Pikes Peak

I got an unusual tour request the other day: to take 36 people (my understanding was that they were internationals) on a bus up to Pikes Peak. One of the most common issues with guiding people is that you often get requests that just don’t work or they threaten the integrity of your business’ reputation in some way.

Pikes Peak is a 14er. It’s one of just two in Colorado (the other is Mt. Evans) that you can drive all the way to the top of. It’s a 19 mile road with switchbacks that takes you about 40 minutes to wind up and up and up if you don’t make any stops. Car sickness is an issue even in a regular car if you are prone to it. For those of you that have never been at 14,000ft, you might feel it in your head. I’m good at the 12,000ft mark, but anything above that and I am feeling woozy. It you are stuffy, then you are going to feel it.

Strangely, Pikes Peak is home to a famous car race called the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Nowadays, the winner’s of the race are making it in under 9 minutes!

The mountain is one of the obvious things to do in Colorado Springs along with Garden of the Gods and eat a burger at The Skirted Heifer with their cheese skirts and focaccia buns.

Pikes Peak offers good views from the road as well as trails, picnic areas, and spots slightly offset from the road to take pictures. It costs $15 for adults and $5 for kids (and, of course, they offer a military discount). There are a couple of souvenir shops and all the regular things. It’s open year around, but keep in mind that the road starts to close at high altitude when the weather becomes too inclement (the weather up there).

Since I am a Boulder tour guide, I am not there too often. A one and done, drive up, drive down, take pictures along the way is something like a 7/10 experience.