Rampart Range

Last updated

Rampart Range
Spruce Mtn Open Space 02 PANO Rampart Range.jpg
Rampart Range seen from Windy Point
atop Spruce Mountain
Highest point
Peak Devils Head
Elevation 9,748 ft (2,971 m)
Listing Mountain ranges of Colorado
Coordinates 39°15′38″N105°06′04″W / 39.2605112°N 105.10123986°W / 39.2605112; -105.10123986 [1]
Dimensions
Length44 mi (71 km)
Width12 mi (19 km)
Geography
USA Colorado relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Rampart Range
CountryUnited States
State Colorado
Counties Douglas, El Paso and Teller [2]
Parent range Front Range, Rocky Mountains

The Rampart Range is a mountain range in the western United States in Colorado, located in Douglas, El Paso, and Teller counties. Part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, the range is almost entirely public land within the Pike National Forest. [2]

The Rampart Range is delineated by the South Platte River on the north and Manitou Springs and Woodland Park on the south. The western border is formed by faults along the South Platte River and Trout Creek. The eastern border of the range is the steep, faulted escarpment down to the Colorado Piedmont. In total, the range is 44 miles (71 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) at its widest. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The high point of the Rampart Range is Devils Head at an elevation of 9,748 feet (2,971 m). Several other peaks in the range are over 9,000 feet (2,743 m), but these elevations stand in contrast to the higher peaks of the Front Range to the north (Mount Blue Sky) and south (Pikes Peak). [6]

Geology

The Rampart Range is a anticlinal horst raised along faults on the east, west, and south sides. The region has experienced repeated periods of uplift, erosion, and deposition over the past 1,000 million years. Currently, uplifted Proterozoic basement rocks of the Pikes Pike batholith dominate the Rampart Range. Nearly all overlying sedimentary and volcanic rocks have been eroded away. [4] [5] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangre de Cristo Range</span> American mountain range

The Sangre de Cristo Range is a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado in the United States, running north and south along the east side of the Rio Grande Rift. The mountains extend southeast from Poncha Pass for about 75 mi (121 km) through south-central Colorado to La Veta Pass, approximately 20 mi (32 km) west of Walsenburg, and form a high ridge separating the San Luis Valley on the west from the watershed of the Arkansas River on the east. The Sangre de Cristo Range rises over 7,000 ft (2,100 m) above the valleys and plains to the west and northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Front Range</span> Mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains of North America

The Front Range is a mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains of North America located in the central portion of the U.S. State of Colorado, and southeastern portion of the U.S. State of Wyoming. It is the first mountain range encountered as one goes westbound along the 40th parallel north across the Great Plains of North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uinta Mountains</span> Mountain range in northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado in the United States

The Uinta Mountains are an east-west trending chain of mountains in northeastern Utah extending a short distance into northwest Colorado and slightly into southwestern Wyoming in the United States. As a subrange of the Rocky Mountains, they are unusual for being the highest range in the contiguous United States running east to west, and lie approximately 100 miles (160 km) east of Salt Lake City. The range has peaks ranging from 11,000 to 13,528 feet, with the highest point being Kings Peak, also the highest point in Utah. The Mirror Lake Highway crosses the western half of the Uintas on its way to Wyoming. Utah State Route 44 crosses the east end of the Uintas between Vernal and Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangre de Cristo Mountains</span> Mountain range in Colorado and New Mexico, United States

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. They are located in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico in the United States. The mountains run from Poncha Pass in South-Central Colorado, trending southeast and south, ending at Glorieta Pass, southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The mountains contain a number of fourteen thousand foot peaks in the Colorado portion, as well as several peaks in New Mexico which are over thirteen thousand feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medicine Bow Mountains</span> Mountain range in the Western United States

The Medicine Bow Mountains are a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains that extend 100 miles (160 km) from northern Colorado into southern Wyoming. The northern extent of this range is the sub-range the Snowy Range. From the northern end of Colorado's Never Summer Mountains, the Medicine Bow mountains extend north from Cameron Pass along the border between Larimer and Jackson counties in Colorado and northward into south central Wyoming. In Wyoming, the range sits west of Laramie, in Albany and Carbon counties to the route of the Union Pacific Railroad and U.S. Interstate 80. The mountains often serve as a symbol for the city of Laramie. The range is home to Snowy Range Ski Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenosha Pass</span>

Kenosha Pass, elevation 10,000 ft (3,000 m), is a high mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosquito Range</span> Mountain range in Colorado, United States

The Mosquito Range is a high mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States. The peaks of the range form a ridge running north–south for roughly 40 mi (64 km) from southern Summit County on the north end, then along the boundary between Lake and Park Counties. The ranges forms a high barrier separating the headwaters of the Arkansas River near Leadville from South Park and the headwaters of the South Platte River near Fairplay. The highest peak in the range is Mount Lincoln at an elevation of 14,286 ft. Other fourteeners in the range are Quandary Peak (14,272 ft), Mount Bross (14,172 ft), Mount Democrat (14,148 ft), and Mount Sherman (14,036 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trout Creek Pass</span>

