremely washboard with ruts that may challenge larger vehicles. The Rainbow Gulch trail near Rampart Reservoir offers an excellent dog-friendly hiking option, following a flowing creek to the water. Woodland Park provides convenient access to water, propane, and supplies, with the local Walmart serving as a reliable resupply point just 25 minutes from most camping areas. Visitors camping with pets should be aware that wildlife sightings are common, particularly deer during dawn and dusk hours. Some dispersed areas experience target shooting activity during daylight hours, which may disturb noise-sensitive dogs.
"Great hiking trails of all abilities. Great visitor center. Fishing only available w/ .5-2.5 mile hike into back country. Close to lots of activities in Cripple Creek Woodland Park etc."
"The access to Woodland Park (Jonie's for me) and CO Springs is helpful (again, especially for kids). To the west, on US Hwy 24 you can hit Florissant Fossil Beds. "
from $28 - $270 / night
Check Availability"Lone Duck Campground was a good home base for us during our visit to Colorado Springs. The campground is several miles down from Woodland Park and about the same down to Manitou and the Springs."
"This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area."
from $40 - $87 / night
Check Availability"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"
"There is a LOT of trash out there that you don’t really notice until you stop to take a look The first place we stopped was so covered in broken glass that we opted to find another spot bec our pet pig"
"The park is conveniently located close to everything to do in Colorado Springs. Spaces were VERY close together. There is no view of any of the surrounding beauty."
"This campground is a great central location for everything around Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. It is very close to Garden of the gods park and red rock open space."
"Only 18 minutes from Woodland Park, but you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Tucked back in National Forest land."
"Rampart Range Road is the main dirt road that has plenty of smaller trails branching off of it to keep you busy exploring all summer."
"contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70684) Colorado Campground is one of several campgrounds less than 10 miles north of the city of Woodland Park off Route 67 in the Pike National Forest."
"Colorado campground is situated outside of Woodland Park (10 minute drive) and right next to Manitou lake. "
from $28 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Hiking Nearby is the Rampart Reservoir via Rainbow Gulch trail I recommend walking from the site due to limited parking at the trailhead."
"Some amazing views out this way. 1 may e 2 bars cell unless you can get a spot over woodland park but if you are on the backside facing away, forget it."
"It is located in Woodland Park, a lovely mountain town about 30-40 min. outside Colorado Springs. Lots of sites, mostly RV but there is a nice tent only section with a good number of spaces."
"This location was perfect for exploring the area. It is very close to downtown Woodland Park and many attractions. Deer wander through the campground throughout the day."
from $30 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Met some nice people and some very rude people who would not control their dog. "
"Campground Review Note: This is a military campground only, on the grounds of the US Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs, CO. "
"Thunder Ridge is your standard National forest campground, all sites have a fire pit and picnic table, the CG has vault toilets and trash service available and water is available by a few centrally located"
"It is a nice place there its close to the resivor almost close enough to walk. If you have a boat its easy to get to the boat dock. I been canoeing here and its a great training place for beginners."
from $28 / night
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Only 18 minutes from Woodland Park, but you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Tucked back in National Forest land.
Nice area that has some flat or flatish spots for smaller RV and campers. It is normally busy with atv, dirt bike and jeeps. 15 min drive from woodland park.
Stayed here for one night at the beginning of July. We drove up from Woodland Park and found a good pull off right away after passing a few others. There's also multiple dead end roads that stem from Rampart Range Rd. Unfortunately we found quite a bit of trash at our sight, including smashed bottles and glass. We would have spent more time exploring the area but we arrived around 8:00pm so the sun was already going down. This road is also fairly busy as we'd see a car every once and a while. We also passed a few other people camping while finding a spot of our own.
CAMPGROUND REVIEW: COLORADO CAMPGROUND PIKE NATIONAL FOREST
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/colorado-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70684
Colorado Campground is one of several campgrounds less than 10 miles north of the city of Woodland Park off Route 67 in the Pike National Forest.
Situated at 7800 feet elevation, even summer nights get cool. Nearby 5 acre Manitou Lake is a trail walk away. You can toss your canoe or kayak in, but unless you are simply trout fishing, it’s tiny size doesn’t offer much variation.
Numerous foot trails lead into the National Forest, offering wonderfully quiet hikes and exploration.
There are 81 sites available, but some are adjacent to highway 67, so periodic road noise will be heard. The ponderosa pines assist in muffling highway noise.
