Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
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Was probably my favorite experience in Colorado Springs!! A very clear day with amazing views with a few fly bys by US airforce and seeing a cyclist makevit through a peak where cars could find it hard, just made it an even better experience. You have 3 options to make it to the summit, walk as in hike, Cog as in training and drive being the third. I chose the last option and I have to say I love it. At 14000 feet, you definitely can visualize the curvature of the earth. When you see it in a ocean you feel like the earth and the ocean meet but at this elevation you will see it curve. You can still find snow in September October at the summit. If you are in Denver, take a drive for this experience. Pick a clear day for great views and drive safely.
What an incredible view! You got a military discount going into the park, wasn't much but helpful all the same. We drove by in our Jeep rental, top down and quickly realize that it was going to be too cold to just ride carefree Lol we ended up pulling over to put the top on ^_^ anyway, there's a little map that explains each stop. We really wanted to get to the top so we only made about four stops that we all voted on. We saw so much wildlife! Honestly, if you're ever in Colorado Springs, please check this place out! Such a gem! Take your time to explore once you get to the top. Don't just hit up the building, walk around and see what there is all to explore. You can find inspiration in just about every corner. The gift shop was pricey and nothing really worth getting, but I did try their donuts. You could start to feel lightheaded, so make sure you pay attention to your body.
By train, with our tour group, took about 1hr. Negatives: 1. Seats are very uncomfortable, they're so close together, no place for backpacks. Lucky, mine was a shopping tote bag with our extra jackets, umbrella, Hydrapeak. We're touching toes! 2. Hard to take photos from inside the windows, because, people want some air, and when the windows are down, it blocks viewing making it unclear, and there are too many reflections, so all we're seeing are the people's reflections on the glass. Positives: 1. Very nice gift shops, top and bottom of the mountain. 2. Restrooms plenty & clean. 3. Views were magnificent! I suggest tour groups take a group photo here. My tour manager didn't think about that. But, that's another review. . . . coming! 4. I'm not complaining, since my seat were fine, and was able to take photos, just fine, and I'm in a shade, facing back, or forward going back. 5. Drink plenty of water! They have free refill faucet in the shop. Don't waste your money on Boost Oxygen Canister. Medical professionals consistently point out that . . . 'The small amount of oxygen they contain is used up in just a few breaths'. I'm a city girl, dressed in silk skirt, a slip, two lightweight jackets, a cotton hat, gloves, and comfortable Icon shoes. I was more worried getting my hat blown away, than being cold. I was comfortable at 58 degrees. While others were bundled up like Eskimos, and complain about being hot once they enter the shops or train, they start taking off their 'hiking clothing'. I suggest: don't drive there, and take the train down. Unless you plan on hiking back 10 hrs. and trying to find your car in the dark! Only paying train with tickets gets to ride up and down, same train. Save you car! If this is magnificent, at 14,000 ft. I suggest you take the hike to Mt. Washington in the Cog Railways, this was even higher at 26,000 ft. and you'll find no life but snow at the very top.
Visiting Pikes Peak with my family was like stepping into a postcard--and then climbing straight into another climate. We took the Cog Railway up, and what started as a sunny, 100-degree day at the base turned into a chilly, 30-degree snowball fight at the summit. Total Colorado magic. The views from the top were unreal--endless layers of mountains, clouds brushing past, and that feeling like you're standing on top of the world. The train ride itself was fun and smooth, winding through forests and cliffs as the air got thinner and the scenery got even more breathtaking. It was the kind of trip that makes you feel small in the best way. Five stars all the way. Snow in the middle of summer? Yes, please.