Trout Creek Pass, elevation 9,346 ft (2,849 m), is a mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States. The pass sits atop the southern end of the Mosquito Range on the Park-Chaffee county line, between South Park and the headwaters of the Arkansas River to the west. It is traversed jointly by U.S. Highway 24 (US 24) and US 285. Most motorised vehicles can travel on it, and it is only ever closed during really bad winter storms. While the south side has a moderate 5% gradient, the approach from the north is gentle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Colorado</span> Overview of the geography of the U.S. State of Colorado

The geography of the U.S. State of Colorado is diverse, encompassing both rugged mountainous terrain, vast plains, desert lands, desert canyons, and mesas. Colorado is a landlocked U.S. state. In 1861, the United States Congress defined the boundaries of the new Territory of Colorado exclusively by lines of latitude and longitude, stretching from 37°N to 41°N latitude, and from 102°02'48"W to 109°02'48"W longitude. Starting in 1868, official surveys demarcated the boundaries, deviating from the parallels and meridians in several places. Later surveys attempted to correct some of these mistakes but in 1925 the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the earlier demarcation was the official boundary. The borders of Colorado are now officially defined by 697 boundary markers connected by straight boundary lines. Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah are the only states that have their borders defined solely by straight boundary lines with no natural features. The southwest corner of Colorado is the Four Corners Monument at 36°59'56"N, 109°2'43"W. This is the only place in the United States where four states meet: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wet Mountains</span> Mountain range in southern Colorado, United States

The Wet Mountains are a small mountain range in southern Colorado, named for the amount of snow they receive in the winter as compared to the dry Great Plains to the east. They are a sub-range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in the southern Rocky Mountains System. There are three variant names of mountain range: Cuerno Verde, Greenhorn Mountains, and Sierra Mojada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devil's Head Lookout</span> United States historic place

Devil's Head Lookout is a U.S. Forest Service fire lookout tower at the summit of Devils Head in Douglas County, Colorado. Located on a large pinnacle of Pikes Peak granite, the fire lookout point lies within the Pike National Forest and is accessed by hiking the Devils Head National Recreation Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devils Head (summit)</span>

Devils Head is a mountain summit in the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The 9,749-foot (2,971 m) peak is located in Pike National Forest, 14.2 miles (22.9 km) southwest by south of the community of Sedalia in Douglas County, Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pikes Peak</span> Mountain in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, United States of America

Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The ultra-prominent 14,115-foot (4,302.31 m) fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The town of Manitou Springs lies at its base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blodgett Peak</span> Mountain in the American state of Colorado

Blodgett Peak is a mountain summit in El Paso County, Colorado. Blodgett Peak is located in Pike National Forest. and at its base is Blodgett Peak Open Space of Colorado Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Scraggy Peak</span> Mountain in the U.S. state of Colorado

Long Scraggy Peak is a mountain in Jefferson County, Colorado. A prominent peak, it is characterized by its elongated, craggy ridge, for which it is named. The mountain is located within the Pike National Forest near the confluence of the North Fork South Platte River and the South Platte River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geology of Colorado</span> Geology of the U.S. State of Colorado

The bedrock under the U.S. State of Colorado was assembled from island arcs accreted onto the edge of the ancient Wyoming Craton. The Sonoma orogeny uplifted the ancestral Rocky Mountains in parallel with the diversification of multicellular life. Shallow seas covered the regions, followed by the uplift current Rocky Mountains and intense volcanic activity. Colorado has thick sedimentary sequences with oil, gas and coal deposits, as well as base metals and other minerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matchless Mountain (Colorado)</span> Mountain in the American state of Colorado

Matchless Mountain is a high mountain summit in the Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 12,389-foot (3,776 m) mountain is located in Gunnison National Forest, 18.3 miles (29.4 km) east-southeast of the Town of Crested Butte in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairview Peak (Gunnison County, Colorado)</span> Mountain in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States

Fairview Peak is mountain summit in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,214 feet (4,028 m) mountain is located in Gunnison County, Colorado, and in the Gunnison National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chipeta Mountain</span> Mountain in Colorado, United States

Chipeta Mountain is a mountain summit in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,472-foot (4,106 m) mountain is located in Chaffee County, Colorado, and in the San Isabel National Forest.

References

  1. "Devils Head". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rampart Range". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  3. Smith, Charles L. (1977). Climate, Soils and Vegetation of the Rampart Range, Colorado (PDF). Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Miller, Carter H. (1973). Gravity Survey in the Rampart Range Area, Colorado. Geological Survey Professional Paper 475-C. United States Geological Survey. pp. 110–113. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Marcus, Steven R. (1973). Geology of the Montane Zone of Central Colorado: with emphasis on Manitou Park (PDF). USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-113. Denver, Colorado: Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  6. Ormes, Robert M. (1992). Guide to the Colorado Mountains (9 ed.). Denver, Colorado: The Colorado Mountain Club. ISBN   0-917895-38X.
  7. Tweto, Ogden (1979). "Geologic map of Colorado". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 12, 2024.