Rampart Ponds Campground
Rampart Ponds Campground, nestled inside the breathtaking scenic unbelievable factor concerning the Rampart Fluctuate Mountains, is a haven for outdoor lovers searching for solace in nature. This hidden gem, located merely 15 miles west of Colorado Springs, provides a serene and tranquil tenting experience that is unequalled inside the house. With its well-maintained facilities and an abundance of leisure alternate options, this campground is a popular choice for households, {{couples}}, and solo vacationers making an attempt to flee the hustle and bustle of on daily basis life.
Rampart Ponds is a campground inside Garibaldi Provincial Park. It’s 11km farther from the ever-popular Elfin Lakes Campground and offers great views of Mt Garibaldi.
Do you have to’re unable to get Garibaldi Tenting reservations at Elfin Lakes, or simply wish to spend quite a few nights tenting in Garibaldi Provincial Park, the Rampart Ponds Campground hike is an excellent trip spot!
On this info to the Rampart Ponds campsite, you’ll uncover information for tenting at Rampart Ponds and climbing to Elfin Lakes and Mamquam Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Squamish by means of the Rampart Ponds path.
This part of Garibaldi Provincial Park is one in every of my favorite places to go to in Squamish and is dwelling to a couple of the biggest Squamish climbing trails too.
Rampart Ponds Campground & Mamquam Lake hike
NEW 2023 UPDATE!
You will have a day cross to entry well-liked BC parks, Garibaldi (from June 14 – Oct 9), Joffre (May 6 – Oct 9) and Golden Ears (June 14 – Sept 4). The passes are free and accessible from 7 am two days sooner than your go to. All particulars & information right here.
The Rampart campground is the closest campsite to Mamquam Lake which is the highest of the designated trails from the Diamond Head house of Garibaldi Provincial Park.
It’s a small, distant campground with pretty views and is biggest completed as an in a single day hike (till you fancy a 40km spherical journey from the parking lot).
We’d been tenting at Elfin Lakes sooner than in spring and I’d been desirous to return to hike out to Mamquam Lake ever since.
When the tenting reservations for BC Parks went on-line, I managed to snap up a tenting reservation for Elfin Lakes campground and Mamquam Lakes to benefit from a 2-night backpacking journey in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
AllTrails is my go-to climbing app for finding, planning, and navigating whereas I’m out on the paths. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you could be assured you’re nonetheless on the right track, even with out mobile signal.
The way in which to get to Rampart Ponds Campground
Rampart Ponds is accessed from the Diamond Head trailhead for Garibaldi Provincial Park. The trailhead is located merely exterior of Squamish and is simple to get to in all vehicles although you’ll go alongside a mud freeway.
Do you have to’re planning to go to Garibaldi Provincial Park you’ll need each tenting reservations or a day cross in the midst of the summer season months. Every of these could be reserved by Tenting.BCParks.ca
To get to Rampart Ponds Campground it’s one prolonged path that’ll take you earlier Elfin Lakes and the Elfin Lakes shelter and campground, alongside the ft of The Gargoyles and Opal Cone, and through the valley on the bottom of Mt Garibaldi sooner than the final word climb to the Rampart Ponds campground.
The first part of the hike follows the Elfin Lakes path which you can study further about proper right here. There’s a barely fully completely different route counting on whether or not or not you’re climbing in summer season or winter, nevertheless every are well-marked.
Hike to Rampart Ponds Campground
The Rampart Ponds campsite is 25km from the trailhead and it’s classed as common since there’s no scrambling or super steep sections. For nearly the entire greatest manner you’ll be strolling on a fairly huge path and if you’ve reached the Purple Heather hut, you’ll have good views of the valley and surrounding mountains.
From the Elfin Lakes shelter, adjust to indicators in direction of Mamquam Lake as you descend barely and into the forest. The trail crosses a couple of smaller streams as a result of it winds spherical after which heads down within the course of Mamquam River.
Make sure you adjust to the trail markers clearly as there’s one half the place the trail has collapsed into the river below and attempting to hike it’s going to doable see you moreover fall into the river! There’s a so much safer route that entails taking some stairs proper right down to the river after which using the bridge to cross over it.
From proper right here you’ll stroll alongside the river; protect your eye open for marmots as that’s the place we seen some! The views listed beneath are pretty as you lookup and down the valley carved out by the Mamquam River.
After a few kilometers, you’ll begin heading uphill in direction of the turn-off for Opal Cone. It’s not too steep, nevertheless there are a great few switchbacks as you crest the monetary establishment of the valley.