One of 2 reasons anyone goes to Colorado Springs. The other is Garden of the God's. I felt the information about how to drive up Pikes Peak was really confusing so Ima break it down for you. 1. It's not a federal park. This worked out for us because we went during government shut down. Other federal parks we went to were closed. 2. I was told by my hotel you can't pay at the gate. Only online. 3. Online, this was even more confusing because you have to pay separate fees per car and per person. And I wanted to go on Oct 14 and there was no option for that date because it's a shoulder season. It left me wondering, is it closed or is it free? That was totally not obvious to me or my husband. But now that I know, it meant you still pay per person but the $2 timed entry was waived. There are Webcams and they all looked like a blizzard came through. Not reassuring over thoughts of my car sliding off the road to the bottomless pit. So I decided to take a jeep tour instead. Having an experienced driver allowed me to enjoy the views and feel safe. I learned so much than had I self drove. And it wasn't much more expensive for the value you got out of the tour. I am relatively fit and had already spent 2 days acclimating in Breckenridge. I was fine until I walked around a bit. Then I felt a little dizzy and out of breath. But no something alarming. There are at least 4 restrooms. But the drive up will only take 35 minutes. Weather can be really unpredictable there. Our guide said lightning and tornadoes are possible in addition to snow and ice. The views are amazing, spend time at all the lookout before the visitor center donuts and hot cocoa.
I really enjoyed the drive up this magnificent mountain. There was a small entrance fee per person at the bottom, but they offered a good military discount. The train was another option but it was a lot more expensive and they only spend 30 minutes at the summit which would make me feel a little rushed to be honest. The air was definitely a lot more thin at its peak of 14,000 feet but I didn't have any symptoms of hypoxia which was good. The doughnuts at the visitors center were pretty good and they had a small gift shop and interactive museum to check out while up there. Don't forget to bring a jacket since even when we went in the spring it was still very cold at that altitude. Take it slow, especially if you're from an out of town low altitude state or country.
This was amazing 14,100 feet. We bought a can of boost oxygen to use because we are Tennesseans and that elevation was a bit problematic for breathing. The ride up took an hour and we spent 40 minutes at the visitors center and got some coffee and water. I must warn that you need to use the restroom at the train station as there are no bathrooms on the train, you have to wait till you get to the top. I highly recommended this ride. It is beautiful.
Look, it's Pike's peak - arguably the most famous mountain in America, and for good reason. There's road access for those who want to drive (I sure did, it's a LONG road from the entrance station to the top!), or want to bike. It is a 14er that you can hike up if you are so inclined as well! You can also take the train up - I don't recall what it costs but it goes straight to the top and no doubt the views are ICONIC along the way. If you do opt to drive (I did!) they will tell you: when you come back down the mountain, you need to use a lower gear on your car or else your brakes can literally overheat which is dangerous (brakes that are too hot don't work ). They have a checkpoint about 1/3 of the way from the top on the way down that do a mandatory brake temp check and if your brakes are too hot they'll make you park and wait until they cool down enough. If you use your low gears though you don't need the brakes as much. They are absolutely right about all this - use those lower gears! At the top is a MASSIVE parking lot but you still need a reservation for a day/time - because that lot FILLS. They direct you at the entrance station where you show your ticket before making the drive up, then someone directs you toward where you can park at the top. The visitor center has SUPER clean bathrooms, a cafe with things like pizza, hot dogs etc, and of course lots of educational resources. You can go out the back too, truly there are 360 degree views up there. I even saw a couple casually getting married surrounded by folks near the visitor center... very interesting! Of note, the day res costs $18, and the timed entry which you ALSO need and buy separately is $2 - so $20 total. Do your best to pick a day when the weather is good so you can see father, and so it isn't snowy/icy because this is a STEEP ROAD - I would NEVER want to be caught in this road in snow/ice, sliding around. That would be truly terrifying... on a nice day though, you can't beat the views going up and at the top! I did see some marmots along the way which were mad cute. Overall - I think everyone should try to make a visit to Pike's peak at least once. It's a very beautiful place, and makes you feel patriotic at the least in the sense of how grand and gorgeous the country can be :)
It was an awesome experience. Word of caution. If you just landed in Denver and you're not use to the elevation, don't go here just yet. Wait a day or two to get acclimated. The oxygen level at the top is 60%. As soon as I arrived, I got dizzy and had purple lips. It was just manageable but the experience shortened my stay. The drive up is an experience, but if you don't want to risk it on the drive, they have this train that goes from the bottom up. It is a bit pricey though. It's not very big on the peak, but enough to take about 45-60 mins of your time to wander around, shop, bask, and take photos.
