Overview
Ormes Peak, at 9,727’, is located in the southern Rampart Range and is the highest peak between US Highway 24 and the northern El Paso County and Teller County lines. It is named after Manley Ormes. Manley was the father of Robert Ormes, co-author of the Pikes Peak atlas along with Robert Houdek. Ormes Peak’s summit is mostly clear of trees and provides commanding views in all directions – particularly of the north face of Pikes Peak – bring your binoculars. It also provides the option of a relatively short and straight forward scramble route from FR 302 or a fairly lengthy cross country route from the Blodgett Peak Open Space in Colorado Springs. This cross country route allows for short side trips to Blodgett Peak, Point 9,491 and Lone Pine – three peaks that form a portion of the western skyline of northern Colorado Springs.
Getting There
Ormes Peak is located in the southern Rampart Range. The two main trailheads for Ormes Peak are Forest Road 302 and the Colorado Springs Blodgett Peak Open Space.
FOREST ROAD 302
Rampart Range Road from Colorado Springs
Forest Road 302 is accessible via Rampart Range Road from the southeast. To access Rampart Range Road from Colorado Springs enter the Garden of the Gods park from 30th Street and proceed around the central garden and follow signs to Balanced Rock. Just before arriving at Balance Rock you will arrive at the intersection with Rampart Range Road. Turn right on the gravel Rampart Range Road. Rampart Range climbs steadily upwards providing great views of the plains to the east. You will pass some huge homes and eventually come to the eye sore that is the Rampart Shooting Range. This is a public shooting range that looks more like a trash dump than a shooting range – I wish more of these people would pick up after themselves. The general idea for the range is it keeps people from shooting at random areas throughout the Rampart Range and concentrates them all at one place – a good thing.
Once past the shooting range things become scenic again with Williams Canyon on the south (left) and Queens Canyon on the north (right). After climbing for several more miles and passing a few scenic lookout points you will arrive at the intersection with Forest Road 301. This is located on the right just past Notch Mountain (9,665’) and is signed for the Eagle Lake Boys Camp. Continue straight on Rampart Range Road for about another mile to the intersection with FR 303. Turn right on the well graded FR 303 a little over 15 miles from the beginning of Rampart Range Road.
Rampart Range Road from Woodland Park
Forest Road 302 is accessible via Rampart Range Road from the northwest. Turn north from US Highway 24 on South Baldwin Street in the City of Woodland Park. South Baldwin Street becomes Teller County 22 and is signed Rampart Range Road. After a few miles the road crosses from Teller County to El Paso County. Shortly after crossing the county line you will arrive at the intersection with Loy Creek Road. Turn right on Loy Creek Road. After a few miles you will come to the intersection with the true Rampart Range Road that passes between Sedalia and Colorado Springs. Turn right on Rampart Range Road. After passing the intersection for FR 306, the access for the Rampart Reservoir dam, you will arrive at the intersection of FR 303 in a little over 6 miles down Rampart Range Road. Turn left on FR 303.
Rampart Range Road to Forest Road 303
In less than one mile you will arrive at the intersection with FR 302. Turn right on FR 302 which quickly becomes severely rutted and passable only to 4-wheel drives with relatively high clearance. You can park at the beginning of the 4-wheel drive section and hike the remainder of FR 302 to the trailhead – this will add one to one and a half miles each way to your hike. Follow FR 302 to the south slopes of Ormes Peak. There is good parking at the Ormes Peak/ Lone Pine saddle on the east side of Ormes Peak but the easiest route up Ormes Peak is via the south slopes.
BLODGETT PEAK OPEN SPACE
The Blodgett Peak main page and the Blodgett Peak Open Space trailhead page have specific directions for getting to the Blodgett Peak Open Space trailhead.
Red TapeThere are no permits necessary for this section of Pike National Forest. The Blodgett Peak Open Space parking lot is technically not open overnight.
When To ClimbThe FR 302 trailhead may be inaccessible for periods in winter and early spring after heavy snow storms or briefly after heavy summer rains. Check with Pike National Forest for Rampart Range Road conditions.
The Blodgett Peak Open Space trailhead is open year round although heavy snow will likely be present for portions of the route in winter and early spring – particularly the north facing slopes between Blodgett Peak and Lone Pine.
Mountain ConditionsCheck local weather here.
CampingThere are several marked campsites in Pike National Forest along Rampart Range Road and the various forest service roads approaching the FR 302 trailhead. There is dispersed camping allowed in Pike National Forest. There are a few pay national forest campgrounds located along SH 67 just north of Woodland Park.
There is no camping allowed at the Blodgett Peak Open Space trailhead.
Images
|
Pikes Peak Region