Neighboring sites are visible across the entire campground, but they are situated in such a way that you are not directly on top of each other.
The back loop sites are larger and set deeper (Site 19, 20,21, 22, 23) which are my choice. Sites can be secured on www.recreation.gov. There are double sites which garner double fees. At the time of this review, sites are $23.00 nightly (a bit pricey for no showers or modern facilities). When there during the week, not including the host and groundskeeper, only four sites were filled. Most sites were reserved for weekends and upcoming Labor Day holiday.
No RV/Campers over 36 ft permitted. Parking pads are gravel, a few are pull-through. Sites are non-electric with no hookups…no showers Water spigots, metal trash containers and pit latrines are spaced out through the campground. Each site has one stationary picnic table and a fire pit. Most sites appeared fairly level. No specific tent pad locations.
With the towering ponderosa pines, there is ample shade.
Plenty of trails permit mountain biking as well as the paved centennial bike path that runs along highway 67 from Woodland Park 15 miles north…that you can walk, in-line, cycle and even ebike.
You have plenty of local activities to keep you busy, including the Red Rocks a couple miles south…or drive east on Rt 24 to Pikes Peak, or further into Manitou Springs for the Incline, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Garden of the gods and more!
Just six miles south into Woodland Park offers every food or shopping option.
All in all, a nice, clean campground in a great location.
This park is definitely well visited, but for good reason. It is located in Woodland Park, a lovely mountain town about 30-40 min. outside Colorado Springs. Lots of sites, mostly RV but there is a nice tent only section with a good number of spaces. We stayed overnight in early July and actually pitched our tent next to our family RV underneath the awning, safe from the summer showers that seem to pass thru almost daily in the summer months. Lots of amenities, including parks with play equipment for the kiddos, a dog park, nice bathrooms & showers.
Lone Duck Campground was a good home base for us during our visit to Colorado Springs. The campground is several miles down from Woodland Park and about the same down to Manitou and the Springs. We were out and about during the days, but Lone Duck was nice to return to each afternoon.
Reservations were easy to do online. They had the site ready for us when we arrived.
Site 45 was great for our pop up. If we had our 30’ trailer, we wouldn’t have had room for our truck. The site is right next to a lovely stream that really drowned out any road noise. We slept great with the white noise the stream produced. Our site had a picnic table and fire pit (with grill grate). We had water and 30/20 amp electric.
The bathrooms/showers were in the main office. The men’s restroom had a couple of stalls and three showers. They were sufficient for me. The women’s restroom was small and cramped according to my wife. It appears the floors and walls had been coated with a garage floor or bed-liner material. It wasn’t the most appealing but again was sufficient. We did use the laundry room and all machines worked fine.
There is a store, small dining area, and arcade in the main office along with the restrooms and laundry room. Wifi was hit or miss from the campsites. It was better inside the office. The check in staff was aware of the wifi and mentioned they were working on it. (We weren’t here for the internet so again, not an issue for us).
The kids did swim in the pool. The water was warm and they seemed to enjoy playing with other kiddos there. There is a small playground next to the pool and fishing pond. Kids played there frequently until quiet hours.
There are a few small cabins on the grounds and separate sections of the park for tents. There are houses just across the stream from our site but we never heard from or noticed any of the neighbors.
There is quite a bit of greenery throughout the campground. I thought the place could use a mowing or weed eating, but maybe it’s normal to have local grasses/plants left alone to grow.
As others have mentioned it is a bit tricky getting in and out. If you leave toward Woodland Park, you’ll have to cross a couple of lanes and make u-turn. Same thing of your coming to the campground from Manitou. You’ll make a u-turn.
Overall, we liked the place and would stay again.
My family of 4 and 2 dogs drove over 1,000 miles from Illinois to this area in hopes of finding a dispersed camping site with a view and we were blessed to find this spot off Rampart Range road. We arrived on a Sunday in late September around 2:00pm. This site has an amazing sunset view every night. The nights were cold some lows 32° and it snowed the first night which we were hoping for❄ The sunrises were stunning watching the sunlight slowly shed light on the golden aspens was a beautiful sight.