Need to get time reserved for entry and each person there's a $15 entry fee The drive to the peak is well tarred so any tiny car can get there. When get down please remember to use low gear so the car brakes won't be overheating. The ranger will check every car's brakes temperature going down and will make sure you pull aside to wait for the brake cooling down. The view at the peak is awesome, we also tried the donuts, it's awesome, even for people like me who don't like donuts. Many places to take pictures at the peak, we were having headaches after 2 hours. It's mild but we were still feeling quite discomfort.
7 years ago
Soooo fear wouldn't let me make it to the top......However we did get to about 11,000ft. I'm mad because had I known about the donuts I would have had enough courage/motivation to persevere lol. Nature is just amazing! Omg, I can't even describe how beautiful it was. Pictures do no justice to the true beauty of this place! What more can I say?!?!? You have to experience it for yourself.... read more
5 years ago
This review might be useful for visitor who decided to drive to the top. Wonderful views, multiple opportunities to stop and take pictures, 5 starts for that. However, $50 to enter and drive to the top ( weather and sport events permitted) which is more expensive than any National park. Some parts of the road are dangerous turns and there are no guard rails. The top is a nightmare - dirt parking and not enough parking spaces for everybody. Whoever collects $50 to enter should take care of at least a parking issue. One star for that. I would not recommend spending $3-$6 on two tiny donuts at the food court cuz they are bad. Bring your own snack, water and windbreakabke jacket. If you're not an experienced driver or don't want to deal with parking, taking the train ( not sure what it's called) is a much better option. read more
We stopped to visit here vowing to my wife, "I told you I'd take you to the top, one way or another!" Well, this is one great way to do it. First, you have to drive a good way up the mountain -- winding roads, and stops along the way to witness views and take photos and film video are nearly obligatory. It's a great drive both ways. After a while, you are really at altitude, and you reach a spot where you much park, and get on a tour bus to achieve the summit. It's not much of a wait, and the tour buses have great visual sightlines. The drive up and the drive back are both stupendous! My oh my! up you go! Finally, you reach the summit, where you arrive, 14,000 + feet in the sky, three miles up. Thin air and a vast vista of open plains below await you. It is like a small visit with God. Amazing! There are some corny signs and an old gift shop, and the train being rehabbed, but the real attraction is the view. Take time and look around--it is amazing! I know--pot is legal in Colorado but this is the best high of all! read more
5 years ago
A must-do if you are visiting Colorado! Arguably the most famous 14'er in the state (country maybe?), you cannot pass up the opportunity to ascend to its summit! There are several ways to get there: walking (oof), cog train ($$ but fun), or driving ($$ and an exhilarating drive to be sure!). Once at the summit you will find views for miles; amenities like a visitor center, museum, and small food shop (currently being renovated/worked on), and lots of great paved walkways away from the perilous edges. read more
5 years ago
The views are beautiful and majestic. The color contrast is unbelievable even with the current air quality issues. We got to see some mountain sheep. My husband participated in the bike race on Saturday and we drove up on Sunday. Plenty of bathrooms and gift shops. There are cafes and places to get water and food. It is just a spectacular ride up the mountain. The last three miles is still by bus only because of construction. Pet friendly. People with handicaps and children under one can drive to the top themselves. Don't miss the pickle hut at the bottom. Very good pickles. Great time and we will be back. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Hii!! This was so beyond beautiful! Pictures do this place no justice at all! That air and sky is so clean. Definitely one for the books! We loved it! Definitely recommend 10/10! Of course bring lots of water and comfortable clothes/shoes! read more
6 years ago
It's been many years since I made the trek up this beauty. Still lots of construction at the summit. Vehicles aren't allowed passed mile 16. A shuttle took us the rest of the way. Amazing views and of course donuts! I stopped on the way down for a packed lunch at a pull off. What a morning! read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Pretty cool. No pun intended. Rode the HD up there it was 42 degrees. My hands were frozen with that unique and awesome combination of terror and cold. If you fall off the side it's so steep you die 3x and they never find you. You have to do it. Eat the doughnuts at the top surprisingly good or maybe it's just that it's the first thing I ate after realizing I was still alive. Cog railway is CLOSED for the foreseeable future due to political bureaucracy. Google it. 2018 is 15.00 / person or 50.00/ car with a max if I think 5 people. Bikes are no discount. read more
