Pikes Peak In Colorado Springs

The most beautiful landmark in the area is Pikes Peak Colorado. We had the most awesome view of this mountain from our living room window and I loved to look at it each day. I miss seeing its snow-capped top.

There are two ways you can go up the mountain. You can go up by Cog Railway or drive up the Pikes Peak Highway by car. Make sure your brakes are in good working order because you will be using them a lot on the drive back down. Brakes tend to overheat coming down so there are many places where you can pull over and let them cool down.

Make sure that you bring jackets for everyone. The first time our family went up was on a very warm day in October, pictured above. That is my son, Andrew, and me at the summit, at 14,110 feet above sea level.

We were on vacation, planning our move to Colorado Springs and we visited the city to check everything out. We decided to drive up Pikes Peak, never dreaming it would actually be cold up there. It was. Fortunately, since we were onvacation, we had jackets in the car.

***An important word of caution--If you have breathing problems or heart problems, this trip is not for you. You will be going up to the height of 14,110 feet above sea level and oxygen is only half of what it is at sea level.***

If you have a fear of heights, don't look down the side of the mountain while going up. If not, it is a spectacular view.

This is the mountain that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the words to "America The Beautiful" in 1895 after she took a wagon ride up Pikes Peak.

Pikes Peak Highway is a 19 mile toll highway. It costs $10 per adult, $5 per child, ages 6 to 15. Children under 6 are admitted free. The maximum amount per carload is $35. The cost is definitely worth it. Plan to spend at least three hours on your trip. You can definitely spend a lot more time up there.

In the photo above, my husband, David, and son, Andrew are at a lookout on the way down Pikes Peak.

The road is paved for the first 10 miles and then it is a gravel road after that.

There are places to pull over and get out and explore and take photos at short intervals. Look for all sorts of animals, like mountain sheep, deer and marmots, to name a few.

The timberline is at 11,500 feet. This means, no trees after this point. It is really incredible to see.

When you get to the top, you can see Denver which is 75 miles away to the north. You can see the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in New Mexico, which is 100 miles away to the south. It is incredible.

Pack a picnic lunch or eat up on the mountain at The Summit House. For your convenience, there is a flavored oxygen bar. There is also a gift shop where you can buy rocks, mountain tree seeds, and many other souvenirs from Pikes Peak Colorado.

Explore, take in the scenic beauty, and enjoy the chilled air. Remember to use caution as you slowly drive down the mountain, allowing your brakes to cool according to the ranger's recommendations. There are signs regarding this along the highway.

At the base of Pikes Peak, we discovered Santa's Workshop, The North Pole.

There is a third way to go back down Pikes Peak. You can ride a bicycle down the mountain!

A fabulous way to see Pikes Peak is to travel up the mountain by Cog Railway. Sit back, enjoy the incredible beauty and let the train take you up to the summit. It is so much fun.

It takes the train 75 minutes to go nine miles one way up to the summit at 14,110 feet. Of course, once you reach the summit, you will want to get off the train and look around at the view and the beauty on the mountain. Take plenty of photos.

When you are chilly, go into the restaurant and get something to eat and something hot to drink because, trust me, it is really cold up there.

Do not forget your jacket! Wear good walking shoes or comfortable sneakers and warm socks. One more thing, take your camera. The views are amazing.

Stop in the gift shop and pick up some souvenirs. Then go out and enjoy the view once more. Wait for your train and begin the 75 minute trip back down the mountain.

If you are like me, you will want to go up again the next day, this time by car.

Rates vary depending on the time of year. Rates are as high as $33.50 for adults and $18.50 for children through age 12. If you hold your two year old or younger child on your lap for the entire trip, he/she rides free. A bit of advice here. 75 minutes is a long time to hold a squirmy little one on your lap one way. Be smart and buy the ticket for your little one. You will have more room to stretch out and you will have a more enjoyable time.

The Cog Railway is a wonderful way to enjoy beautiful scenic Pikes Peak. I urge you not to miss it when you visit Colorado Springs.

Did you know that you can actually ride a bike down Pikes Peak? If you are in pretty good shape and you want to see nature up close and personal and have a great adventure, give it a try.

Yes, there is a company called Challenge Unlimited that will provide a car ride up to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet and then will provide bikes for you and your party to descend the 20 miles back down to the bottom of one of the most famous and beautiful mountains in the world.

Call for reservations as they need to know you are coming in advance!

Once you arrive at the top of Pikes Peak, you will be provided with a bike, a helmet, some appropriate clothing for mountain weather, and some directions. You will not be on your own, but you will travel with your guide and group.

There will be stops along the way for you to rest and take photos and learn about this amazing mountain.

Your guide will give you some mountain history and his/her knowledge of the vegetation and wildlife along the trail.

During the summer months you can choose a morning trip departing at 6am or an afternoon trip departing at 2pm. During the spring and fall, there is just one trip a day, either at 8am or 1pm, depending on the needs of guests.

Morning trips cost $115 per person and include breakfast and lunch. Afternoon trips cost $95 and include a light snack.

Groups are limited to 35 riders at a time.

If you would like, you have the option of riding the Cog Railway up Pikes Peak and then bike down Pikes Peak for $135 per person.