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Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

5089 Pikes Peak Hwy · Cascade, CO

Why you should go…

At 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak was the view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write 'America the Beautiful' in 1893. The Pikes Peak Highway switchbacks 19 miles to the summit for drivers, while the historic cog railway offers a rail alternative, and serious hikers can tackle the Barr Trail. A visitor center at the top has food and views out over the Front Range.

  • #mountain
  • #summit
  • #scenic-drive
  • #cog-railway
  • #hiking

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Pikes Peak - America's Mountain, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

    $25–$50

    Daily cave tours through limestone chambers above Manitou Springs, plus zip lines and a canyon swing.

    3.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum

    Under $25

    Walk through relocated Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and browse Native American artifact exhibits near Pikes Peak.

    5.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Dinosaur Resource Center

    Under $25

    Fossil museum with 40-plus mounted dinosaur and marine reptile skeletons plus a working fossil lab.

    6.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Garden of the Gods

    Free

    Towering red sandstone formations rise against Pikes Peak in this free Colorado Springs park.

    7.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Open Road Rentals

    $50+

    Rent motorcycles, scooters, and adventure bikes near Garden of the Gods for self-guided rides.

    8.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

    Free

    A natural sandstone amphitheater in the foothills, free to hike by day and home to legendary concerts by night.

    53 mi awayMore like this