Access GPS Cascade-Chipita Park, CO 38.9694000, -105.0081000
To get to this spot from Rampart range road was a bit tricky pulling a 28ft trailer with a Chevy Suburban 2500 The road up after Loy Creek rd was EXTREMELY washboard for the next few miles we drove very slow we did this twice a day for 3 days it was the dreaded drive on the way back to base camp each night. Fortunately on day 4 they brought equipment in and leveled the road so the next few trips were nice and getting the camper out was a breeze. Turning off Rampart Range rd there are few ruts that were big but we made it in ok. The spot at the very end is very large and has a perfect view of Pikes Peak and plenty of hammock trees ideal if you can make it that far we were unable to make it due to a tight space between 2 trees large rocks and deep ruts so we set up camp at the spot right before this. We did help a couple with a rig a bit smaller than ours (23ft I believe) through using boards in the ruts and some guidance.
Hiking Nearby is the Rampart Reservoir via Rainbow Gulch trail I recommend walking from the site due to limited parking at the trailhead. We took this hike and it was absolutely fantastic a majestic walk through the woods brings you to flowing creek that you follow all the way down to the reservoir.
Trash, Water, Propane & Food We stopped at a campground in Woodland park on the way in and were able to fill up with water before heading up the mountain for $10. If you are heading south from Woodland park on highway 24 to the left is a brown wooden sign that says PROPANE the building also says they file taxes too we forgot the name 🤦🏼♀️but we refilled a propane tank and filled our 6 gallon water container for $12. Pack out what you pack in! No dumpsters! We went to the Walmart in Woodland park 25 minutes from camp a few times and it was very nice and clean.
Safety We spent most of the days away from base camp but in the late afternoon and evenings it was mostly quite. We woke up a few mornings to other campers down the road from us usually only stayed one night. We stayed 5 nights Sunday to Friday. I did get an uneasy feeling about a few vans and cars that came to the area for a short time. We seen a few abandoned camps one that was closest to us a tent with a few pots and and a sombrero oddly. It appears it could be a homeless getaway but we never seen anyone. I never felt unsafe here. We seen very little wildlife at the site only an owl and a few birds however the drive to and from camp we seen many deer be cautious at night
RANGER REVIEW: The New Gregory Endo 15 Mtn Bike Hydration Pack at Painted Rocks Campground, Woodland Park, Colorado.
CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Painted Rocks Campground
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/painted-rocks/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70685
Painted Rocks Campground is located roughly six miles from Woodland Park off Route 67 on County Road 78 at 7800 feet elevation. Painted Rocks is considered rustic, in that it only offers centralized water and pit latrines (no electric, modern restrooms nor showers).
Painted Rocks Campground has two small grassy meadow loops…an upper (to the right) and a lower (to the left) as you enter the small campground proper. Each loop has one water spigot, one trash dumpster and one male/female pit latrine.
The upper loop to the right has eleven (11) sites and the lower loop to the left has seven (7) sites. Each site has one picnic table (buried and unmovable), and one metal fire pit. All sites have gravel/dirt parking spurs of varying length. The upper loop appeared to have shorter parking spurs and some were tent only. Site 9 has a 30’+ parking and very spacious for multiple tents. Most sites have Ponderosa pines, but some more than others. Site 9 had great hammocking trees. Picnic tables are large and in good shape. Pit latrines were very clean and stocked.
BrIef campground vIdeo revIew: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EjjNdSZg868
All sites are visible, line of site but are spread out enough to feel spacious and not “on top of each other.” County road 78 is not heavily traveled but you can both see and hear vehicles traveling by. It should also be noted that County road 78 is also dirt, so vehicles kick up dust…depending on wind direction…roadside sites will be coated with a fine layer.
There is a host immediately to your left upon entering the campground…who also sells firewood. A ban was in effect upon my visit. When the host is “off duty” you can self register or register online (recreation.gov). Cost is $23 nightly.
Note that the sole Campground sign on route 67 is small, thin and easily missed. Coming from Woodland Park you’ll pass Red Rocks Group Campground (more on that later), South Meadows Campground on your left and Colorado Campground on your right. The second left after Colorado Campground is County road 78.
There is not much offered at the campground itself other than relaxation. What is close by is the draw. Within a half hour drive: On a grand scale, you have two hiking routes up Pikes Peak (Barr trail and the Crags), drive up or take the Cog Railway. The Manitou Incline. Red Rock Canyon open space, Cheyenne Canyon, Garden of the Gods and a myriad of incredible hiking trails. Nearby is the Centennial Bike Trail offering 15 miles of out and back to Woodland Park and innumerable offroad traIls…and my favorite, Red Rocks Trail only a few miles away. All things outdoors are nearby: paddling, biking, hiking, scrambling, climbing, off-roading..