4 years ago
Totally worth it! It has spectacular veiws and hiking spots. It has great donuts at there shop too. The amount of cool things you can see at the top especially the animals. Do mind though it's 60 and below degrees mostly so bring a warm coat. But if your looking for a good place to do something come here. read more
My dog Barked at the National Park Service ranger when she said she could not go to the summit. Ranger gave her a dog biscuit and suggested we could go as high as Parking for the shuttle, and then to the Catamount Reservoir. My dog was happy. read more
4 years ago
Have a damn donut. The drive is not for the faint hearted. Those drop offs are not shy. But the view is amazing and I swear I heard God. read more
I am only giving it a 3 because of the current construction going on. The top of the mountain is a MESS and makes the views really hard to appreciate. The shuttles they offer at mile 13 & 16 are great (park at mile 13...line for shuttles is minimal). Cost us $50 for a family of 5. It is worth it just know that up top it is hard to appreciate. It will be gorgeous when done but it is at least summer 2021 before being remotely ready. Donuts are a fun thing to try and gift shop has a variety of options. Just know that with the construction going on it does make it a little lackluster for an incredible view on top. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
This the place that inspired America the Beautiful. The drive up you will see why. There is a gift shop, the famous donuts, and views that will take your breath away. read more
My family and I decided to drive up to the top of Pikes peak, glad we had a rental car. I'll tell you why later. Spoiler Alert: The drive is doable, we made it to the top, but it was treacherous. The roads are literally hanging off the side of the cliff and aren't passable in some areas. I was so glad to be in a tiny rental car. I closed my eyes in many places I couldn't stomach the heights. My husband white knuckled us to the top while holding his breath...lol. Once at the top we forgot about the drive. It is simply majestic!!! The air feels different, even smells different at the top. Also try a donut once you arrive. Overall, a great experience for our family. read more
This is another tourist attraction, you do have the choice of hiking (good luck and god speed) or drive up like 99% of the people. Overall: I enjoyed my stay sightseeing. The view was simply breathtaking. I enjoyed seeing over the city, lakes, Rocky Mountains, and the other natural scenics. The shop was pretty neat. The donut was simple, fresh, and crispy (I was surprised on how I was pleased with a simple donut). For first timers visiting Colorado, this is a good tourist place to check out. Advice: * Careful for the turns and altitude * Plan accordingly to avoid traffic * Wear something warm read more
8 years ago
Wow. Just wow. That mountain is high and the drive is crazy and the views are amazing. Altitude sickness is real and if you've never experienced 14K feet elevation you're going to get a little dizzy. But the views were out of this world. read more
What an adventure dog day! My mother visited Pikes Peak by train this past August. She advised me to drive to the top so glad we did. My husband and I have hiked many 14rs and all I have to say is best date ever! I was very nervous driving my F150 around all the switchback, but we made it to the top! I had to capture all the moments with my iPhone because drones are not welcome on the mountain. The dogs had a blast running around on the side trails. I was happy that the map given by the ranger was labeled clearly and easy to follow. It is a single road up and down. So, if you missed a photo moment driving up and can stop on the way down. I was happy that halfway down was a safety stop. The ranger checked the temperature of my brakes. So Happy!! read more
Pikes Peak Highway fee the cost is $15 per adult (16 and older) $5 per child (6-15). We do offer a carload discounted rate of $50 for up to five passengers and a reduced fee for additional passengers. We travel alot and we did some research for this trip. wish we'd had time to research more. We'd started with Mt Evans, then to Estes/ Rocky Mt national park then here ... so lots of mountains. The elevations was kicking my butt. my heart was racing, sob, less appetite, weak. I still enjoyed the wildlife and scenery but I didn't feel right. Pikes Peak was on our must see list. It was definitely worth a visit especially if you in the Colorado spring area. The train isn't an option for another year. They are doing construction so can't drive to the top .. have to park and they bus you up there. When you get to the top ... there are bathrooms and place to buy snacks. We bought the doughnuts .. they were dry and MEH ... skip them. We could see lakes from the drive ... I am not sure how to get to these .. more research next time. First of all .. well look at the pics ... is there one that does not look gorgeous??? although it was gorgeous and well worth the cost I thought it was something that should have been a national park ... or at least the cost get you in more than one day ... maybe 3 days or a week. The guy at the entrance asked how many .. then stuck his head in and looked around like we had 10 kids we were smuggling in. lol .. surprised he didn't have us pop the trunk. Thought that was odd and rude. wear layers ... bring water and snacks ... and camera. read more
