Pikes Peak Summit Colorado

Pikes Peak Summit - America's Mountain

Pikes Peak is one of the most famous mountains in America. It towers over Colorado Springs and has served as a waypoint and rallying cry since the gold rush days, when miners crossed the country with “Pikes Peak or bust” painted on their wagons. 

Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The ultra-prominent 14,115-foot fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The mountain is named in honor of American explorer Zebulon Pike (though he was unable to reach the summit). The summit is higher than any point in the United States east of its longitude.  It ranks 32nd in elevation (14,115 feet [4,302 metres] ) among Colorado peaks.

Pikes Peak is one of Colorado's 58 fourteeners, mountains more than 14,000 feet (4,267.2 m) above sea level. The massif rises 8,000 ft (2,400 m) above downtown Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak is a designated National Historic Landmark. It is composed of a characteristic pink granite called Pikes Peak granite. The color is due to a large amount of potassium feldspar.

At the top of Pikes Peak, we can see an incredible view out over the Colorado mountains. On a clear day, we can actually see 5 states from the summit, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Kansas! 

There are 4 different ways that you can get to the top of Pikes Peak:

·         Drive to the top of Pikes Peak – Scenic Highway Drive

·         Hike to the summit of Pikes Peak

·         Take the Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak

·         Take a guided tour to the top of Pikes Peak

The peak is the centerpiece of this National Forest. There are different ways to reach the top: taking the Pikes Peak Cog Railway; driving or biking up the Pikes Peak Highway; or hiking. Hikers can take Barr Trail, the 12.6-mile hike that begins in Manitou Springs and passes through every ecological zone Colorado has to offer. A shorter hike, though still a long day, can be done on the peak’s west side from The Crags. The National Forest offers many other trails within a close drive of the city, which might explain why so many people in Colorado Springs hike and bike.

The Pikes Peak Highway is a paved road that runs to the summit, where there’s a gift shop and restaurant. The highway is open year-round but often closed halfway up for long periods in winter due to snow.

Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

Address: 5069 Pikes Peak Hwy, Cascade, CO (near Colorado Springs)

Phone: 719-684-9138