Construction continues for a second summer at North Slope Recreation Area, impacting access to cherished waters on Pikes Peak.

Colorado Springs Utilities announced “a major rehabilitation project” on South Catamount Reservoir’s dam ahead of the 2024 season, closing the destination to people who popularly have stopped along the Pikes Peak Highway. For a second summer, vehicles will also be barred from North Catamount Reservoir “due to necessary safety perimeters around South Catamount Reservoir construction areas,” a recent news release explained.

North Catamount can be reached from a lengthy hike or bike ride out of Catamount Ranch Open Space in Teller County. North Slope Recreation Area’s third reservoir, Crystal Creek Reservoir, is open to drivers off the highway.

Construction at South Catamount is similar to dam construction that closed Crystal Creek Reservoir for years before 2023. Both dam faces were built of steel around 1937 — “a unique feature that is exhibited in only four other reservoirs in the country,” according to Colorado Springs Utilities’ news release.

“The steel must be resurfaced periodically to protect it from corrosion,” the release continued. “In addition to (South Catamount) dam face resurfacing, project work includes replacement of dam infrastructure, underground pipes and the spillway.”

The spillway and its bridge are set to be replaced this summer, meaning “construction vehicle congestion is expected to be heavier,” Utilities noted in explaining trail closures, including some around Crystal Creek Reservoir. A map depicting closures is available at csu.org/southcatamount.

Work is expected to finish this fall and public access restored for summer 2026.

The reopening will be highly anticipated among anglers and sightseers, said Becky Leinweber, executive director of Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. She called the North Slope Recreation Area “an absolute jewel,” providing a rare aquatic getaway.

“We don’t have tons of reservoirs. … We don’t have a lot of inventory in Colorado period, but certainly not us here in Colorado Springs,” Leinweber said. “So what’s on Pikes Peak is certainly very special.”

And worthy of more consideration, she said.

An updated plan for the area is among 30 regional projects recommended within a recently published “vision plan” that was more than three years in the making under Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. The organization convenened advocates, land managers, outdoor industry people and concerned residents across three counties to determine priorities.

Some have wondered about more trails and connections in North Slope Recreation Area. Others have wondered about camping, Leinweber said.

“On Pikes Peak right now, we just don’t have a lot of developed recreation areas. North Slope is truly the primary one,” she said. “So it’s about making sure we’re very thoughtful about that and what that could look like.”

For Utilities, the area is first and foremost a drinking water source to be protected — among 25 reservoirs in its system. While South Catamount has been drawn down during construction, Utilities has said it can move water from other sources to provide for customers.