America's Mountain is a bold title to flaunt given the fact that other incredible peaks in this great country might have something to say about it. As for me it can hold that title any day of the week. Pikes Peak has always been on my bucket list to visit. Something about this mountain calls me. Maybe because it's part of the great Rockies or maybe because of the famous hill climb that I read all about in those motoring magazines. Whatever it is, finally getting to the top of this incredible place really is life changing. That's exactly what I did one wintry September day during the pandemic. After being cooped up for several months, my first trip outside California was to Colorado. I figured the fresh, clean air and mile-high elevation would be just what I needed to refresh the mind, body, and soul. Pikes Peak was of course top on that list to visit while in the state (pun intended there). For a nominal fee, I was able to drive up the mountain to experience the incredible wonder of it all. For those interested, the drive is a long and winding road. Steep embankments, jagged rocks, and all sorts of danger are on every side, but the reward is worth it all. At over 10,000 ft high, the decrease in oxygen might affect certain individuals so take heed and caution and listen to your body. But for those bold enough to continue the summit view at 14,115 ft is utterly ethereal. Above the clouds, above where trees simply cannot grow any longer, I felt a certain peace and serenity that can only be described as coming close to heaven. That and maybe the fact that I decided to do a hike at around 12,000 ft to explore the mountain. Every breath is a struggle when you're exerting yourself so like I said exercise caution. Nevertheless, I took every opportunity to explore, enjoy, and embrace this incredible mountain and it's glorious tundra. Standing at the top, cold wind howling like a wolf longing for the moon and seeing the vast region below it really sets things into perspective. Perhaps that is why I can't rave enough about Pikes Peak. After facing the sad reality of this pandemic year, it is great to know that we are but a speck in nature's story and standing in the grandness of it all I couldn't agree more. read more
4 years ago
This was a treat. My wife and I were in town on our way home from MT to AZ and have never been here so it was an excellent experience. We had great weather during the whole trip up/down. A word of caution, when they say the air is thin, take care because they are not lying. You get to spend about 40-45min at the top and by the time it is time to leave, you are sucking wind. It was an awesome experience, definitely something to see if you get a chance. read more
Great place to see while visiting. You can run,hike or walk up. Most take the train or drive. The donuts up top are ok at best but everyone gets them. You can see big horn sheep,deer and maybe elk. Not a lot of places you can go that high so easy train cost more then most can afford so it's a down side but it's own by the Broadmoor hotel. I have done the train once since the redo and it's nice. Most likely won't do it anymore read more
7 years ago
If you are in the Denver or Colorado Springs area, Pikes Peak is a must see. The view is breathtaking. If you drive to the top beware of the Highwinds and do not ride your brakes coming down the peak, you can overheat your breaks. It's a once in a lifetime view and experience. It's a great place to visit with friends, family, and children, if you are not from a high altitude area, the change in altitude is very noticeable. Dress warm if you visit in the winter. read more
DO NOT DRIVE TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN UNLESS YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WHO ACCLIMATES TO EXTREME ELEVATION. This review is for people who are afraid of heights. Let me start by saying that my husband and I are EXTREMELY afraid of heights. We also had never been to Colorado before. It takes about an hour to drive to the top of the mountain and I HIGHLY suggest riding the shuttle if you are a tourist. We went with a local who was used to driving up the mountain, and thank God we did. I had to keep my eyes closed for most of the journey. There are steep inclines on most of the trip with only a couple of feet between you and DEATH. When my husband and I finally got to the top, we were so sick that we both had to sit down for a while because we thought we were going to pass out. We immediately began to feel better once we started going down, but unfortunately, we both felt hungover and queasy for the rest of the night. But I mean, yes. The views are incredible. But scary AF. I respect it, but I didn't enjoy it. read more
4 years ago
