Choose Your Adventure
Enjoy the breathtaking views, but make no mistake, this is an adventure and an experience that you make your own. Options abound if you prefer to forgo the round trip experience on the train:
hike up, ride the train down
. Take the Cog up, bike down.
How do you get up Pikes Peak without driving?
Hiking – trails can be found off the highway or you can choose to
hike up Pikes Peak via Barr Trail
rather than drive. Hiking on the highway is not permitted. Biking – you are able to bike both up and down Pikes Peak Highway.
Do you have to take a shuttle to the top of Pikes Peak?
Starting May 31, an imposed mandatory shuttle will be the only way to get to the top without hiking
. The shuttle is free, the entrance cost to the Pikes Peak highway is the same. Due to construction at the top and the reduction of parking, the shuttle is the only option.
Are Pikes Peak shuttles open?
The Pikes Peak Shuttle parking lot at Denver International Airport will remain open
, providing travelers using the airport with more than 8,000 parking spots. The lot has been open since Thanksgiving, but it was closed for much of 2021 because of a shortage of shuttle bus drivers, according to a DIA news release.
How long is the shuttle on Pikes Peak?
During construction of the new Pikes Peak Visitor Center, visitors were shuttled from the Devil’s Playground to the summit due to lack of parking. School buses shuttled visitors for the
four-mile
journey, but now those buses have to go back to school.
How do I train to hike Pikes Peak?
Get out a few days per week with a loaded backpack. Gradually build up from just 1 hour of sustained hiking to as many as 8 hours of total effort
. Walking on dirt or rocky trails, preferably uphill, is the best way to emulate the challenges that await you on the slopes of the Peak.
Are there bears on Pikes Peak?
During the summer,
it’s not uncommon to see black bears roaming through local neighborhoods looking for leftovers
. If you were wondering why Coloradans have their trash locked down tighter than their mountain bikes, it’s because of these guys!
Is it hard to breathe on Pikes Peak?
It’s high enough to get altitude sickness
Unless you’re acclimated to this altitude, you’re bound to feel the effects.
The air is thin at the summit and holds about 60% of the oxygen your body is used to
. Prepare to feel out of breath as soon as you get out of your car.
How long does it take to hike down Pikes Peak?
On a good day, the average hiker can make it up in about
6-8 hours
. In the summer, the experienced folks at Barr Camp, which marks the middle of the hike, recommend you get to Barr Camp as early in the day as possible and try get to the top and be back below the tree line by 1 p.m. What do they recommend in the winter?
What’s the temperature at the top of Pikes Peak?
| CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS Pikes Peak – 14,115 feet – 4302 meters 38° 50′ 27′′N – 105° 02′ 31′′W 4/13/2022 11:30 AM Updated and refreshed every 5 minutes. | Current Today’s Lows and Highs | Temperature 13.6 13.6 @ 12:00 AM 13.6 @ 12:00 AM | Wind Chill 10 min. avg. 13.6 13.6 @ 12:00 AM | Wind Speed 10 min. avg. 0.0 N 0.0 @ 5:06 AM |
|---|
How do you get down from Pikes Peak?
Re: Getting down from pikes peak
Leave a road or mountain bike at the top and take the road down
.
How much is the shuttle to Pikes Peak?
When: Beginning June 1, 2019, departure at 8 a.m., summit departure for hikers at 3 p.m. Cost:
Monday – Thursday $60, Friday – Sunday $80
.
Is it difficult to drive up Pikes Peak?
The drive to the Pikes Peak Summit is 19 miles long, has 156 turns, and climbs 6,715 ft from the entrance of the highway. That might sound scary, but
as long as you use common sense, are cautious, and follow the guidelines, driving to the top of Pikes Peak is not dangerous at all
!
Is Pikes Peak worth the drive?
Driving up Pikes Peak Highway is definitely more of an adventure than taking the railway
. The 19-mile highway is lots of fun and you may even feel a little bit of an adrenaline rush driving up the steep curvy mountain roads with death drops on both sides. Or at the very least it will get your heart pounding.
How long does it take to hike Pikes Peak from crags?
As a side note, there are several hiking options located at the Crags trailhead that do not lead to the summit but make for shorter but equally beautiful day hikes. Expect the summit hike to take
4-6 hours to the top; the round-trip travel time runs about 8-10 hours
.
Is the Pikes Peak Visitor Center open?
Pikes Peak Visitor Center now
fully open to the public
.
Is Mt Elbert parking open?
| Garage East Open | Mt. Elbert Shuttle Lot Closed | 61st and Peña Open |
|---|
What are they building on top of Pikes Peak?
The Pikes Peak Summit Complex was the highest ongoing construction site in North America during its construction. This challenging project created a facility that takes advantage of the inspiring views and natural beauty of Pikes Peak, also known as America’s Mountain.
Can you see Pikes Peak from Denver?
Pikes Peak
Just west of Colorado Springs,
it’s one of 3 peaks you can see from Denver
, including Mt Evans and Longs Peak. Climbers love Pikes Peak for its fun and challenging trails, and other visitors flock to the mountain by way of the Pikes Peak Highway, a 19-mile road that goes all the way to the summit.
Can a beginner hike Pikes Peak?
One of the most popular trails in the Pikes Peak region,
the Crags Trail (Forest Service Trail 664) in the Pike National Forest is an easy/moderate hike of less than 6 miles round trip
; it offers stunning views of the lower part of Pikes Peak and the surrounding areas.
How many steps does it take to climb Pikes Peak?
The once railroad track now consists of approximately
2,744 steps
made entirely of railroad ties! Although it’s only one mile in length, the ascension averages a 41% incline (68% at its highest) and a 2,000 foot climb in elevation! Phew! That’s a lot of stairs!
Can you climb a 14er without training?
If you’ve set your sights on the summit of a 14er, odds are you’re already pretty active, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to train for the trek. While some hikes to the summit are easier than others, all are arduous and will require both strength and endurance.
Are there moose on Pikes Peak?
Pike National Forest is home to some of the most abundant wildlife viewing in the region that range from turkeys to Moose
.
What animal lives on top of Pikes Peak?
Alpine Zone
The playful
yellow-bellied marmot
is the most common animal on Pikes Peak, otherwise known as “whistling marmots” or “whistle pigs” because of their piercing whistle that alerts others of danger.
Are there mountain goats on Pikes Peak?
A must see for all Colorado visitors!
We were fortunate to encounter a herd of mountain goats who stopped traffic as they meandered across the road
. Great vistas from the top as well as many of the pullouts along the way.
