3 Mile Loop 8800-9800 Elevation

Thirty miles north of Woodland Park is the jagged peak of Devils Head. This giant dome of a peak towers over the forest like a skyscraper. The exhausting trail ends in a scenic meadow and then you get to climb a hundred feet of stairs to the fire tower at the peaks highest point.

The easiest way to get there is to go west from Sedalia on Rt 67 then go south on Rampart Range Road. It's ten miles to the Devils Head access road. You can also go north from Woodland Park. Go north on Baldwin then north on Rampart Range Road. It thirty miles to the Devils Head access road. Either way, the road is dirt and in ok shape, but has a few wash boards and wash outs.

Devils Head has picnic and camping areas, and a trail to the observation tower. There are other camping areas nearby and people commonly camp on the numerous dead-end side roads. The whole area is littered with jeep roads and trails, providing days of exploring in a car on a bike or on foot.

The trail is surprisingly scenic right from the start. The first half mile follows a creek through a mossy green forest. Moss covered boulders poke up through the dirt and ferns. The next half mile is along the eastern side of the mountain with frequent views of the plains from breaks in the trees. The last half mile is among the pillars of rocks that make up the top of the mountain.

The trail crests in a scenic meadow between towering rock walls where the ranger's house and a restroom are sitting. Just past the house is a stairway that goes straight up the rock wall and then across its top to the observation tower, which is sitting on the rocks and not on a tower. This used to be a fire spotting tower and still inside is a map of the region with a rotating sight glass, used for spotting nearby landmarks. The tower appears to be the highest point of the mountain and has an unobstructed view for fifty miles in every direction.

The trail is in pretty good shape. It's smooth and wide with occasional benches for resting, until the top half where it gets a little rocky. It's also steep. Take a quart of water and snacks if you expect to make it to the top. It's a lot more of a work out than you'd think, and a lot of people don't make it. Watch out for lightning, it happens all the time up here and often hits the tower.