Posted by Joshua Hardin on August 30, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Rampart Range Road: a very easy 4x4 road that starts in GOG and goes to Woodland Park. Some of the best views of Pikes Peak around.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on August 30, 2010 at 4:39 PM
I'm not a big fan of Rampart Range Road for shots of Pikes Peak this time of year mostly because Pikes Peak looks boring with no snow on the mountain. Early summer is much better. If by chance there is some fog, that could change matters, but I wouldn't count on it now. However the glades and forest along Rampart Range Road are very enjoyable up near the top and the tall grass and white aspen bark could create compelling compositions even with green leaves. Check out the Schubarth road spur as an option and the foot trail down to Rampart Res (Rainbow Trail?).
The Garden is an obvious choice. The not-obvious option is that in the evening this time of year, there is the possibility of catching some nice light before sunset on the back side pullout, especially if there are some evening clouds. The sun is setting through Ute Pass, so it stays light a little longer in the cycle now than in high summer or winter.
Cheyenne Canyon is one of my favorites, but it takes time to get to know the canyon and get decent shots from there. Its best in early morning as the light is starting to come into the canyon (between 7:30 and 10AM).
In overcast or late evening, the west end of Old Stagecoach Road offers some nice opportunities. Its a little better in fall, but there are possibilities now too including options with tall grass and aspen trunks.
Mueller State Park and Florisant Fossil Beds National Monument offer some alternate evening views of Pikes Peak and some interesting areas in their own right. Manitou Lake on HWY67 north of Woodland Park offers an opportunity to shoot Pikes Peak's reflection in a lake from the north.
And Labor Day weekend is the Balloon Festival.
Posted by Bob Falcone on August 30, 2010 at 5:27 PM
I agree with Mel regarding Shubarth Trail...much better (IMHO) than Rampart Range Road, with some nice rolling hills as a foreground (and the frequent elk in the area around sunrise).
Back on Rampart Range Road, there are numerous 4X4/hiking trails that extend off of the various campsites on the Pikes Peak side of the road that give some nice vistas of Pikes Peak.
If you take Forest Road 302 almost to the end, you can take a short (20 minute) hike to the top of Ormes Peak, which also has some nice views of not only Pikes Peak, but the Collegiate Peaks to the west, with Rampart Reservoir in the foreground.
The foot trail Mel refers to is indeed named Rainbow Trail. I was there last week, and there isn't much there now, but in about 6 weeks the large groves of aspen there should look great (barring an early frost). Within the last 10 days there was still a lot of purple aster and bluebells in bloom that would make for nice flower macro shots.
In Garden of the Gods in the evening, come in the main entrance (30th Street), and follow the road around to behind the Kissing Camels and stop at "Turn out 5", and then climb the trail up hill a little for some nice sunset-lit views of the rocks (especially if there are some clouds). I went up there last night, but was about 10 minutes too late (damn).
Posted by D J Kuklinski on August 30, 2010 at 6:34 PM
Mel and Bob pretty much summed it up. Actually Rampart Range Road itself is two-wheel drive; 4-wheel drive comes in handy if there's snow or mud.
The Balloon Festival is fun.
Posted by Bryan Maltais on August 30, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Wow, some very good and specific advice from each of you. Thanks!
Discussion
6 repliesSeems the Pike's Peak/CO Springs area is the one region I've rather neglected. Planning on using the long weekend to fix that.
For you Springs experts, besides GoG what are some of your most recommended spots to shoot, either by foot or 4x4? Best vantage point for Pikes?
Thanks for any advice
Could be kind of fun
The Garden is an obvious choice. The not-obvious option is that in the evening this time of year, there is the possibility of catching some nice light before sunset on the back side pullout, especially if there are some evening clouds. The sun is setting through Ute Pass, so it stays light a little longer in the cycle now than in high summer or winter.
Cheyenne Canyon is one of my favorites, but it takes time to get to know the canyon and get decent shots from there. Its best in early morning as the light is starting to come into the canyon (between 7:30 and 10AM).
In overcast or late evening, the west end of Old Stagecoach Road offers some nice opportunities. Its a little better in fall, but there are possibilities now too including options with tall grass and aspen trunks.
Mueller State Park and Florisant Fossil Beds National Monument offer some alternate evening views of Pikes Peak and some interesting areas in their own right. Manitou Lake on HWY67 north of Woodland Park offers an opportunity to shoot Pikes Peak's reflection in a lake from the north.
And Labor Day weekend is the Balloon Festival.
Back on Rampart Range Road, there are numerous 4X4/hiking trails that extend off of the various campsites on the Pikes Peak side of the road that give some nice vistas of Pikes Peak.
If you take Forest Road 302 almost to the end, you can take a short (20 minute) hike to the top of Ormes Peak, which also has some nice views of not only Pikes Peak, but the Collegiate Peaks to the west, with Rampart Reservoir in the foreground.
The foot trail Mel refers to is indeed named Rainbow Trail. I was there last week, and there isn't much there now, but in about 6 weeks the large groves of aspen there should look great (barring an early frost). Within the last 10 days there was still a lot of purple aster and bluebells in bloom that would make for nice flower macro shots.
In Garden of the Gods in the evening, come in the main entrance (30th Street), and follow the road around to behind the Kissing Camels and stop at "Turn out 5", and then climb the trail up hill a little for some nice sunset-lit views of the rocks (especially if there are some clouds). I went up there last night, but was about 10 minutes too late (damn).
The Balloon Festival is fun.