The air is thin at the summit and holds about 60% of the oxygen your body is used to. I got dizzy head and kind of altitude sickness however was fun generaly. We drove up which was interesting too. read more
6 years ago
When I came in January we weren't able to go to the top , but luckily today we made it ! I must admit some areas going up the mountain are pretty scary and intense ( of course , this is my opinion ! ) The view was absolutely beautiful , and I did end up getting some great pictures. It truly is beautiful , regardless in the winter or summer ! I checked the forecast and it said it wasn't going to rain , but it ended up raining a little on our way to the top. The only reason why i'm giving this 4 stars is because of the construction going on. There was already a bunch of people at the top of the mountain but with all the construction going on , you couldn't even figure out where to park. We honestly didn't even get out the car , we just did our U turn and went right back down the mountain . I would for sure drink plenty of water because the altitude is definitely noticeable. read more
4 years ago
Unless there is snow; this march isn't too difficult; taking about 4 hours to reach Barr Camp from the approach. After hitting 10,000 feet halfway up; you will leave the Camp and go about 3 miles uphill to the summit. The air is thin and pack according! read more
5 years ago
The view is so breathtaking! You must take a drive up pikes peak, stop get out and enjoy it! I spent about a good 2-3 hours here. The very top was closed due to construction and snow but everything about this place is wonderful. $10 for adults and I believe $5 for kids. 5 and under was free. Lots of places to pull over to the side to take pictures! read more
Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Manitou Springs Length: 21.4 total miles Elevation Gain: 7,500 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: Challenging Trailhead Elevation: 6,600 feet Other Uses: Leashed dogs OK Local Contacts:Pikes Peak Ranger District, Pike National Forest There's ways to get to the top. By car. By train. By the Barr Trail. By way of The Incline. The latter I think would be suicide. I chose the Barr Trail. It's a long hike I deem challenging because of the length. Boredom set in for me. I met a total of four people on the way up. The trail when you past the half way point is pretty much wide and relentless in length. I must admit I was by myself and even a lover of solitude like me sometimes it's just too much. I made a pit stop when I reached the Barr Camp. A cute very aggressive squirrel tried to climb me! An apple for fuel I pushed on to the top to be greeted by cars, people, train and questions. A 15 minute break and down I go. One thing I like about the Barr Trail is the easy run you can do on your way down. It shaved a good 2 hours or more if I just walked down. Let gravity do its job. It helped that I only had my day pack and I just ate my food. All I had left was my hydration pack. I loaded on three litters and started at 10am and I was at the Barr Trail parking lot by 5pm. read more
13 years ago
When planning a trip through Colorado Springs on our way to Yellowstone, I put Pikes Peak at the bottom of the list. I thought it might be a waste of time, especially given where we were headed but my husband insisted we make the trip to the top. We went in mid October and as soon as we pulled up right at 9 a.m. when they open, we were told we could only go a few miles due to snow. Bummer. So we paid a much smaller fee and drove on through. By the time we got to mile marker where we were to turn around, we saw a park ranger who said it should open in a half hour. So we decided to check out Crystal Creek Reservoir, which was suggested by the ranger when we came in. Please do this! It was gorgeous! Worth the winding trip. And after spending some time there, it was time to go up a little farther. Our second stop we ended up at Glen Cove Inn. The Inn was originally a cabin settled by Frank Tweed in 1886. He later developed the cabin into a way station for travelers up the original carriage road. Though it has been completely rebuilt, the foundation of Tweed's cabin is still part of the construction. Today, the Glen Cove Inn offers travelers a gift shop, restaurant and restrooms. Stopping, waiting, going a little further until they had to cut us off. We didn't make it to the top that day but we did make it pretty high. It was breathtaking and scary and amazing. My husband, a race car enthusiast, LOVED the experience. He kept telling me about all these dangerous races to the top. I don't know if it was just the season but we didn't see any animals. We plan to return again and again. It was a nice drive! A great way to experience and support God's natural wonders. Some history: Originally called "El Capitán" by Spanish settlers, the mountain was renamed Pike's Peak after Zebulon Pike, Jr., an explorer who led an expedition to the southern Colorado area in 1806. The Arapaho name is heey-otoyoo' ("long mountain"). At 14,115 feet it is one of Colorado's 54 fourteeners, mountains that rise more than 14,000 feet (4,300 m) above mean sea level, and rises 8,400 feet (2,600 m) above the city of