Ramah Reservoir

Ramah Reservoir is a remote, unpredictable State Wildlife Area about 40 miles east of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado. Before you load up the truck and head out to this prairie reservoir near the tiny town of Ramah, check current water conditions first — this lake has a long history of going completely dry, and visitors who skip that step often arrive to find cracked mud where they expected open water.

Managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Ramah State Wildlife Area covers roughly 400 acres of open grassland surrounding the reservoir. The lake is fed by a small drainage basin that does not reliably deliver enough water to keep the pool full. Water levels have dropped to nothing multiple times over the past two decades, including complete dry-outs in 2003, 2004, and periodic drainings since then. When the reservoir does hold water, CPW stocks it with channel catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill, and the fishing can be surprisingly productive for a plains reservoir. Northern pike, yellow perch, and grass carp have also been documented in the lake during fuller years.

When water levels are adequate, Ramah Reservoir transforms into one of the better birding destinations on the eastern plains. The site sits along a migration corridor, attracting shorebirds, waterbirds, and migrants that are uncommon elsewhere in El Paso County. Black terns, Wilson's phalaropes, Savannah sparrows, and Least flycatchers have all been documented here during breeding season. Ironically, low water years can produce some of the best shorebird habitat, with exposed mudflats drawing species that bypass deeper reservoirs.

Access to the State Wildlife Area requires a valid Colorado hunting or fishing license, or a State Wildlife Area pass, for everyone age 16 and older. The area is open year-round during daylight hours. Facilities are minimal — a single concrete vault toilet is the only structure, and it is maintained just enough to stay functional. There are no picnic tables, no designated trails, and no shade structures. The access road is unpaved and can be rough, so higher-clearance vehicles are a good idea after wet weather.

Stargazing is a genuine draw at Ramah. The remote location, far from city light pollution, produces dark skies that reveal constellations and the Milky Way with impressive clarity. Visitors have called out the night sky as one of the best reasons to make the drive.

Camping is technically permitted, and the open grassland provides space for tents or vehicles, but the experience is bare-bones. No water, no hookups, and wandering cattle from adjacent ranch land are part of the landscape. Dogs should be leashed to avoid conflicts with livestock.

Ramah Reservoir is not a destination for casual visitors expecting a developed recreation area. It rewards birders, anglers, and stargazers who check conditions in advance, bring their own supplies, and appreciate the raw character of the eastern Colorado plains. When the water is in, the fishing and birding can be excellent. When it is out, the drive is a long one for an empty lakebed.