Pikes Peak

Half a million people visit the summit of Pikes Peak each year, making it the most visited mountain peak in North America. Most visitors come on a day trip from nearby Colorado Springs or Denver and combine their visit to the famous fourteener with a stops at the artsy town of Manitou Springs and the stunning sandstone formations of the Garden of the Gods.

• Pikes Peak is a must-see for adventure travelers and first-time visitors.

• Dress in warm layers—there’s a 30-degree temperature difference between the base and peak of the mountain.

• Tickets for the Pikes Peak Cog Railway can sell out during high season, so it’s best to book ahead of time.

• Drink lots of water to help prevent or minimize the effects of altitude sickness.

While 1850s gold miners once trekked to this area via covered wagon and made the climb by mule, modern visitors can enjoy the views while driving the scenic Pikes Peak Highway, which offers incredible views along the way to the 14,115-foot (4,302-meter) summit. Another popular way to reach the summit is aboard the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world. Active travelers might opt to make the climb on foot along the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Barr Trail.

Pikes Peak is open throughout the year, but the road can close in poor weather. To avoid crowds at this popular Colorado destination, plan to visit during the shoulder seasons (March through May and October through mid-December).

With a summit of over 14,000 feet, Pikes Peak can trigger symptoms of altitude sickness in some visitors. To minimize or even prevent these symptoms altogether, try to spend your first day in the area touring attractions below 7,000 feet and avoid strenuous exercise. Drink more water than usual, and reduce your intake of alcohol and salty foods.

If you're driving the scenic drive to the top of Pikes Peak, allow about four hours for an unhurried visit. When taking the Pikes Peak Cog Railway up, you need roughly three hours. Hiking up Pikes Peak takes much longer, and most hikers allow two days to tackle this fourteener.

High Point Overlook in the Garden of the Gods is the best for Pikes Peak views. You can also see the mountain from the park's trails. Colorado Springs is the easiest urban place to take a gander at Pikes Peak, as its peak is visible from much of the city.

Yes, there is a free shuttle that takes visitors up to the top of Pikes Peak. The shuttle collects visitors from two parking lots, at mile markers 7 and 16. It operates due to limited parking spaces at the summit—the result of construction for a new visitor complex.

Manitou Springs is the closest town to Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. It is west of Colorado Springs. It provides easy access to these popular attractions and offers mineral springs that you can drink and spas where you can recharge after a day in the mountains.

Yes, you can go to both Gardens of the Gods and Pikes Peak in one day as the two attractions are not far from one another near Manitou Springs. Tours that visit both in one day allow you to combine the attractions without worrying about the logistics or timing.

Pikes Peak is the most famous of Colorado's mountains and is often called America's Mountain as it has been seen to perfectly represent the scenery of the American West. It also has the world's highest cog railway and for inspiring lyrics to “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates.