Rampart Range camping means designated sites, not 'camp anywhere'

The Rampart Range Recreation Area sits in Pike National Forest in western Douglas County, reached by gravel Rampart Range Road off Highway 67 near Sedalia. It is a popular spot for off-highway vehicles, with many miles of trails for ATVs and dirt bikes at a range of skill levels.

People often assume national forest means you can pull over and camp anywhere. In Rampart Range, that is not the case. The Forest Service allows camping only in designated sites here, first come, first served, and there is a fee. Plan ahead: store food securely and pack out everything you bring in, including all trash.

If you ride or drive the trails, the Motor Vehicle Use Map is the rule. It is free and shows exactly which roads and trails are open and to which kind of vehicle. A road that looks driveable may be closed or limited to smaller machines.

Timing matters. The roads here close to motor vehicles in late fall, usually by about December 1, and stay closed through winter, with a target reopening around April 1. A wet spring can push that reopening later, with a mud-season closure that protects the roads and trails.

Because fees, closures, and open routes change, check the Forest Service Rampart Range Recreation Area page and the current MVUM before you go.