Visitors to the area have several options for experiencing the iconic 14,115-foot peak’s soaring heights, from a drive up its windy (but safe!) highway to a ride on the cog railway, hikes up its trails and frame-worthy views from nearby Garden of the Gods.
What will you see at the top? Forever! Alpine views stretch out in all directions to encompass reservoirs, summits of shorter peaks, clouds, the Continental Divide, Garden of the Gods, plus the cities of Woodland Park, Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. On a very clear day, you might even glimpse Denver’s skyscrapers, the Great Plains stretching to Kansas and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range stretching toward New Mexico.
Pikes Peak Train
Earn some bragging rights with a ride on the highest cog railway in the world when you climb aboard The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. This cherry red train takes you up 9 miles of track — pass thick conifer forests, aspen groves and more — to the top of America's Mountain, while conductors delight with history and lore about the peak and local area. Stretch your legs and soak up the sights at the Pikes Peak Summit House, where you can snack on famous high-altitude donuts and other treats as you explore interactive exhibits in the visitor center.
Pikes Peak Highway
Fifteen miles from Colorado Springs on Hwy. 24, you’ll travel 19 miles past the North Pole Home of Santa’s Workshop Amusement Park, a handful of reservoirs, Glen Cove Inn, picnic areas, visitors centers, scenic overlooks and interpretive areas and peekaboo moments with Pikes Peak itself. Tolls for the highway range from $4 to $40 depending on the season and number of passengers in your vehicle. Round trip is a roughly three-hour excursion.
Note: Visitors who want to drive to the summit park in the top lot from late May to late September need to make an online reservation. There's also a complimentary shuttle from designated parking lots along the highway. Find more details about the highway
Cycling to the Summit
Biking the highway is also an option for the extremely hardy rider. Find regulations and safety tips. Worried about the uphill climb? Opt for a trip with an outfitter like Bike Pikes Peak, who will shuttle you and your bike (or provide you with one) to the top of the summit so you can enjoy the easy 7,000-foot descent. You and your bike can also ride the Pikes Peak Train to the top and zip down.