Info/Tip
Drive Pikes Peak Highway – 19 miles paved road to the summit or take the Pikes Peak Railway Cog train.
When we visited all cars were asked to park at mile 16 and take the shuttle to the summit or you can drive to summit but can’t stop at summit (to reduce parking congestion at the summit). Check shuttle times make sure to catch the last shuttle back. After the shuttle stops running cars are allowed to drive up and park at the summit.
Afternoon thunderstorm are common.
When driving down use low gear, there is a break check stop to check tier temperature, if over 300F you will be asked to stop and let the break cool down.
Things to do
Pikes Peak Summit
New visitor center opened in 2021.
Not long after we got to the summit it started raining and hailing. We noticed our hair were standing up, a sign that lightning is likely to strike and immediately went inside the visitor center to wait out the storm and try out the summit donuts.
We waited out the storm at the visitor center and almost missed the announcement for the last shuttle bus back to parking. It started to clear out on the shuttle bus ride down. So we decided to drive back up to summit and the sun came out a bit.
View the Pikes peak railway cog
America the beautiful – Pikes Peak was the inspiration behind the poem by Katharine Lee Bates.
Big horn sheep
Go back to Golorado & Utah trip Summary
No Responses