Just outside Colorado Springs, Rampart Reservoir offers easy, accessible fishing during the summer months.
The 500 surface-acre reservoir is open from April 26 to Dec. 1, when anglers will find lake, brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout. Surrounded by trails and forests, the reservoir is also a great place to hike, bike and camp.
The fish are stocked by the Colorado Department of Wildlife, so a fishing license is required and all state regulations must be followed. The reservoir is also Colorado Springs domestic water supply, so, in dry years, the water level can vary.
To access the reservoir, take Forest Service Road 300, Rampart Range Road, from Woodland Park or Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.