Rampart Range Explained

Rampart Range
Country:United States
Subdivision1:Colorado
Subdivision2 Type:Counties
Subdivision2:[1]
Parent:Front Range, Rocky Mountains
Length Mi:44
Width Mi:12
Highest:Devils Head
Elevation Ft:9748
Coordinates:39.2605°N -105.1012°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
Listing:Mountain ranges of Colorado
Map:USA Colorado

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.[1]

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 44miles long and 12miles at its widest.[1] [3] [4] [5]

The high point of the Rampart Range is Devils Head at an elevation of 9748feet. Several other peaks in the range are over 9000feet, 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]

Notes and References

  1. 183585. Rampart Range. 12 March 2024.
  2. 183572. Devils Head. 12 March 2024.
  3. Book: Smith, Charles L.. Climate, Soils and Vegetation of the Rampart Range, Colorado . United States Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs, Colorado. 1977. 12 March 2024 .
  4. Book: Miller, Carter H.. Gravity Survey in the Rampart Range Area, Colorado . United States Geological Survey. 1973. Geological Survey Professional Paper 475-C. 110–113. 12 March 2024.
  5. Book: Marcus, Steven R.. Geology of the Montane Zone of Central Colorado: with emphasis on Manitou Park . Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Denver, Colorado. 1973. USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-113. 12 March 2024.
  6. Book: Ormes, Robert M.. Guide to the Colorado Mountains. The Colorado Mountain Club. Denver, Colorado. 1992. 9. 0-917895-38X.
  7. Web site: Tweto. Ogden. Geologic map of Colorado. United States Geological Survey. 1979. 12 March 2024.