Check online or call before planning your stay as Painted Rocks Campground is only open during summer months…this year only til September 3rd. Mid-week (July 9-10) saw only four campsites filled, but weekends are ordinarily filled.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Pricey for no campground amenities, but what is close at hand makes up for it! I'll go again.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Gregory Endo 15 Mountainbike Hydration Pack
4.5 out of 5 Stars!
https://www.gregorypacks.com/hydration/endo-15-3d-hydro/91650XXXX.html
PROS
CONS
What a great Hydration Pack! I’m going to suggest it’s a perfect all-arounder for its capacity, comfort and secure fit. As a Review Ranger for TheDyrt.com, I received this pack for testing and evaluation.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UBVsAd69qhc&t=10s
At 15 liters, I fit an abundance of necessity and unnecessary items for a day hike or ride.
Gregory’s main objective was to make a superior mountain biking hydration pack…and they have. But the Endo 15 offers much more versatility. While I haven’t climbed with it yet, it’s sleek design and clutter free frontage prevents snagging or getting in one’s way. I’ve put over a couple hundred trail miles since receiving this pack…and I’m appreciating it more each mile.
Once you don the Endo 15 and adjust the straps, it molds to your back with no movement. Whether cranking out the miles in the saddle or hoofin’ on foot, the Gregory stays put! No side swaying and little upward bouncing. So no worries of losing concentration on the technicals due to annoying pack shifting.
The Gregory Endo 15 materials are as durable and robust as its larger kin.
Feature-rich:
Changes I’d like to see:
Final Thoughts: I endeavored to put Gregory’s Endo 15 through its paces over several hundred miles…while hiking, scrambling, cycling on road and trail, and motorcycling. I am extremely impressed with how breathable, yet form fitting the Endo is to the body…and how much I can bring along. It’s my everyday favorite and I highly recommend it. Thankfully, No Endo's were performed during testing.
This location was perfect for exploring the area. It is very close to downtown Woodland Park and many attractions. Deer wander through the campground throughout the day. It is rustic , with dirt/gravel roads and sites. Lots of pine trees and most spots are pull through. Some sites are a little close together but not all of them. Restrooms are clean. Small but nice laundry-room. Clean showers. A nice tent area. Staff was friendly and helpful. Try to get here before the office closes because finding your site may be difficult. It is a little hard to figure out the roads and the proper direction to go to fine your site and get into it.
We were here for 4th of July and there were NO activities. No pool. There is a small playground area and a small stage that has been abandoned. The dog park is at the very back of the property. Everything on our 50 amp site worked perfectly. The site was ample for our toy hauler and truck. Sites are not level, bring proper equipment for leveling.
Overall, it has an awesome Colorado vibe and we liked it here. Only downside was layout of sites, no activities. You have to reserve a spot to wash clothes. This became a problem because people reserve large blocks of time and don’t show up. I couldn’t use laundry, so be forewarned.
Camping near Woodland Park sits at an elevation of approximately 8,500 feet, offering cooler summer temperatures than nearby Colorado Springs. The area experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer months, with storms typically rolling in after 2pm. Road conditions to dispersed camping areas can vary significantly based on recent precipitation, with many access roads becoming rutted after heavy rain.
Hiking at Mueller State Park: Access over 55 miles of trails with panoramic mountain views. As Jim W. noted about Mueller State Park Campground: "This is one of the gems in Colorado. Great well taken care of campground with electrical hook ups and gorgeous grounds."
Fishing at Manitou Lake: Located near Colorado Campground, this small lake offers trout fishing just minutes from campsites. According to Ryan L. from Colorado Campground: "I picked this campground to be near Pikes peak and Garden of the Gods. It did not disappoint. I did not feel like it was too far away, and we passed several commercial venture that just looked crowded."
Mountain biking the Rampart Range trails: Multiple trails accommodate beginning to advanced riders. Doug C. explains: "Rampart Range Road is the main dirt road that has plenty of smaller trails branching off of it to keep you busy exploring all summer. The best part is the several forest service roads that branch off with dispersed camping."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds feature regular deer sightings throughout the day. Brian F. shares about Mueller State Park: "We saw some deer that came through our site. Just a real nice relaxing place!"
