Almagre Mountain at 12367 feet is the second highest peak on the horizon from Colorado Springs. It lies just south east of Pikes peak a few miles. There is a number of trails to reach it, and if you have a death wish you can even drive a 4 wheel vehicle almost to the summit. The road is really narrow, bad and may be impassable in places. We chose to take our jeep up the Gold camp trail to a beautiful meadow about 4 miles below the summit called Deer park and camp there.
Just below the summit of Almagre in the valley formed by Almagre and Mount Baldy is an old reservoir that use to supply the city of Colorado Springs with drinking water.
The reservoir is no longer used because they partially drained it when the dam that held the water in place became old and unstable. After decommissioning the reservoir people can now hike to it or swim in it (very very cold in May when we were there).
Just off Gold camp road a few miles down an old forest service road we set up camp along a creek in what is know as Deer Park.
Its about a 4 mile hike to the summit and the reservoir. Part of the way you could drive, but we chose to hike up the side of the mountain on a poorly marked trail instead of the old narrow road. Here and there in the hillside you could find old jeep trails. Below you can see Deer park it is the clearing in the valley
Nearly to the top just off the old road you can see Colorado Springs to the east in the distance.
Here you can see the old access road leading to the reservoir. One wrong move and its over the edge you go!
Past the old gate into the valley from Almagre and Baldy you can see what’s left of the old reservoir. Down in front is the old dam holding back the remaining water. Looks like its a bit cold to go swimming.
Inside the old reservoir
Taking a break on a comfortable rock
Almagre’s summit
Beautiful views of the Front Range spread out before us on the way back down
Just down the road looking back you get a good view of the old dam holding the reservoir. You can see how all the melting snow use to feed the water levels. The valley leading away from the dam has a small creek, that now flows down the mountain.
Back at camp a few hours later celebrating another great hike, around the campfire.
The summit team poses in front of the camera positioned on a tripod, but what’s in those coffee cups?
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