Pikes Peak
A famous 4,302-meter peak that inspired “America the Beautiful.” You can reach the summit by cog railway or by car on the toll road.
Pikes Peak rises to 4,302 meters. In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote the song “America the Beautiful” at the summit. There are two ways to reach the top. One is the cog railway from Manitou Springs, which is said to be the highest in the world. The one-way trip takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and tickets must be booked in advance. The other is to drive the roughly 30 km Pikes Peak Highway, which requires a timed-entry reservation in summer. The summit visitor center, opened in 2021, sells the famous high-altitude doughnuts. It is about 115 km from Denver. The summit is more than 20°C cooler than the base, so watch for altitude sickness.
Opening hours
Road approx. 7:30 am–5:00 pm (varies by season); cog railway by timetable
Nearby sights
- Manitou Incline
- Miramont Castle Museum
- Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
- Manitou Springs
- Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine
- North Cheyenne Cañon Park & Helen Hunt Falls
- Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
- Garden of the Gods