Colorado Springs. The first European-American to climb the peak came 14 years after Pike in the summer of 1820. Edwin James, a young student who had just graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont, signed on as the relief botanist for the Long Expedition after the first botanist had died. The expedition explored the South Platte River up as far as present-day Denver, then turned south and passed close to what James called "Pike's highest peak." James and two other men left the expedition, camped on the plains, and climbed the peak in two days, encountering little difficulty. Along the way, he was the first to describe the blue columbine, Colorado's state flower. In July 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote the song "America the Beautiful", after having admired the view from the top of Pikes Peak. It appeared in print in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal, on July 4, 1895. A plaque commemorating the words to the song was placed at the summit. This road, which until October 2011 was unpaved after the halfway point, was made famous worldwide by the short film Climb Dance featuring Ari Vatanen racing his Peugeot automobile up the steep, twisty slopes as part of the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race. The road has a series of switchbacks, treacherous at high speed, called "The W's" for their shape on the side of the mountain. The road is maintained by the city of Colorado Springs as a toll road. read more
Absolutely a beautiful drive. Just a heads up the it's very windy if you get motion sickness. The area was experiencing a snow storm so there were parts of the drive where the trees were all white. It looked like Christmas! (See photos) There is a $20 fee to enter the drive which I thought was pretty high but it was worth living in the moment. The gatekeeper was very kind, gave suggestions on how to save your breaks on the drive and gave doggies treats to our 2 pups. We made it as far as 12,000 ft where it was closed off because of dangerous roads. The views were breathtaking! I high recommend the visit. read more
8 years ago
Cool Drive Up Some Crazy Windy Roads! This is a cool drive or rather a great motorcycle ride through some windy roads! Park Rangers stop you halfway down to test your brake temperature since people literally cool their breaks to death going down hill riding their brakes the whole way down. At the top there is a huge gift shop that resembles an old ski lodge. They sell treats and knick knacks... The purpose of this expedition is to soak in the outstanding views of Colorado City and the surrounding areas. Definitely the birds's eye view up here! Don't forget to bring warm clothes when it is 95 down below it may be 40 degrees up here! read more
Another Colorado bucket list destination for sure! This drive is not for the faint of heart. I drove by myself and I'm very proud that I made it to mile 16 turnout/Devil's Playground up all those narrow and windy turns. This is a good place to stop and enjoy the 3 mile shuttle ride to the top. The drivers shared tidbits of mountain trivia with the passengers. The store/visitor's center is getting a make over so it is a bit of a hot mess up there as far as parking, crowds, and construction. The store was very crowded, hot, and smelly. I only stayed inside long enough to get a T-shirt and some of those infamous donuts. They made for a warm and comforting treat on my drive back down the mountain. The 360' view from the top was breathtaking. I only wish there were signs to let me know what I was looking at in the distance, you know like landmarks and such. Maybe that will be part of the renovation. I did not feel the affects of the high altitude, but I made sure to stay hydrated anyway. It was a bit chilly so I am thankful I had my sweatshirt. This is a must do while in the area- the thrilling drive up and standing at 14,000 ft. elevation helps you put everything into perspective. read more
More info about Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
5089 Pikes Peak Hwy
Cascade, CO 80809
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(719) 385-7325
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http://www.pikespeakcolorado.com
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Ask the Community - Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
What hours is the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center open?
Can we go to the top thus Sunday and if not where can we go?
Hello, the summit is currently closed to visitors through May 23rd due to construction activities for the new Visitor Center completion. Weather permitting, guests can get to Devils Playground (16 mile). Ranger staff at the Gateway will let you know…
Will pikes peak be open all the way during the thanksgiving week? Last time when I visited in April, last couple of miles were closed.
It all depends on the weather, but it's highly doubtful that you could get to the top at thanksgiving. It's already snowing up there.
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Pikes Peak - America's Mountain - hiking - Updated July 2026
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