Rampart Range Campsite 86
One numbered, reservable group dispersed site on Dakan Road in the Rampart Range program. Up to 15 people and 5 vehicles, gravel pad, no water. Built for an OHV group trip, not a casual overnight.
Why it's here
Rampart Range Campsite 86 is exactly what the name says: a single numbered site within the Rampart Range designated dispersed camping program, on Dakan Road in the forest-road network south of Sedalia. It is listed as a group standard non-electric site, with a capacity around 15 people and 5 vehicles and a gravel driveway that takes tents or RVs. It is reservable through recreation.gov, run under the program's concessionaire, at the program's group-tier nightly fee (the small and standard sites price lower; group sites price higher). This is a specific site for a specific use: an organized group, almost always an OHV group, that wants one designated basecamp in the heart of the Rampart trail system.
There is a documented inconsistency worth flagging. The Forest Service page describing the Rampart Range area says designated dispersed sites are first-come, first-served, while recreation.gov lists individual numbered sites including this one with date-based availability. The most coherent reading is that the numbered program sites are reservable through recreation.gov and the older Forest Service page text is out of date, but if a reservation matters to your trip, confirm it on recreation.gov rather than trusting any single page.
No water anywhere in the area; you bring all of it. The Rampart system is built around motorized recreation, with recreation.gov describing 300-plus miles of motorized trails, so this is a loud, active basecamp on a summer weekend by design. Camping in the area closes roughly December 1 to April 1, and the spring reopening is weather-dependent and frequently slips later.
The reason to book Campsite 86 specifically over a developed campground is group capacity and trail access in one place. The reason not to is everything primitive about it: no water, no developed facilities you can count on, unpaved winter-closed access. For a non-group trip or anyone wanting amenities, Flat Rocks is the developed Rampart option and the better default.
Know before you go
- •An organized group basecamp inside the Rampart trail system
- •OHV groups needing one reservable site for up to 15 people
- •A designated alternative to scattered dispersed camping
- •Trips that want capacity and trail access in one spot
Camping in the area closed roughly December 1 to April 1, spring reopening weather-dependent and often later. Reservable via recreation.gov; book group dates well ahead for summer.
Confirm the reservation on recreation.gov rather than the Forest Service area page, which still describes the dispersed sites as first-come. Bring every drop of water for the whole group; there is none in the area.
Primitive group dispersed site, no water, limited facilities. Loud and active on summer weekends by design. Unpaved, winter-closed access. Overkill and underbuilt for a casual non-group overnight; use Flat Rocks instead.
Group site with a gravel driveway, up to 5 vehicles, on Dakan Road in the Rampart Range road system south of Sedalia. Unpaved, winter-closed access.
