Rampart Ridge - Rampart Lakes, Rachel Lake — Saturday, Jul. 5, 2025

Fantastic hike! Wildflowers everywhere, a beautiful creek to hike beside, views, crystal blue lakes; a lovely hike!

Road: gravel, in good condition
Trailhead: parking lot was pretty much full at 9:30 am, a few already parking at side of road. Good condition bathrooms, (two pit toilet stalls) each with 7 empty TP rolls...
Trail: Overall enjoyable, but did have some things to note. there is significant overgrowth in the first few miles of the trail, see picture. We cross 6 logs, easily, and 12 water crossings (mostly the same creek) with dry shoes the whole time, between the trailhead and Rachel Lake. The steeper incline below Rachel lake involves some trail confusion, with some false trails that sometimes dead end at bushes, and sometimes try to reroute back to the main trail.
mild mosquitos at Rachel Lake. Miserable SWARMS of mosquitoes between Rachel and Rampart Lake. bring the bug protection or be eaten. Rampart Lake was luckily clear of mosquitoes, or at least the light breeze at Rampart lake makes them seem non existent. Backpackers we spoke with said they didn't have bug issues overnight at Rampart Lakes though, just on the trail.

The backpackers toilet at Rachel Lake is broken, but still useable, if careful to not fall in.

Lakes are cold as they are still touched by snow, but the trails are snow free. I considered jumping in because they were beautiful, but didn't.

Overall a great hike.