Opal Cone to Mamquam Lake
We paused to grab lunch after which hike Opal Cone sooner than persevering with on to Rampart Ponds. As we descended from the Opal Cone turnoff, we received right here all through the snow!
You in all probability have time and energy, I prefer to suggest climbing as a lot as Opal Cone for an unbelievable view of a Garibaldi glacier!
No matter being the middle of July, there was nonetheless a great deal of snow from this degree onwards and many on the campsite too.
We crossed over the snowfield, taking care to remain to the path as biggest as attainable and by no means fall into the lake which we knew was someplace spherical there.
There’s just one further climb from this degree sooner than you attain Rampart Ponds!
On this climb, you cross over a great deal of streams (a terrific place to refill your water in case you occur to’ve run out! We use a Sawyer Squeeze for in a single day tenting journeys like this.), along with the place a glacial one and a non-glacial river meet and blend into one.
Rampart Ponds Campground Companies
Though small, the Rampart Ponds Garibaldi campground has major tent pads (picket and filth), bear caches, and a pit bathroom.
The door was broken after now we have been there and BC Parks has stopped stocking the bogs with bathroom paper.
Have in mind to pack your private when you go backpacking in Garibaldi Provincial Park along with Elfin Lakes tenting.
What to pack for the Rampart Ponds hike
Proper right here’s an in depth packing guidelines for the Rampart Ponds hike. Have in mind to always confirm the exact circumstances for Rampart Ponds sooner than heading out and modify your packing guidelines as important. Being well-prepared will help assure a safe and gratifying climbing experience.
- Garments: Placed on layers to control to altering temperatures and circumstances.
- Rain Gear: Protects in opposition to sudden downpours.
- Climbing Boots: Provides assist and grip on uneven terrains.
- Backpack: To carry all requirements.
- Water: Maintain hydrated in the midst of the hike.
- Snacks: Retains energy ranges up.
- First Assist Tools: For minor accidents and emergencies.
- Multitool: Useful for quite a few situations.
- Headlamp: Helps navigate in low delicate.
- Shades: Protects eyes from UV rays.
- Sunscreen: Shields pores and pores and skin from sunburn.
- Bug Repellent: Retains bugs away.
- Emergency Shelter: For sudden in a single day stays.
- ID & Emergency Knowledge: In case of emergencies.
- Trekking Poles: Reduces strain on knees.
- Digicam: Captures memorable moments.
- Binoculars: Views distant wildlife or landscapes.
- Toilet Gives: Maintain cleanliness and Depart No Trace. Pack your private bathroom paper, a Kula fabric, and a trowel if you wish to go the place there are not any facilities.
- Bear Spray: Security in bear territories.
Final concepts on the Mamquam Lake Path
This hike to Mamquam Lake, tenting at Rampart Ponds Campground in Garibaldi Park had been on my guidelines for a while. It’s an prolonged hike that’s biggest break up over 1 or 2 nights and it is a good completely different to tenting at Elfin Lakes in case you occur to’ve been unable to get a BC Parks tenting reservation.
From the Rampart Ponds Elfin Lakes backcountry tenting web sites you get unbelievable views of the mountains along with Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia. That’s one in every of my favorite Garibaldi campground locations.
In the event you want to do further Garibaldi tenting, check out this info to climbing to the Wedgemount Campground at Wedgemount Lake, the best way to hike to Russet Lake campground, or camp on the Kees and Claire hut, or tenting at Garibaldi Lake campground for the Black Tusk path and Panorama Ridge hike. I’ve moreover obtained a info to the place to camp in Whistler if backcountry tenting isn’t pretty your issue.
Ultimate Updated on August 22, 2023 by Hannah
Rampart Ponds Campground is a picturesque tenting trip spot surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountains and clear waters. This family-friendly campground provides numerous leisure actions, along with fishing, climbing, and kayaking. With well-maintained facilities and nice employees, friends can benefit from a peaceful and stress-free tenting experience. Whether or not or not you are an out of doors fanatic searching for journey or simply making an attempt to unwind in nature’s magnificence, Rampart Ponds Campground is the fitting trip spot for a memorable tenting getaway.
1- Rampart Ponds Campground provides a scenic and serene setting with lovely mountain views and tranquil waters, splendid for these making an attempt to reconnect with nature amidst a peaceful setting.
2- The campground provides quite a lot of leisure actions, along with fishing, climbing, and kayaking, making it a gorgeous trip spot for outdoor lovers searching for journey and exploration.
3- With well-maintained facilities and a nice employees, Rampart Ponds Campground ensures a comfortable and gratifying tenting experience for households and folks, providing a perfect getaway to unwind and create lasting recollections.
