RM ORS #05-01: Pikes Big View

RM Off Road Series (ORS) #5: Rampart Range Rd./Balanced Rock Rd./Mt. Herman Rd.

This cache is the first of eleven in my #5 series of off-road caches located along the Rampart Range/Mt. Herman route. This route runs about 36 miles from Garden of the Gods ending in Monument with a 7 mile side trip to Balanced Rock.

Cache Information
To get to this cache, park at N38 53.739 W104 54.183 (also on waypoint list below) and make the short hike to the top of the ridge. Then cut across the face of the hill to the south to get to the cache. There is an expansive, in your face view of Pikes Peak from the cache location.

RM Off Road Series #5 Complete Cache Listing (South to North)

1. Pikes Big View
2. Nice Point of View
3. WOW!
4. Above the Aspens
5. Pikes Peak-A-Boo
6. Lone Rock
7. Sea of Trees
8. Balanced Rock
9. Granite Overlook
10. Boulder Valley
11. Sentry

Trail Information

Rating/Description
The Rampart Range Road and Mt. Herman Road portions of this route are rated easy and can be done in almost any vehicle with decent ground clearance although an SUV, Truck or other off road vehicle is recommended. There are sections of the trail that have minor erosion and Mt. Herman Road has some rocks. If you decide to take the side trip to get the three caches up Balanced Rock Road, you will need better ground clearance and may want to have 4WD because the road is badly rutted. Disclaimer: You need to decide for yourself if it is safe to make the trip in your vehicle. Also note that rain and snow can change the road conditions considerably making it unsuitable for less equipped vehicles.

The trail starts just inside Garden of the Gods off of route 24 from Colorado Springs. From there, you will stay on the wide easy Rampart Range Road until you cross Mt. Herman Road. From there, you can either take Mt. Herman Road down to Monument, or keep going and turn on Balanced Rock Road. If you do the Balanced Rock Road portion, you will backtrack to Mt. Herman Road and take it down to Monument.

Winter Months
This trail should be open in the winter, weather and snow conditions permitting. I made this run around Christmas time last year and with the exception of a few icy sections, it was no problem.

Time/Distance
The Rampart Range and Mt. Herman portions of the trail are approximately 36 miles and should take about 3 to 5 hours driving time. The round trip to Balanced Rock from the Rampart Range/Mt. Herman intersection is 7 miles and should take about 1 hour. You will also need to include time for finding the caches, exploring, sight seeing, lunch, etc.

Trail Waypoints
See waypoint list below. (South to North Route)

Additional Waypoints

PKYH44 - Parking for This Cache
N 38° 53.739 W 104° 54.183

WAYH44 - Start of Trail
N 38° 51.941 W 104° 53.789

WBYH44 - Stay Left
N 38° 57.693 W 104° 59.736

WCYH44 - Go Straight
N 39° 00.262 W 105° 00.939

WDYH44 - Stay Left
N 39° 00.513 W 105° 00.917

WEYH44 - Stay Right
N 39° 01.489 W 105° 00.733

WFYH44 - Stay Left
N 39° 01.651 W 105° 00.622

WGYH44 - Stay Left
N 39° 01.929 W 105° 00.741

WHYH44 - Rampart Range/Mt. Herman Intersection
N 39° 03.360 W 105° 01.104

WIYH44 - Go Right on Way to Balanced Rock
N 39° 03.999 W 105° 01.401

WJYH44 - Go Left on Way to Balanced Rock
N 39° 04.008 W 105° 01.319

WKYH44 - End of Trail
N 39° 05.306 W 104° 54.666