Rampart Reservoir is one of my favorite places to kayak in Colorado. It offers beautiful views of Pikes Peak. And, even on the busiest, summer weekends, you can enjoy the scenery without seeing people in every direction.
Parking lot
A large parking lot and vault toilets are located just north of the dam, past the boat inspection station. If your kayak is relatively light or you have wheels, you can carry or roll it the short distance from the parking lot to the boat launch. Tom and I typically unload our kayaks and gear at the boat ramp before parking.
Boat ramp
The concrete boat ramp, just below the parking lot, is wide enough to accommodate multiple vehicles. We rarely have to wait to unload or load right at the water’s edge.
The floating dock next to the boat ramp is useful if you prefer to launch your kayak without wading into the water.
North shore
Paddling toward the right as you leave the boat ramp leads you away from the dam and along the north shore. I prefer the north shore if I only have time to explore one side of the reservoir.
The north shore is only accessible by hiking, biking, or floating so the banks tend to be less crowded than the south shore. The farther you get from the boat launch, the less likely you are to run across people fishing on the banks. They don’t appreciate kayaks scaring the fish or snagging their lines. And, with less crowded banks, its easier to find an open spot to beach the kayaks for a break.
I find the north shore interesting than the south shore because it has many fingers and rock formations.
In addition to the beautiful rock formations, the north shore provides great views of Pikes Peak.
The inlet
The inlet is located at the west end of Rampart Reservoir. As you approach the inlet, you’re likely to see more people on the banks and the water.
Inlets, in general, tend to be popular fishing spots. And, at Rampart Reservoir, various trails lead from parking lots and campgrounds to the inlet. Some of these parking areas enable visitors to park outside the fee area and hike or bike to the reservoir.
South shore
Most of the south shore looks considerably different from the north shore. It has more deciduous vegetation along the banks.
And, it leads along hills that were burned during the Waldo Canyon Wildfire in 2012.
The south shore has a few rocky fingers that are fun to explore.
But, much of the south shore is easily accessible from various campgrounds and parking lots. So, the banks can get crowded with people; especially on summer weekends. People on shore aren’t a problem for kayaking except when they have fishing lines in the water, as many do. If you want to explore the fingers on the south shore up-close and with fewer people, I'd suggest a weekday or early morning.
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