Spacious campsites: Many sites provide ample room for multiple vehicles and tents. Amanda M. described her experience at Lone Duck Campground: "The tent sites are fairly small and open to the neighboring sites, but that is to be expected in these more urban campgrounds. However, we had site T-25, and due to the surrounding shrubbery, it was more secluded than most sites."
Mountain views: Several campgrounds offer direct views of Pikes Peak. As Bailey H. notes about Rampart Range Road Dispersed Camping: "The road in is gravel and pretty choppy, but the weather was good and my car made it fine but I was going like 5 mph. If the weather wasn't good you would probably need 4x4. Lots of firewood around."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds with facilities maintain them regularly. A visitor to Mueller State Park commented: "Bathrooms are never far, but the well-kept shower house might be a bit of a walk. The end of the campground feeds into many trailheads, which are great for exploring."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Many established campgrounds create welcoming environments for children. Cody R. shared about Colorado Campground: "This is a great campground for introducing little ones to car camping. The campground is clean and well-maintained, the sites are good-sized and it's a short hike to decent fishing at Manitou Lake."
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping access roads require high-clearance vehicles. According to Jaymin B. from Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping: "The road up is very tight. Very skinny switchbacks. About half way up looking for a way to turn around. We got lucky and found a space just barely large enough to back in to carefully."
Weekend crowds: Dispersed areas fill quickly Thursday through Sunday during summer months. Chloe S. reports about Rampart Range Road: "Ended up a parking lot by the end of the night. Too busy with inconsiderate neighbors. Beautiful views though. I think it's luck of the draw depending what night you go."
Limited cell service: Coverage varies dramatically by location and provider. Samantha L. shared about Thunder Ridge: "I had some cell service at my site, 7.. enough to send texts and use internet, but other parts of the campground, I lost service completely. (I have Verizon)."
Weather patterns: Afternoon thunderstorms are common during summer months. Bruce K. notes about Mueller State Park: "Very nice quiet stay in the woods. All camp sites are very easy to get to and nicely groomed. Very pleasant stay. Got below freezing so be ready for the cold."
Pet-friendly trails: Rainbow Gulch trail provides access to Rampart Reservoir with a creek for dogs to enjoy. Joanna E. commented about Thunder Ridge: "We stayed for three nights at the Thunder Ridge Campground inside the Pike National Forest. This campground has tent and RV sites, but no electric. Water is communal access and the campground is served by two vault toilets. There is a well-marked trail access to the Rampart Reservoir."
Playground access: Some campgrounds include play areas for children. Matthew J. notes about Colorado Campground: "Great campground close to the cities. Heavily wooded and spacious sites. Water available and clean latrines. Only downside was, since it is so close, all the open sites fill w/overnighters and it was a bit noisy, but everyone settled down by 930-1000. Great hiking for little kids around the lake."
Wildlife education opportunities: Regular deer sightings provide learning experiences. Tessa S. shares about Lone Duck: "The staff was super friendly and helpful! The facilities were always very clean. They had breakfast for you in the morning if you wanted for $5. We woke up one morning at our tent site with deer walking and eating down the creek right next to us."
Nearby attractions: Plan day trips to area destinations if weather turns bad. According to Anthony B. about Peregrine Pines FamCamp: "This little gem is great for quick getaways from the city that has that out of town feel. Several walking trails that start at campground access with beautiful views."
Water pressure concerns: Several campgrounds report very high water pressure. Anthony B. from Peregrine Pines FamCamp advises: "Water pressure here is really strong so make sure you have a water pressure regulator handy."
Site selection: Many RV sites in the area have challenging access or uneven surfaces. Jason F. from Garden of the Gods RV Resort cautions: "I paid $63/night for a Deluxe Plus Back-In spot. I was given D18 which was not only incredibly narrow, but very difficult to get into. Other, cheaper sites around the campground were much more spacious and didn't require removing my sway bars to back in to."
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds provide dump stations. Cheryl W. notes about Diamond Campground: "Everything on our 50 amp site worked perfectly. The site was ample for our toy hauler and truck. Sites are not level, bring proper equipment for leveling."
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds prohibit generator use. Steve C. from Mueller State Park observed: "The camp sites are well maintained and have vaulted toilets and water pumps conveniently located throughout the campgrounds. Some camp sites are very close to one another, but everybody was respectful of each other's space and quiet."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Woodland Park, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Woodland Park, CO is Mueller State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 61 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Woodland Park, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 193 dog-friendly camping locations near Woodland Park, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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