Devil's Head Lookout Trail
By Connor Tien, DougCo Social · Updated August 2026
A short, steep climb to a working fire-lookout tower on top of the Rampart Range — one of the best half-day hikes near Castle Rock, and a gold-aspen showpiece come fall. Here's the trail, the 143 steps at the end, how to get there, and when to go.
Devil's Head at a glance
| Distance | ~2.8 miles round trip to the tower base |
| Elevation gain | ~950 feet (short but steep) |
| The finish | A 143-step staircase up to the lookout cab |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderately difficult — doable with kids |
| Season | April–November (Rampart Range Road closes Dec 1–Apr 1) |
| Dogs | Welcome on leash |
| Where | Pike National Forest, above Sedalia (Rampart Range Road) |
I hiked it on June 12, 2026 — my watch logged 3.26 miles and a bit over 1,000 feet of gain with some extra scrambling around the rocks up top. It's the longest hike I've got logged, but it never felt brutal; the climb is steady and the payoff is right there.
The hike
The trail leaves the trailhead and climbs steadily through an aspen and pine forest, winding past big granite rock formations the whole way up. There are benches scattered along the route if you need to catch your breath — a nice touch on a trail that gains most of its elevation in under a mile and a half. It's shaded for most of the climb, which makes it a good warm-weather option too.
Near the top you reach the base of the tower, and the last stretch is the part everyone remembers: a steep 143-step staircase bolted up the rock to the lookout cab. Take it slow — it's exposed and it's the steepest part of the day — but the view from the top is the reason you came.
The fire lookout
Devil's Head is a working fire lookout — one of the last active fire-lookout towers on Colorado's Front Range, and part of the National Register of Historic Places. In summer and fall it's staffed by a U.S. Forest Service lookout who watches for smoke across the Rampart Range and the Front Range foothills. When the tower is open, you can climb up, say hello, and take in a panorama that stretches for miles in every direction.
It's a genuinely special piece of Colorado history hiding an hour from Castle Rock — not a replica or a viewpoint, but a lookout that's been doing the same job for over a century.
Devil's Head in the fall
This is one of the few spots near Douglas County where you get real aspen gold without a long mountain drive. The aspens along the trail turn in the fall — up at this elevation, plan for roughly mid-to-late September, a little ahead of the oak-and-cottonwood color down in the county. Gold aspens, granite formations, and a fire tower at the top make it about as good as a fall day hike gets close to home.
Chasing color elsewhere too? See our full guide to fall colors in Douglas County, and everything happening in fall & Halloween events.
Know before you go
- Getting there: From Sedalia, take Highway 85 to State Highway 67 west about 10 miles, then south on Rampart Range Road roughly 9 miles to the trailhead. The last stretch is maintained dirt — fine for most cars, but washboarded, so go slow.
- Season: Rampart Range Road closes to vehicles December 1–April 1. Best window is April through November.
- Go early: It's popular, the lot is small, and afternoon storms build fast up here in summer. Morning is the move.
- Bring: Water (there's none on the trail), layers, and sun protection for the exposed stairs and tower.
- Tower hours: The lookout is staffed seasonally and isn't always open to climb — the hike and the view are worth it either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Devil's Head Lookout hike?+
It's about 2.8 miles round trip to the base of the tower with roughly 950 feet of elevation gain — short but steep, especially the final 143-step staircase up to the lookout. Most hikers take 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. When I hiked it in June 2026 my watch logged 3.26 miles with some extra wandering around the rock formations up top.
How do you get to the Devil's Head trailhead?+
From Sedalia, take Highway 85 to State Highway 67 and head west about 10 miles to the Indian Creek area, then turn south on Rampart Range Road and drive roughly 9 miles to the trailhead. Rampart Range Road is a maintained dirt road — passable for most cars but washboarded, so take it slow. It's roughly an hour from Castle Rock.
When is Devil's Head open, and when do the aspens peak?+
Rampart Range Road is closed to vehicles each winter, December 1 through April 1, so the trail is really an April-through-November hike. The trail climbs through an aspen forest, and those aspens turn gold in fall — plan for roughly mid-to-late September at this elevation, a bit earlier than the oak-and-cottonwood color down in Douglas County.
Is the Devil's Head trail dog-friendly?+
Yes — leashed dogs are welcome. Bring water for them; there's no reliable water on the trail, and the final stairs to the lookout are steep and open.
What makes Devil's Head special?+
It's a working, historic fire lookout — one of the last active fire-lookout towers on the Front Range and part of the National Register of Historic Places, still staffed by the U.S. Forest Service. Climb the 143 steps to the lookout cab and you get a huge panorama across the Rampart Range and out to the Front Range.
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